We don't see Orioles around here until July~ish. He's a chubby one, S.! :-) No Hummers seen until then either when the Mimosas are in bloom. Nice series of photos, Bonnie. Spooky is right! The Wisnolia scent *is* amazing! Half the Magnolia has died a natural death. Rather than cut it down or trim it back my Mom wanted some kinda vine to grow over it. She always wanted a Wisteria so that's what we planted in 1999. The plant was 5 years old then. It first bloomed two years later with just a few hints of what was to come. Now this creation has lovely Magnolia flowers in early spring before the Wisteria sends out its leaves. As the Magnolia flowers fade they are replaced by the Wisteria leaves and shortly afterwards the beautiful flowers. The flowering succession could not be timed any better! We discovered that a pair of Downy WPs have made a home in a natural hole of one of the leaders. The Wisteria is a monster though. There's vines going across the patio, across the lawn, everywhere if allowed to go unchecked! We've threatened to cut it down many times but see all the birds safely nesting inside. The dense cover of the Wisteria also protects them from rain very well! So well the ground beneath stays dry even after a thunderstorm. We need to water the plants underneath with a hose !

'Red sun at night, sailor's delight.' Should be a nice day at Joan's on Thrus;~) I always think of that old rhyme when I see sunsets/sunrises. That is spectacular.

Thanks, Frelsburg is approximately 150 miles due east of Fredericksburg. Both are located in beautiful country. Kt

Thanks, Everyone! That tree, a Live Oak, in the photo is the same tree that I post photos of here regularly. It has been dead for a few years now, killed by lightning, and is about 50 feet tall...so I guess it's a Dead Live Oak? Anyway, here is a photo of the same tree taken from the other side, looking back toward my house. This pic was taken back in May of this year. Kt