Happy Birth Day, Aleah Jo!

Scripture Sunday 21...

Serviceberry...

After planting a serviceberry shrub when I created my garden in 2000-2001, I couldn't help but awe at how much it was a bird magnet until every last berry was gone. The fact that it has beautiful white spring blossoms and great yellow fall color was the icing on the cake. Soon I added a serviceberry tree, behind the rock fountain for a spot for the birds to roost before going down to drink or bathe and then once again to roost and groom. Planting this tree was a decision I have never regretted, the tree version has the same beautiful white spring blossoms but has awesome red-orange fall foiliage. This week the tree was in full blossom so I always had my camera handy to capture some of the beautiful birds perched amongst the blossoms.

The indigo bunting is so shy I could never crank open my window before he flew away so these last photos are a little hazy taken through my dirty window. Getting them washed this weekend is high priority so I can get some better shots!

A few none serviceberry shots because Mr. and Mrs. Goldfinch are always so cooperative during photo shoots!

2014 Garden Party #4...

I am happy I made the goal of joining Fishtail Cottage's Garden Party each week. It gets me out to take photos of the flowers like I used to and I have discovered I missed seeing the garden up close and personal :)

This week the service berry tree and shrub are both in full bloom.

I love to take photos of the birds among the blossoms…

The tulips, daffodils and muscari are all bright little spots of color in my backyard garden.

The front beds are also colorful with tulips but our harsh winter has really damaged all my roses. A few bushes are sprouting new growth from the roots but some look completely dead.

I finally went annual shopping and bought enough to only do my planters. I'll have to make another trip this weekend for garden plants. I planted the front pots in a cherry color scheme and the patio ones are a hodgepodge of plants that caught my eye. I especially like the cherry/white verbena blossoms.

Hop on over to Fishtail Cottage to see what others are sharing this week. I always enjoy looking at other gardens!

Tuesday tidbits…

1. I love migration season, I can spot fun migrators, like this Tennessee Warbler just looking out my window.

2. Making Jeff create a fountain out of this huge boulder we unearthed in our field was one of the best "honey do" projects I've ever thought up. Who would have guessed the number of birds it would attract!
3. I take way too many photos of bathing birds.

4. They are just as fun to watch while grooming.

5. It's hard to tell in these cropped photos but the rock is currently covered in bird p**p brought in by the grackles - a sure sign that the first hatches of the season has begun.

mosaic Monday...

male orchard oriole

female orchard oriole

goldfinches

and a new hobby…painted furniture!

It was a fun seeing the transformation these two old dressers made! I wish I had saved the before photos but have already deleted them off my phone, the pink one was an off white laminated piece and the white & aqua one was pine. I used the same primer and same brand of paints so I'm waiting to see how these two types of wood hold up to paint before trying any more pieces. The pink one has already found a home as a dresser/changing station for our soon to arrive granddaughter. I'm been helping her parents decorate her nursery and will show finished projects of hers as well as Landon's (where I also did lots of sewing) soon. The ombre drawer one is finding a new home in my sewing area downstairs and will be used to store some of my fabric stash that I am running out of room for!

Scripture Sunday 20...

2014 Garden Party #3...

Finally seeing small bits of color - almost makes up for the cold weather and scattered frost we are having each night this week.

Once again I'm going in at the garden party at Fishtail Cottage, click HERE to see the other's participating this week.

BBB…butter butt bath

Warbler migration is finally happening here and one of my very favorites is the yellow-rumped warbler sometimes casually called the butter butts. There are many in my backyard right now and the rock fountain is a popular place for a daily bath.

Happy Mother's Day...

I would like to wish all my reading Mothers a Happy Mother's Day! Especially these two wonderful mommies who truly are beautiful women inside and out and have given me some of life's greatest joys in my grandchildren.

Scripture Sunday 19...

2014 Garden Party #2…"this bud's for you"

It's Thursday, and time once again to join the garden party over at Fishtail Cottage. Click here to see the rest of the beauty. I have nothing blooming except for 2 forsythia that are past prime and a few beat up tulips from the high winds the last few days. So I decided to focus on future blooms that will hopefully open soon.

Serviceberry Bush

Pagoda Dogwood

Diablo Ninebark

Miss Kim Lilac

Magnolia (white)

Fern Peony

Early Blooming Peony

Tulips

Pink Flowering Crabapple Tree

Wild Plum trees along my grove

Overall photos showing the early spring backyard garden today…

the trees in the grove are also just starting to bud out in the background…

at least there is some color in the pond!