Antiquing Weekend - Open for Business Part II

MARKET IMPORTS

This was our second stop last weekend when escaping from the house at last.

Going out into the world of 'treasure hunting' was so much fun - despite

 being masked and very hot and sticky in such high temps.

Market Imports is an amazing local business which I've always enjoyed

and have purchased many things from over the years, mostly garden items

 which they specialize in. Check their website and you will be amazed at the

 size and inventory at this great venue which is located in downtown Raleigh

 at the State Farmers Market.

On this visit I was blown away by so much, especially the great display of

Chinoiserie - blue and white - and may have to think about adding more

to my home.  Since purchasing the lamps in this style for the living room

I can see perhaps a decorative piece for my mantel or shelves on each

 side of the fireplace.

 I would love any of these pieces!

Outside, just walking through the two plus acres of garden paraphernalia was a

job and a half, it was sooooo hot, but we wanted to see everything!

The colors of the ceramics were stunning and made me want to start all over in

 my own garden design, the citron yellow ones were certainly eye catching!

Of course I can never have too many of the gorgeous shades of blue and teal.

Of course I also fell for these neutral beauties from Germany. 

They were so well made with a smooth as silk finish - would be lovely 

in the house where they would stay clean, or I could use a couple on my

 covered front porch. . . . . . .so I may be heading back to make a

 purchase this weekend!

So what did I purchase at Market Imports?

This gorgeous ceramic bird bath made in Vietnam. 

Well made, in two pieces so easy to carry/move, and top locks onto

 the base, $95 was a good price.

They come in a lot of brilliant colors and, as I already have two blue

 and teal pots (this is the smaller one), I fell for the teal one which

 also blends with the three lanterns hanging in the fig tree.

Our garden birds seem to be enjoying their new blue swimming 'pool', 

and the old concrete one has been moved to the side garden.

We now have five bird baths - and with mosquito season upon us

it will mean keeping them spiffy clean and filled each day.

This coming week we'll be refreshing this area as the bluebell leaves

 should be dead enough to remove, then spreading mulch after

 planting the new hydrangea in the ground and finding something else

 for the blue pot. . . . . .of course!

Always something to do in the garden at this time of year.

*******************

A quick look back at the REVIVAL purchases I mentioned in my former

 post.  Above the two botanic prints waiting to be hung in a perfect spot.

The ceramic pots in their caddy are now holding an assortment 

of flatware, antique silver serving pieces and Portmeirion 

cake forks and spoons. . . . . .

 . . . . .and the attached bud vases are being put to good use with

garden snippets changing on a daily basis, I really love this one!

It's been a busy week again with more social interaction now that we

 and many of our friends have been vaccinated. We're still cautious but 

have been out to a pub supper with a friend, had another to the house for

 coffee on the porch, and granddaughter stopped by for supper in the

 gazebo last night. It was lovely as the birds were loud as darkness fell,

and a gentle shower brought cooler air and 'music' on the cedar shake roof.

Monday, Memorial Day here, we will have a cookout with our

 next door neighbor - grill salmon on the salt block - and eating in the

 gazebo again. We had planned that for tonight however with heavy

rain expected we've postponed to a promised sunny Monday.

Enjoy your long weekend/bank holiday - may the sun shine

 and the breeze be gentle wherever you are.

Doves are such loves!

All my garden birds are favorites, but these Mourning doves are extra special.

Quiet, refined, gentle, mate for life, roughly 7-10 years. 

They share two weeks of incubation duties (usually two eggs) - female at night, 

male during the day, then for two more weeks they both feed the fledglings.

Mourning dove : Zenaida macroura

Yesterday -

I have four bird baths - this pair of doves often sit on this particular one

 for long periods - perhaps they like sharing with the little statue, or

the camellia bush for privacy.

This past week I sent Bob to Home Depot to purchase 'mosquito dunks' for my birth baths.  

First time I've used them but as they are apparently harmless to birds and wildlife, 

other than killing mosquito larvae, I'm going to try them in hopes of keeping the

 mosquito numbers down in the garden.

After that one season (2018) of the garden being sprayed by

 professionals every 3 weeks, and noticing a huge decline in 

mosquitoes. . . . . . . .but no bees or butterflies, I cannot do that again. 

It's a really tough time dealing with the flying biters who enjoy feeding on me, 

and making summertime really miserable when I'm outdoors, but we so need

 to protect our bees and butterflies.

