Hey, that's why I love posting here, because I'm definitely NOT a know-it-all. I need backup. :D It all happened so quickly (gliding, landing, sitting pretty), but I really think it had a banded tail with darker colors! I know the chest was white, with brown vertical speckles, if that makes sense. I took the camera out yesterday morning, as I will today, but it didn't show up. There is another bird, though, maybe someone can ID for me. Again, not a very good pic, but it's one of a few birds that have been hanging around. They have a weird flight pattern, where they take off from their perch, swoop out (or up) and around, returning to their perch, almost like a boomerang (or like they're snagging some insects in mid-air?). Anyway, I've mentioned it before as having a light yellow front, and you can just see some peeking out from above the tail in this pic. They usually hang around in pairs, and they're very protective of their "area". This is the one and only time any of them have ventured this close to the house, that I've seen, anyway. It was very hot that day, and it definitely wasn't doing the swoop thing. Maybe someone can help! :) Brenda

Thanks everyone for all the compliments. My floating baskets aren't doing too good this year. Don't know if it's the weather or my koi (now that they are bigger they are able to tip the basket with their body just enough to nibble. They remind me of deer they don't eat the whole plant just enough to stress it out). I heard a rumor it could be my water is too clean. Pond is in it's third year so it may be fully cycled now. Don't know if any of you read Nosambos (Lisa's) post earler this month so I am linking it to mine. She is so creative she can turn anything that floats into a planter as you can see from her post. I just love visiting her pond because I never know what she has created that is going to surprise me. I got 4 large sheets of styrofoam pads from work. They are about 3 ft long by 1 1/2 ft wide. I am planning on connecting them together with computer cable ties. I am going to try to make a large floating impatiens, watercress island out of them by cutting holes in the pads and placing punctured styrofoam cups in the holes (hopefully this will make them koi proof), then placing impatiens and watercress bare root in the styrofoam cups. It may work unless my koi decide to tip it over. (They completely destroyed one floating basket of watercress in a day). I will post pics if it does work. I am just wondering if I should surround it by pond noodles to make it more stable. Only problem will be getting it in and out of the pond. My pond is in full sun and my fish have no shade other than the floating planters you see in the post here. As they are getting bigger their shade is getting smaller. Jenny Here is a link that might be useful: Nosambos floating watercress idea

medo,I do believe I read somewhere you need at least 3/4 mile to reduce cross pollination! I am keeping certain ones in pots ,I plan to bag flowers and/or hand pollinate. The pink one was supposed to be Violet Feather,but turned out pink! I am thrilled to death with it! :D One thing I really like about MG's is they are full of wonderful surprises,and I am not picky anyway,I love them all! :) So my first attempts at hand pollination will benefit my buddies! ;) mnwsgal,I would be glad to share seeds from the pink one with you. I was so happy to see it! I really wanted a MG that was a lighter shade of pink,so when that opened I was in no way disappointed it wasn't a violet color.The Honeysuckle smells fantastic,although it is crazy growing,I find it worth the effort to control it! Besides I love the look of it,I have a well established driveway wall full of it,I love the way it cascades down! :) stagerat,Thanks so much for the compliments,I love taking pics,especially of plantlife. This season you guys will be seeing lots of them, I am sure!;) Northerner,thanks so much! Actually the purple flower is Dame's Rocket. I am finding I like this one a whole lot,it seems like it compliments whatever it is near.I really love MG's too,I was so happy to see how many different ones there are. I think each year from here on out I will only plant 2 or 3 varieties at a time....lol...we will see about that! ;) Thanks Karen! :D terrene,that would also be Dames Rocket,they really love it,I see them frequently hanging around since it bloomed. I am going to have to learn my butterfly cats,I would really like for my whole yard to be a sanctuary for butterflies and birds. So far I have succeeded in providing for the birds,they really like my yard,and I have already seen birds this year I didn't see last year ,my goal is to learn more about both this year! :) Carol,I will have seed for those African Daisies at the end of the season,I potted them up with a Chocolate Mint and plan to keep them away from the others. So if you would like some, remind me if I don't contact you,you are more than welcome to them! The Gilla sure is pretty isnt it? I absolutely adore them,next year there will be lots of them,although as fast as they came up and bloomed, I probably have time this year to start some more! :) Carrie thanks so much! I only hope my gardens look as wonderful as yours by the end of the season.You are also welcome to any seeds I have at the end of the season. I will definitely post more pics, if you promise to do the same! ;) Thanks Alyse! How are things going for you? I bet things are shaping up there also for you! I have found a few deer resistant varieties I think you may like,and some I just happen to have extra seed for! ;) I will be in touch! Here is a pic of the latest MG to bloom,it was supposed to be Pink Shibouri,but I am loving the color it turned out,hopefully the other one is pink,that would be awesome! :D

Jeanne, your bird pictures are beautiful. Snow pictures always look so pretty, but I know what a hassle it can be to have to shovel it. So good that you feed the birds, poor things, everything is all covered up! I have Berber carpeting too, Jeanne, we put it in when we moved here about eleven years ago. Mine is showing wear in the traffic areas like in front of the couch and love seat, and I found it harder to clean with my steam vac because it was so "textured"--but I loved the look and it was really the "in" thing at that time. Now I need to see about replacing mine too, probably with more carpet unless the flooring guys think they could "blend" new wood in with what's already in my entry and hallway. Wish I would have just put wood in there to start, but we thought it would feel too "cold". Now I realize we could have used an area rug! Live and learn, right? LOL On your new vinyl flooring--make sure you follow the directions for cleaning. Just a slightly damp mop and don't use any other products unless it's something reccommended by the mfg. I used one of those Swiffer wet pads on mine and it left a "film" so it doesn't shine like when new now. And remember, liquids are it's enemy! Other than that, it is almost indestrucible and easy to clean. Enjoy! Luvs