Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - January 2010

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

It's the time when we get to see what is blooming everywhere...
This is the brainchild of Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

On the 15th day of every month, you are invited to show What's Blooming at your house.
Sometimes that's hard...
But there's always something colorful to show, somehow or somewhere.
:-)

Thank you for visiting! After you finish, head over to Carol's via the link above. You can see what's blooming there. Next, look to see who else has posted (look at the comments at her site) and visit their blogs. :-)

Blossoms at Shady's?

I keep forgetting to ask Joan the name of this begonia!
We purchased them at the same time... and she's the one
that remembers the name.

The kalanchoe is so healthy-looking... and it's decided to bloom again.

My Christmas Cacti are getting buds again. (The dark pink one is always first.)

The "Snow birds" of Iowa.
(These are the ones that stay here!)

Happy Bloom Day!

I Made Myself Go Through With It

Did you guess that I really didn't want to take down my Christmas tree?

It was December 2, 2009 when I brought the tree indoors.
It had been growing on the south side of the house
(very near a bedroom window),
and it was getting way too large for its location.
So I cut the top 90% down and we used it.

It's very sweet... and I'd grown accustomed to it.

I have no idea what type of tree it is.
(Is there a tree expert in the audience??)
Very short needles - not too prickly.

All the crocheted bells were made by my Aunt MEA,
my gardening heroine, last year.

You might notice some of the paper book-ornaments we made this year.

Isn't it just so pretty?

Well, I did it. Last week. I forced myself to remove all the ornaments.
I put them away and carried the tree outdoors.
Here it is in the front yard.

I set it in the snow and tied it to a shepherd's hook.

Then I went indoors and took enough time to thread a short
popcorn and cranberry string.
(Do the birds really eat these? I've seen many birds sitting on the tree,
but the string remains.)

Now I must tell you something perplexing.
I'd gone to the grocery store today... nothing unusual about that.
We do eat (with the allowance left after purchasing bird food!). Ha!

Back to the story: I carried the groceries indoors and looked out the kitchen window. (Do I need to stop doing that?)

Look at what I saw!

Yipes!

Who in the world??
How in the world?
What in the world?

Is it safe to go outdoors?

Well, I did.

Looks like he's been very busy...

I haven't figured out who he is, or what he's been doing.
But he does look a friendly sort.

"My name's Shady Gardener," I ventured.

"Pleased to meet you," he responded. "Just call me 'friendly'."
(He does look that, doesn't he?)

"Well, Mr. Friendly," I began. "Can you tell me what you're doing out here?"

"Of course," he smiled. "I noticed the birds that you care for, and I noticed this lovely tree. I'm partial to caring for these small creatures. But I've been traveling quite awhile and have encountered a good deal of snow. You have a yardful, yourself."

"Yes," I said, smiling in return. "But what are you doing with your shovel?"

"Ah! I've decided to move the snow away from your tree... it's for the little critters, you know."

"Oh. Thank you very much," I said. "You must be tired and hungry. Wouldn't you like to come indoors for awhile?"

"No, no. I'm very happy outdoors," he said. "However, I did hear just a bit ago (a little birdie, don't you know?) that it may rain in the next day or so. Would you happen to have an umbrella? I'd just as soon stay for awhile, in case it snows again. But, should it rain, I'd rather not get wet!"

I told him, "I understand completely. I have a small umbrella in my car. I'd be glad to let you use it... especially after all you've done in my yard!"

So, now you know as much as I do.

He looked very happy when I departed.

And he's still standing there!

I don't think there's anything shady going on here... do you?

Once Upon a Morning Dreary

If you're anticipating that you might find something a little E.A. Poe-ish here... you're correct. I began writing this poem first, last Friday, but ended up using the one I posted. I've just received enough encouragement to publish this poe-m, too. ;-) No, it's not a direct copy of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven.' However, it did provide a model for my attempt at humor.

I hope you enjoy this. I did write it, and as silly as it is, just enjoy and leave it here.

Once Upon a Morning Dreary

Once upon a morning dreary, as I photo-ed birds more clearly,

Over the white and drifted snow, I watched them struggle in the windy blow.

While I stared, quite innocently, suddenly the wind blew intently,

The wintry fowl approached the feeder, approaching afore my window here,

“They’re only hungry,” that I murmured, “flapping near my window here;

Only this and nothing more.”

As I gazed out at that feeder, amazed and wondering, ever peering,

Watching birds dart here and there, intrigued as I’d never been before,

To the feeder they came chirping, anticipating their next meal,

chirping - chipping; to the birdbath, sipping – sipping, never tipping,

Then I whispered as I snapped my photos, “I could do this evermore!”

Only this, “Forever more!”