To think I spent so much time in African countries and was never bitten by

 a mosquito. . . . . .but am bitten as soon as I walk out my door here!

Anyone used the dunks?

Please let me know if they helped and lowered your mosquito population.

. . . . . . . and now there's the new flying insect to arrive - so far just in the Northwest 

of the US - the deadly, huge, horrible Asian Murder Hornet. 

As much as I love Washington State, and have often thought of relocating there, 

I'm going to stay put and take my chances with the mosquitoes.

Enough said!!!!!!

. . . . . . still hanging out in the potting shed.

I've just realized that the potting shed is now 17 years old!

For those who've followed me a while, you will recall I've told many stories

of its life in the garden. . . . . . and the hours of enjoyment it has brought

me over all those years.

After repairing the door with our good neighbor's help, I did a 'Spring cleaning' 

 and also made a little purchase for my comfort when bird watching/photographing. 

On a recent trip to Charlotte with the usual look around IKEA, I found this folding

 wood chair which is now my 'perch'. I can see the feeders and bird baths 

without the visiting birds, squirrels and rabbits seeing me!

View from potting shed.

American Robin : Turdus migratorius

This female came for an afternoon bathe on a very hot day 

last week. I've noticed robins seem to enjoy a dip more than any 

other backyard songbird.

Gray Catbird : Dumetella carolinensis

A secretive bird that the Chippewa Indians named Bird That Cries With Grief

due to its raspy call. The call sounds like a house cat's mewing, hence its 

common name. It will only nest in thick shrubs and is more often

 heard than seen. . . . . . except it does seem to enjoy coming to my feeders

and the birdbath!

I plan to spend some my holiday weekend out here as more rain is forecast

 and this is a shelter where I can enjoy the backyard visitors.

My painted/stenciled floor has held up quite well all these years -  I recall

the hours I spent on my knees completing that project.

Oh for the days of a strong back and pain-free kneeling again!!!!!

 Mourning Doves : Zinaida macroura

A gentle pair enjoying their perch on the potting shed roof.

Enjoy your Memorial Day, USA and Bank Holiday, UK weekend.

Good garden friends. . . . . . . .

It's been a while since I've seen chipmunk activity in the garden. 

This little cutie showed up a few days ago rustling about under the front

 garden feeder, picking up fallen sunflower seeds. . . . . . .along with

 Mrs. Cardinal whom you can see stuffing her beak with seeds. 

They apparently are friendly toward one another, remaining long 

enough for me to grab the camera and take a few shots from the

dining room window.

Rain last week brought a growth spurt in the garden. A couple of years back

 a chipmunk was living in a burrow under the plant to the left of the birdbath - perhaps

 this is same one!

I've also seen it out here in back, again picking up seeds under the feeders.

Loving the cheery look on this little cutie as he/she holds that seed with those

 tiny sharp claws. . . . . . .wildlife such as these delightful creatures are 

always welcome in my garden.

Happy weekend dear readers - hope it's lovely weather where you are.

 We spent several hours working in the garden yesterday as the temperature

 was pleasant - now it's heading back up in the 90's for the week ahead - much

 too warm for me!

Ruffled feathers. . . . . . . . . .

Spring brings the robins and from what I see in my garden, robins love water.

Bathing in it even more than drinking it perhaps.

The American robin is quite a large songbird of the thrush family, non-migratory 

here in North Carolina. It is usually the first bird to sing at dawn - I'm hearing it

 loud and clear these mornings. . . . . . . .and it often sings all night in spring!

Named after the European robin, that cute chubby little bird known as 'robin redbreast'

 in the British Isles because of its reddish-orange breast, the two species are not

 closely related. The European robin belongs to the flycatcher family and is much smaller.

Our larger - 9-11" - American robins love visiting the bird baths.

Usually easy to tell the difference, the male has an almost black head and brick-red

 chest, compared to the female's gray head and dull red chest. When wet like this

 visitor, it's harder to really tell!

Dipping a claw to test the temperature?

Not bad for a splash about in the Spring sunshine this week.

Drying off doesn't take long on a warm day.

Need to get to that itchy bit under the bill.

The American robin, a very territorial bird, is most active during the day and assembles
 in large flocks at night. It's one of the earliest birds to lay eggs, those pretty
'robin's egg blue' ones, in a nest of coarse grass, twigs, paper and feathers,
 smeared with mud, and often cushioned with soft materials. I haven't found a
 nest yet this season, but I have a feeling there's at least one in the back garden!

All photos taken on a hot April afternoon this week.