Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate all the input. gardenweed - thank you for that extensive list of suggestions! I have a lot of researching to do! To the very far right of the picture, under my cheesey purple-spray-painted container, is a nepeta walkers low and love it. I think I might move a heliopsis clump over there... we'll see. I've been thinking about an agastache and lady's mantle. I have a cushion spurge in front and absolutely love it. Definitely have lots of things to look into! Barb - I love the look of that Caryopteris. Yours is beautiful! Donna - I have sooo many May Night Salvias... would you believe I never thought of them!? Ha! I could easily use some here. I absolutely love them (and meadow sage) Dee - I have plenty of both daffs and grape hyacinth bulbs (not sure on the specific daffodil name) The only problem with the GHs is that the baby (the one on the deck) likes to dig up the bulbs... Hardly ever does any bad digging or plant eating but he had a FIELD DAY digging them up last fall. He actually dug them all up, I just collected them. This spot gets about 6 hours of sun but sometimes trees and the deck create shady spots. I'm hoping to move the phlox I have away from the deck so it gets more sun. I also didn't pinch them back as I should have (I guess?) so I'm hoping they wont need to be strapped up next year. I'm sure the massive amounts of rain we've been getting doesn't help, either. SouthCountryGuy - I like the rudbeckia prairie sun! I've never seen that one before - very nice! Karin - I agree with the ornamental grass! I'd love some zebra grass - I love how tall and showy it is without being too distracting. That hyperion is beautiful, too! I have so many day lilies (most of which never bloomed last year because they got trampled) but what did bloom was some very plain yellow - nothing like hyperion! I will definitely be considering that one! And in my opinion, you can't do wrong with russian sage :) I've got a lot of planning ahead now (half the fun). I'll definitely post progress and how the "final" product ends up (is anything ever really final?). I'll also let the dogs all know they're cute faces are convincing.... :)

Great photo! Honestly, I am so frustrated. The hawk hunting in my yard has scared any 'interesting' birds away. Even the jays (which I personally adore) are avoiding my yard. I have about a thousand ring-neck and mourning doves however....oh, and a dozen or so squirrels. Witholding seed has not worked. The hawk(s) hunt daily in my yard. Everything will be quiet and peaceful -- then-- WHAM!! A flurry of doves into the air flying in all directions...with a large bird of prey in chase. Two or three doves remain statue still on the ground. But, my cardinals, house finches, regular finches --even the parrots - woodpeckers...everyone avoids my yard.

Gary, regarding your nest boxes, do you know that you have to have the correct dimensions to build the proper sizes for different species? You might already know this, but if not, "generic" boxes aren't the way to go. The size of the box and the size of the entry hole vary from species to species, as well as the placement of the boxes. Most birds are very fussy about which boxes they will use. There are several ways to get patterns and dimensions for the birds you are hoping to attract, including online searches. The entry hole is especially important. There are a lot of species who will use nest boxes if the dimensions are correct for them, including wrens, bluebirds, some woodpeckers, great crested flycatchers, screech owls, wood ducks, and more. Good luck! When you get them built, keep us posted on the results! Marcia

Sure! I could tell something wasn't right because the skin along their backs was very yellow and wrinkly looking. Quite some time ago, I read that yellow, wrinkled skin is a sure sign that nestlings are dehydrated. Their skin should be smooth and light pinkish in color. I'm kicking myself that I can't remember exactly where that was - I'm thinking it was somewhere on this forum or maybe on the Sialis site. After I did a few feedings, I did notice that the color and texture of their skin began to change. As far as what happened to the parents, I've thought of everything from pesticides, to hawks, to cats. When we returned from vacation, we were astonished to see an adult male bluebird sitting on the nest box. He peeked inside several times, gave a loud "turr-lee" call, and flew off. We thought maybe, just maybe, this was "our" male but he never stuck around long enough for us to find out by doing a "mealworm test."* Since then we've heard distant bluebird calls and have seen adult birds in our yard from time to time. I can't help but wonder if these are the parents. I'll just never know. *Both birds were trained to come to a feeder. A new male or female would be clueless about it.