Pottering in the Potting Shed. . . . . .

Last week the potting shed called to me requesting a good old clean out.

I'd been so lazy about getting going with this usually annual job.

In fact, it seems to have been more like bi-annual the past several 

years! I spent several hours on this job on Wednesday when it was 

warm, sunny and so pleasant being outdoors.

Do you love sheds? Like barns passed by on a country drive, they

always capture my attention when I wander through my neighborhood.

Some look quite spiffy, usually the newer ones, others are more like

you'd see in a horror movie, faded, decrepit, even collapsing. I always

wonder just what might be living in or under those little unloved structures!

I want my potting shed to remain a fun place to spend time in.

Although my lengthy productive days in the garden are over, and I'm 

just spending an hour or so with less bending or heavy duty jobs,

I still love to open the door and walk inside to neat and tidy, some 

semblance of order, and NO bugs!

When we had the shed built about fifteen years ago I was thrilled

to have a little garden retreat to make my own.

I painted the entire exterior.

I spent hours on my knees painting and stenciling a 'rug' on the floor.

I had electricity run out there so I can use a small heater or fan, and 

overhead hung a small chandelier which brightens up that

 corner of the garden at night when left on.

It's looking good now - several things have been discarded and were taken by 

the city to the landfill. I vacuumed and cleaned every shelf and corner, removing

spider webs, scattered birdseed which is stored there, and organized containers

of outdoor holiday lights, painting paraphernalia and miscellaneous garden tools. 

The stacked cushions you see were placed in the gazebo 

this beautiful warm weekend. A little get together for wine and cheese with

 neighbors on Friday, and our first 2016 dinner al fresco for we two on Saturday

night. Above us, a slither of brilliant light from the waxing moon shone through

 the tall oaks - all felt good in the world.

The garden is starting to show some color.

Buds are bursting - more daffodils are blooming - bluebell leaves are shooting up.

Bob did the first mowing of the front lawn yesterday.

We changed our clocks.

I really do feel Spring in the air.

Have a fabulous week.

Carolina Chickadees are Spring Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."

A common bird of the Carolinas who is very friendly and can be tamed
 and hand fed. I've never managed to get one to eat out of my hand, but admit
 to standing in the back garden with it outstretched, full of birdseed, until my
 poor old shoulder ached! 

Our many Carolina chickadees do love hanging out on the front porch, also at

 feeders and birdbaths located in the back garden. Being non-migrators we can

 enjoy them year round in any type of weather.

Both the male and female, also the juveniles, are mostly grey birds
 with a black cap and chin, white face and chest, and darker grey tail. 
They are the smallest birds in our garden, but notice in these photos that they
 have sturdy looking legs and huge feet with which they can hold insects and
 seeds while pecking into them. 

Both male and female construct a nest then 5-7 very tiny eggs, white with

 reddish-brown markings are laid. They have 1-2 broods per year.

Despite not being officially Spring, I believe our chickadees are preparing

 a nest already. They have nested in this same box on the front porch for the
 past couple of years. 

Until this morning I thought they were bringing in building materials during the
 past few days, seeing the clump of soft bits stuffed in the entrance. . . . . . . however
 this morning it's obvious they are taking out debris from last year!

This is one of those decorative birdhouses, so cute, but unfortunately no
door to open which would allow us to clean out the old nest.

Such a huge job for a tiny bird who has only its stubby little beak as a

 Spring cleaning tool!

 I am definitely tempted to give a little assistance to these tiny birds - one swift

 pull and I could help with what appears to be a gigantic job for one or two tiny

 creatures - but we have decided not to interfere with Nature.

What would you do? Do you believe in just allowing them to clean their

house by themselves? 

A sweet, quite feisty little bird which is Bob's favorite - and of course I love them too!

Eastern Towhee. . . . . . . . . . .

I managed to get this quite good shot of the male Eastern towhee earlier

 in the Winter garden. Have been trying to photograph his mate without

 much luck until a few days ago when she sat on the fountain for several minutes.

 I was so happy to get these closeups through the dining room window.

Isn't she a sweet girl?

Somewhat secretive, the towhee, who is sightly smaller than the American robin,
 may be noticed first by the sound of industrious scratching in the leaf-litter under
 dense thickets. In the mating season, which I guess is imminent, the male
 becomes much bolder, singing from high perches.

Mrs. Towhee is mostly brown with rusty red sides, a white belly, and a long

 brown tail with a white tip. The bill is short and stout, the eyes a rich red.

The male is similar but black not brown. They are non-migrators in the Carolinas.

Mrs. Towhee stays busy in Spring building a nest either on the ground under

 a shrub, or in low bushes, usually less than 5 feet above the ground.

 She will lay 3-4, sometimes 5, rarely 2-6, creamy white eggs with brown spots

 at the larger end. She will incubate, the male will do most of the feeding

 of the nestlings who remain with the parents for some time after hatching.

This very warm week has certainly brought a lot of avian activity to the garden.

Sleeping with windows open has brought a rousing dawn chorus these past couple

 of mornings. You can bet I'll have more bird stories and photos to share soon.