The peonies are budding, more blooms than former years, so perhaps at long last they
are enjoying their spot in the garden and their roots are happy!
Looks like I may miss their fragrant blooms though - unless they hurry up and open
this coming week. Traveling this time of year makes it hard to leave the garden when
it's really at its prime.
A surprise visitor to the garden this week. . . . . . . just one, perhaps lost on his way
to the woods where he and his mate prefer deciduous forest for nesting.
He was returning from winter migration to Mexico, Central or South America.
This is the male Red-breasted grosbeak, such a handsome bird
and a joy to see. A plump black and white bird with a large triangular rose patch
in the center of chest, wing linings are rosy red and the large bill is ivory.
Female is completely different - heavily streaked brown and white, with large
white eyebrows and orange yellow wing linings.
He stopped on the feeder, then took a drink, hardly more than a minute
visit - couldn't believe how lucky I was to catch him and get a few photos
from the dining room window!
visit - couldn't believe how lucky I was to catch him and get a few photos
from the dining room window!
I captured all these blooming beauties in the garden over the past few days.
Notice my beautiful first bumble bee, and we've seen a few butterflies.
Have decided not to do the 'mosquito spray' this year. We did notice
a definite lack of pollinating bees, butterflies, dragonflies etc. all last summer
with the spraying service coming every 3 weeks. Yes, I was only bitten
a few times, which was a relief, but the garden seemed empty of beautiful
flying creatures and I felt guilty! This year I'll be back to spraying myself,
not my garden!
With several really warm days, then some good heavy showers yesterday,
everywhere is blooming. April is certainly a colorful month in our area
of the southeast.
We have a perfect weekend weather forecast for here - hope you do too.
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