The choir. . .

Visit here, this quiet nook,
as songbirds rest their wings
hearken softly, whisper low
and per chance
you'll hear them sing.
(author unknown)

I don't know if it is because of the angel's trumpet accompaniment or more likely just because it is the highest thing in the garden but the angel weathervane is a favored perch in the backyard.

It is a joy to witness and listen to a songbird stop to sing.

The Butterfly's Ball. . .

Come take up your hats,
and away let us haste,
To the Butterfly's Ball,
and the Grasshopper's Feast.
The trumpeter Gadfly
has summoned the crew,
And the revels are now only waiting for you. . .
(William Roscoe)

The migration has begun! Last night as Jeff, Kyle and myself were finishing up for the day working on our construction project, I noticed many butterflies right before it got dark. After looking to see where they were landing I noticed they were all settling in one tree for the night.
The first photo was from last night and I had to use a flash to see them. So this morning I went back to get some more "daylight" shots before it warmed up enough for them to go on their way.

The butterfly's ball or annual migration was quite the sight and I feel privileged to witness one again this year.

What a difference a day makes. . .

What a difference a day made
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain
(Dinah Washington lyrics)

Actually the difference today made was the opposite of those lyrics. Yesterday was sunshine and warmth and today was a rainy Monday. The song "Rainy Days and Mondays" first popped into my head but when I looked up the lyrics it was actually a really depressing song that Karen Carpenter sang about rainy days and Mondays getting her down.


But I don't mind rainy Mondays, they give you a chance to catch up on everything you let slide over the weekend. I took some photos yesterday but was too busy to do the blog. Today I went out and shot the same flowers after the rain. My hibiscus sure took a beating from the rain but still held a special beauty hanging down. I love the giant blossoms so I am hoping this plant winters well.

However, the datura brought a surprise when I checked the rain covered blossom out. I don't know if this guy was too happy to be photographed but he did sit and pose nicely :-)

Summer's Apparel

Summer's apparel's
A picturesque one;
It's a heavenly blue
With a sunshiny sun.
This Summer apparel
Is dotted with birds
Of colorful plumage,
Too lovely for words.









It's beauty increases
With bright butterflies
Fluttering about in
Cloudless skies.

Summer's apparel
Is stitched with these scenes
And tucked with bright flowers
On border and seams.
(Louise Pinkerton Fritz)





Even though the calendar says we have until Sept. it seems like Summer is flying by. There is a feel of autumn in the air and the fading flowers and constant hum of the cicadas remind us that we need to enjoy these last days of summer. Every morning I take my cup of coffee and camera outside and watch the garden's activities. I have large numbers of warblers (migration already?) and this morning I took some shots as they took group baths. The orioles are at the feeders more than usual and the hummers are dive bombing each other constantly over rights to the feeders. Does all this mean that I'll soon lose my colorful visitors? I sure hope not as I for one am not ready for the end of summer. . .

Garden of Sunflowers. . .

A garden of Sunflowers beckoned to me
Come join us, my lady, and joyous you'll be!

We're large ones and small ones, some dainty and fair,
And even some delicate to wear in your hair.

We follow the sun, swaying slowly without a care,
We have an abundance that with you we will share.
(Author Unknown)



I'm still loving those sunflowers and "joyous" I am! If you have the room, they are such a wonderful tall addition to the garden and the birds, butterflies and bugs they attract are simply awesome.

The last few days the monarchs have been checking them out first thing in the morning and I was lucky enough to catch one with the early morning light upon his wings.

The goldfinches continue to eat them as soon as the seeds show the first hint of ripening and the orioles continue to use them as a "rest stop" on their way to the jelly bowl. I have never had as many yellow warblers as I have this year. They are on one sunflower or another every day - Yup, I'm loving my garden of sunflowers. . .

Golden bees. . .

I have a garden of my own,
Shining with flowers of every hue;
I loved it dearly while alone,
But I shall love it more with you;

And there the golden bees shall come,
In summertime at break of morn,
And wake us with their busy hum
Around the Siha's fragrant thorn.
(Thomas Moore)

I never noticed all the bees until yesterday when our niece, Randi, said
"I like your garden, but not all the bees".

Today, I saw bees everywhere and I don't know what a "Siha's fragrant thorn" is but obviously the garden has what the bees want. So now the garden has become a haven for the birds and the bees. . .just hope the next young visitor doesn't ask me to explain the birds and the bees :-)

A bird upon the wing. . .

What glory is the music of
a bird upon the wing!
Within its paradise of life,
its songs so sweetly ring.
(Henry Gurley)

In the garden today there was a lot of hummer activity. As I was working on doing some badly needed deadheading, the BUZZ of those little wings came within feet of me. I finally gave up on the work and went inside for the camera.

They took turns at the feeders as well as checking out all the flowers.

One of them chose the oriole feeder as then he could perch while he fed. Those that "hovered" took well deserved rests in the trees around the garden

It was really relaxing to watch these birds upon the wing. . .

Pursuing happiness. . .

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
(Nathaniel Hawthorne)

One of the things I love most about an August garden is the abundance of butterflies. And yes, I have found that chasing them around with the camera becomes fruitless but if I just sit or stand still they come near me. Monarchs are everywhere along with the little white "cabbage" butterflies but it is so fun to welcome the swallowtails to my garden. They truly bring me happiness. . .

