I guess I am not going to mow anything today, just as well, Mowses is almost out of gas and the big-wheel push mower, Willie, doesn't get any mileage at all. It is raining, not all that unusual for Memorial weekend, but nevertheless a surprise. There was quite a bit of traffic yesterday, fun-seekers heading for camp-grounds and the State-parks, having paid dearly for the fuel to get them there, looking for some relaxation, I feel for them and hope they manage to have fun just the same. It is possible, been there, done that. My bored cats have settled down, Sooty and Taffy choose to hang out on my un-made bed, I planned to change sheets this morning, well, it will have to wait, I am not going to disturb them. Tomato starts are waiting to be planted, Memorial Day is the usual time to do that in this neck of the woods. Last week, in triple digit heat, it felt as though this rule need not apply, but it is a good one. Our Health Food Store's ad in the local Weekly contains some interesting slogans, real groaners. The last one: "Time flies like an arrow Fruit flies like a banana" and the current one "A hardboiled egg for breakfast can't be beat"

Maureen, those photos are stunning! I just LOVE the last one...with every red feather in her crest standing straight up! The detail is amazing! We have a pair around here, but I've never had one of them come to the birdbaths. I've been really trying to entice my birds back, and yesterday, I put out new feeders and fresh food. Shortly afterward, I had a pair of mourning doves feeding on the ground under a feeder, and they hadn't been there 2 minutes when out of nowhere, one of my resident red-shouldered hawks shot down to try to nab one. He missed, but then he flew to the top of my Bali hut and wouldn't move. I finally had to aim a jet of water at him to chase him off. Five minutes after he left, the doves were back, and a pair of cardinals, as well. Plus, I have a CATBIRD eating SEED at my feeder now! I've never seen that before in all my birdwatching years. You just never know what you are going to see when out in your garden, do you? Our little attempts to create a private spot of nature often succeed beyond our expectations. Thanks for sharing. These might be my very all-time favorites of your bird pictures. Marcia

lol....What happened to this post? It didn't look like that when I previewed it. Janice,I did watch for a few. He was moving so slow though that I finally walked away. I also thought that the emergence was a night time thing but I guess this little guy needed to be "flipped" as my mom used to say about babies that got their days and nights mixed up.....lol You are more than welcome to save any of my pics. Hope your guy enjoys it! Art

Beautiful pics Gymell! I enjoyed looking through your album as well and LOL'd at the t-shirt! Your yard looks great and the prairie area looks like it will be beautiful. Our situations are very similar - I am trying to create a native habitat on a 1.25 acre lot that was (and still is) horribly overgrown with invasives too. I've had 4 large Norway maples removed and have cut and poisoned tons of Oriental bittersweet and Buckthorn. I've got both Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn) and Frangula alnus (Glossy buckthorn) and detest Buckthorn almost as much as Oriental bittersweet. I also have a medium-sized weed wrench! Unfortunately, I've still got tons of work left to do. Bummer on your nice snag tree - I've left up about a dozen Red pine snags, and 3 of them have blown over in the past year. I've got a gorgeous snag right in the middle of the back yard that looks like a tree sculpture to me. It was so exciting when a pair of Bluebirds decided to nest in this snag - successfully raising 2 broods last summer! I am afraid it is doomed to fall soon too and have actually discussed bracing it with an arborist. I have also discussed "planting" a snag with him but we haven't figured that out yet either. Here is a pic of my favorite snag in the Back garden and Mr. Bluebird's hind end as he's feeding the nestlings last August -