As I turned round in that kitchen, to my breakfast business be,

Preparing my meal for the morning, a feeling came quite suddenly.

A yearning – yes, such a yearning, quite stronger even than before -

I found myself so quickly turning – quickly, yes! So I could see

There was a figure – Oh! and different. Large and cunningly stood he,

He stood alone, no-one more.

Opening here, I raised the curtain, so this figure I’d clearly see,

Standing midst where the rest had been, he’d surely cleared the yard and more.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk stood there, perching, standing ever confidently

Turned his sharp eye here and there, resting gaze on the empty store.

He perched serenely, ever watchful, while I standing on kitchen floor.

He turned his gaze on nothing more.

As I peeked out through the window, my mutter turned into a roar,

“The nerve of him! I know he’s hungry. But did he have to scare MY birds?”

Here I confess my own despondence as ineptly I took that chore,

but his presence in my garden brought to my mind some threatening words,

“Hey, you bird! Get out of my garden!” as an echo again repeated my roar,

And left me wondering - what’s in store?

Slowly turning round he gazed, with steely eyes so very clear,

He thought he’d won but my upturned hand showed there was more!

He saw my weapon – my frying pan! His exit now was near…

I opened the window in preparation - his gaze right through me tore.

So he left, wings lifted skyward, causing him to quickly soar,

Yes, dear friends, I won the battle, but quite clearly he had won the war.

Quite honestly, I haven't seen a sharp-shinned hawk here in a couple of years. However, his visit did result in a front yard devoid of any other living creature. After he finally flew away, the Winter birds did not return for quite some time.

by Shady Gardener

Mini Greenhouses for the Winter-time

Milk jugs? Check!
Awl? Check!
Sharp Knife? Check!
Duct tape? Check!
Permanent Marker? Check!
Potting soil and seeds? Check!

Mini Greenhouses are being planted and set out!

Full credit goes to Kylee of Our Little Acre, whose post inspired me to try this a couple of years ago. It works!! :-) Here is her post for this year... complete with all the instructions you'll need!

Click on the link below:

Kylee's Winter Sowing 101


I picked seeds of several of my own plants this Fall.
My efforts, so far this year, are recorded, through photographs, below.






Believe it or not, this photo was taken Feb. 8, 2009. Here are the jugs I set out last Winter.

Below are photos of Tennessee Coneflower seedlings that were started two of the milk jugs. Gail, of Clay and Limestone, sent me seeds last Winter. I was so excited to see how they would do! These little fellows were planted where the tree in the front yard was removed in August 2008. Conditions here are not optimal for coneflowers, but it's a "nursery."

This photo was taken at the end of June 2009.

And this photo was taken Sept. 1, 2009.

I have high hopes for 2010! :-)

The Snow's Not the Only Flurry at the Feeders!

Hello all! Yesterday was quite the cold, windy, snowy day around here. I can't imagine what it was like away from our wooded area... I just had to share the photos, etc. taken over the course of the day... and it also caused me to create a little poetry. ;-) Without further adieu...

(There are quite a few tiny photos - click on them. Some of them enlarge nicely!)

Please do not use any of these photos or the poetry without permission.
Thank you.... nothing Shady, it's just mine!

The Flurry ‘Round the Feeders

The snow is not the only flurry

on this extremely cold, chill day.

The birds, it appears, are in a hurry

“The food is here,” they seem to say.

Quickly they each decide to scurry

but find there’s ‘someone’ in the way.

Perhaps, think they, “There’s quite a slurry

but it may not last another day!”

And so the birds, they come a flutter

and lightly perch on what they may.

“A challenge this,” they seem to twitter,

despite the cold; they mean to stay.

My imagination they have captured;

I watch them with such tender care.

Alighting they, with fragile stature,

They’ve journeyed from … I know not where.

All through Winter’s cold and snow,

I’ll faithfully those feeders tend

Intending that the birds not go.

‘til Spring arrives and Winter ends.

written by yours truly

Jan. 7, 2010

(Looks like a valentine... perhaps I'll use this photo again!)

:-)

A Little Food... A Little Water...

The aluminum heater for a birdbath has never been large enough for the entire birdbath, so I placed a small terracotta saucer on top of the heater. This means there's a little water in the birdbath and water in the saucer, too. I was able to catch some activity here!




Are you able to provide fresh water for the birds this Winter? In our cold climes, the water is as important as the food. Looks like this fellow enjoys the heated water! :-)

Eating My Words

Even out on the free-hanging feeder, the birds are perching on the tin pie plate. A few moments ago, there were two on the pan. Now look at the feeder!

As far as the aluminum pie tin, I don't think the birds are feeling at all threatened.
They're eating the thistle seed like crazy!

We're supposed to have a lot of snow tonight.
Maybe I will still use a terracotta pan... we'll see.