I positioned my new tv antenna arbor (re: my last post) in the garden so that it was visible from my recliner inside. Early yesterday morning I sat down to do some reading and glanced up to see a little warbler checking out each strand of beads hanging from the top. To his eyes they must have looked like shiny bugs and he was there for quite some time checking them all out. Sorry for the picture quality as I took it through my dirty (gasp) window but I thought it was worth the shot! Another happy moment in my days. May happiness alight upon you today. . .

Who needs TV?

In the summer when the days are hot,
I like to find a shady spot,
And hardly move a single bit
And sit, and sit, and sit, and sit.



On beautiful summer evenings - who needs tv? Not me, I just love to sit quietly outside and read while watching the birds who don't even realize I am there.


In fact, I have found better uses than tv reception for this old satelite dish and antenna. The gazebo was made several years ago, using a satellite dish, an old lamp, a light fixture and 4 porch posts. This weekend, Jeff dug me in 2 posts and yesterday, I created the arbor from a UHF antenna, some copper, beads & and leaves from a metal wreath. Junk to most people - but treasures to me.





The goldfinches have been busy eating the sunflowers before the seeds even have time to ripen. I'm going to have to get out there and save a few for my fall decorating projects before they are all gone.

I had fun talking with more garden visitors today - oops, forgot to take their photo for the blog.

Two little lovebirds. . .

Two little lovebirds
sitting in a tree. .
K - I - S - S - I - N - G!

Nope, I didn't get a photo of them kissing but wouldn't that have been something to see!

I must have romance on my mind after having just celebrated our 30th anniversary and Ashley & Cory's engagement because I have been noticing the romantic goldfinches. They seem to do everything as a couple. I see them perched together, having a romantic dinner for two and then the bath (hot tub?). The male only lets the female join him for dinner and drinks and chases any other males away.

Romance. . .even in nature. . .it's a good thing, guys!

Love is in the air. . .

Love is in the air
Everywhere I look around
Love is in the air
Every sight and every sound









Love is in the air
In the whisper of the trees
Love is in the air
In the thunder of the sea















Love is in the air
In the rising of the sun
Love is in the air
When the day is nearly done
(John Paul Young lyrics)


An entry from the "garden of life" today. . .two of my favorite people got engaged over the weekend. Congratulations to Ashley & Cory!

Frisky Frogs. . .

Five little frisky frogs hopping on the shore.
One hopped into the pond- SPLASH!
So then there were just four.
Four little frisky frogs climbing up a tree.
One fell into the grass - BOOM!
So then there were just three.
Three little frisky frogs bathing in the dew.
One caught a sneezy cold - AHHCHOO!
So then there were just two.
Two little frisky frogs sleeping in the sun.
One slept the day away - SNORE!
So then there was just one.
One little frisky frog sitting on a stone.
Let’s call his four friends back - YOO - HOO!
So he won’t be alone.

(a children's finger rhyme)

The day has come for a frog relocation program. I think I have close to 100 out there. It's getting gross to have that many of them in one backyard. On the last photo I managed to point out with arrows 30 of them and that isn't counting the piles (yes, I said piles) of them in the pond's potted plants, the whole other side of the pond and the ones that jump out at you from everywhere in the garden!

I have my net and covered garbage can ready and later today when it is closer to the time Jeff will come home I will start the capturing. I think we will drive to the creek several miles away for the release. I don't want them any closer than that! I already have found my prince in Jeff so don't need anymore frogs. . .

Growing Sunshine. . .

I see you there shining bright,
Following the sun and its path of light.
With your petals of yellow and leaves of green,
How very easily you are seen.
The little birds take great delight
In playing round you, from day to night.
(Katherine Lane)
After many years of not growing sunflowers I planted six different varieties this spring. I am really loving them - they give a wonderful tall backdrop to the garden and are another bird magnet. The goldfinches, chickadees and sparrows are eating the seeds as soon as they form and this photo is a yellow warbler eating those pesky green beetles that are all over them.


He's hard to see unless you enlarge this photo but a hummingbird was also attracted to one. So for today, I am loving my flowers of sunshine but maybe you want to ask me again after the frost when I am trying to dig out the stalks!

Butterfly, Butterfly

Butterfly, butterfly,
whence do you come?
I know not, I ask not, I never had home.
Butterfly, butterfly, where do you go?
Where the sun shines,
and where the buds grow.
(Mother Goose)












I'm finally seeing a bit more butterfly activity in the garden. I have lots of monarchs and have seen some occasional swallowtails. I don't know what this last one is but with his wings closed he is a rather plain tree bark looking thing. . .
but when he opens he is bright and beautiful. This last photo is worth the "click" to enlarge as you can even see his tongue poked into the center of the flower.

I hope you enjoy these "flying flowers" as much as I do.

A mouse in the house

The city mouse lives in a house;
the garden mouse lives in a bower,
He's friendly with the frogs and toads,
and sees the pretty plants in flower.
(Christina Rossetti)
This little guy must have relocated from the city as he managed to find a house in the country. I seem to have them find a couple birdhouses each year. When we clean them out they are full of sunflower seeds so I imagine with water and plentiful food the garden is a pretty nice place to live. (Just as long as they stay out there!)

I had two more groups of ladies come visit the garden today. It is fun to share ideas and plants with them. I take many suggestions from fellow gardeners and write them in my garden planning book for next year. Isn't that just like a gardener - we are in the midst of summer and we're already planning next year? Happy gardening!