ABC Wednesday -F "Feathered Friends"

This week's

 ABC Wednesday Post deals with the letter:

 And a Fine, Fruitful, Fanciful, Feathery letter it is, too!

L to R: Female Cardinal, Female House Finch, Male House Finch
(photo taken January 22, 2013)

RECENTLY

A Few of our Feathered Friends

Gathered 'round out here, as of late;

"We're aiming to discern," said they

"The Fare at our dear Shady's plate."

"We know she's Fairly Friendly,

On that we do agree.

But the Food we're finding lately

is not always of First Degree."

"In fact, it's not the quality

Of which we're Finding Fault . . .

It seems it's just the quantity -

More or Less; is what it's called."

(photo taken today)

"There seems always more on 'snow days'

And when she's "got it all right,"

The snow - then it goes, as does the food -

So Foraging again is our plight!"

"So "Pretty Please," Ms Shady dear,

Won't you please yet reconsider

Being a bit more generous;

By providing more from your larder?"

I listened then to their chattering;

Their chirping grew louder and louder.

It gave me pause and helped me to move

Dipping much more from the Larder.

Oh! Please don't call me stingy.
I meant not to earn such a 'brand,'

I do truly love my sweet bird Friends . . . 

They have ME "eating out of THEIR hand!"

(This time we add a goldfinch and a downy woodpecker to the "mix!")

We're hearing reports of snowstorms on the horizon.  I'd best refill all the feeders today!  :-)
Have a great day!
SG

ABC Wednesday - E

Wishing Everyone

a Happy Valentine's Day!

This anomaly was found

in the Sunflower Foodplot 

last July.

(July 13, 2012)  

This post and photo therein is property of www.yardisgreen.blogspot.com

You might like to join ABC Wednesday.

 Click on these words to view other posts.

  

Happy Valentine's Day!!

SG

ABC Wednesday - D - "Do you want to Dance?"

"Do you want to Dance?" said he.

"Don't mind if I Do," said she.

So they Did,

enDearingly and unenDingly!

Check out the Gallant Bow!

You might Decide to join ABC Wednesday!  

Create a weekly post on the current letter of the alphabet.

Click on these words to visit the site; check out the other posts!

 This post and photo therein is property of www.yardisgreen.blogspot.com

Just for fun!

SG

C - ABC Wednesday - C

  ABC Wednesday - Give it a look!

CLICK above to see posts by other bloggers.

I'm playing catch up, as I've been out of town and missed posting this
and creating "D!"

This week we create a post on the letter:

Depending upon your outlook (possibly), when it comes to receiving mid-winter gardening Catalogs, you could feel (or be):

Cantankerous

Conciliatory

Churlish

Cocky

C

OR

C

Curt

Cranky

Combative

Cacophonous

 

 (These are some I've received lately.**)

 Contrarily, you might approach the subject of Spring Planning (Planting), 

as you receive said Catalogs, with a different mind-set!

Courageous

 Chivalrous

 Cheerful

Cute

C

 

OR

C

 Calm

Cordial

 Captivated

Complementary

 (and Considerably Contagious!)

At this house, it's Currently a Captivating subject!

**Publication of catalog photos does not in any way mean I endorse or promote these particular vendors.  (I do, however, MUCH enjoy their perusal!!  :-)

SG

B - ABC Wednesday -B - I WON!

ABC Wednesday is now in its 12th round.  Click on the logo to view posts by many other bloggers!

This week, we celebrate the letter:

Some time Before Christmas,

after a run through the house,

I sprang to my computer

just as quiet as a mouse ...

When what to my wondering eye

should appear

But a post by C (Carolyn) Binder -

told of Give-way Cheer!

(SG note: To view Carolyn Binder's post ("Ten Days of Holiday Giveaways for Gardeners") of  December 9, 2012  --- click the date). 

 The temptation to enter?   

Too great to resist.

I typed a short comment, 

crossed my fingers, and then . . . 

. . . performed "Christmas Business,"
Giving nary a thought to the contest 

I'd entered --- and yet,

Bless My Soul, an e-mail.

'Twas an e-mail from Carolyn.

The great contest spinner ... 

an e-mail that stated, get this!

I was a WINNER!

By Gosh and By Golly,

I was truly Jolly!

But the nicest of all ---

a Beautiful prize by Steve Asbell  

(click his name to link to his blog and relevant post).

I received his Epiphyllum Burst last week.

Basking!

SG

A - ABC Wednesday - A

This is the first ABC Wednesday post in round #12.  Click on THIS LINK to view the blog posts by others.  Enjoy!
  You could also click on the logo in the right side bar.
 
A is for 

Anticipation!

I recently created several milk jug greenhouses, see photo below.

Each jug houses approximately 2" of potting soil and several seeds that need stratification prior to germinating next Spring.

These greenhouse are each cradling 10 -14 Jack-in-the-Pulpit seeds.

(Arisaema triphyllum)

Two greenhouses have been planted with seeds we found on our land.

The other seeds were a Christmas present from Mr. Shady.  

He purchased them.

We'll see which seeds have a better germination rate.  

:-)

Don't know how to do this?

1.  Rinse an empty milk jug and create several drainage holes in the bottom.

2.  With a sharp knife or scissors, cut a line from one side of the bottom of the handle, clear around to the other side of the bottom of the handle.  The point at which the jug halves are connected becomes your "hinge."

3.  Put approximately two inches or so of potting soil in the bottom of each jug.

4.  Plant your seeds.  At this point, you can make a plant marker indicating the type of seeds planted.

5.  Close the greenhouse with duct tape.

6.  You can also mark the outside of the greenhouse with permanent marker.  Oftentimes, however, the marker will fade by Spring.  Not always.  However, having label inside AND outside is a great idea!

7.  Throw away the milk jug lid.   Precipitation (winter snow) will enter through the opening.

8.  Place outdoors in a sheltered spot, such as near a raised bed, near the house foundation (as long as the jugs receive precipitation!), where they cannot be blown away by the wind!

 (These are from two years ago)

 

Of course, we're creating 

ANTICIPATION!

This coming spring, you should see something like this!

 

All photos shown (except for the first one) were taken in previous years ... some during a session I led in a fourth grade classroom January 20, 2011. 

This is Definitely NOT a shady subject!  

 Just presented by Shady Gardener (yours truly). 

Do I want to begin 2013 still receiving HUGE numbers of Spam Comments??

Are you receiving large amounts of spam comments?  I'm using Comment Moderation, meaning all the comments are placed "in limbo" until I either delete or allow them to be posted.

Are you experiencing this same problem?  I wonder what you're doing to cope?

The only thing I can think of is to change my web address... what do you think?

Now THIS is a "shady" subject! 

:-)
SG