Susan, your Ascot is sensational -- exactly what I'm hoping for. Nanadoll recommended it, and I wish I could thank her. Mine was only planted bare root in April, so I assume it hasn't shown me its gumption yet, but I'm so confident it'll be perfect at the Humpty Dumpty House Foundation gardens that I want another one. Tradescant, on the other hand, has been spunky from very early on, blooming like a party girl rather than making a race for the top of its arbor. Since the arbor is pretty, I'm just letting Tradescant bloom away. Many red roses, including some Austins, turn pink in our hot weather. Aware of this, I really did my homework before choosing Tradescant, which appeared to stay darker than most of the reds I explored. The Dark Lady seems to be cerise much of the time in my area as well. I was afraid I might not like Tradescant, since I prefer the elegant deep cups of many Austins. But as I watch all these new roses blossom and grow, I find my tastes changing, and take great pleasure in their multitude of colors and forms. jannike

was probably a downey male the hairy males look similar but a bit larger. I too change up my suet depending on what i have on hand but also what time of year. i use lard or shortning or occasionally there is a grocery store that does a lot of their own butchering and they will sell suet which is basically fat trimmings. I have an old hand grinder and grind up some to use. but in summer i cut back and often don't use fats but increase the peanut butter and add molasses or Sorghum and then add fruits or nuts or mixed bird seed and either cornmeal or rolled oats to thicken The woodpeckers here seem to prefer sweeter suet mix.

The genus of all flies is Musca. This one doesn't have a red head...those are the large compound eyes, just like most other flies. Don't know the species.

It's one of the Red Maples...there are several different kinds..I'm not sure which it is. It was bought for the county park Denny works at but they didn't want it because it had a scar on the trunk from one of those plastic ties the put around them to tie them to the pole that is in the pot. It had gotten too tight..they thought it might die. But you can't hardly see the mark this year...it seems to be growing out of it. I'm glad we gave it a chance. patti