In the Garden TODAY

What fun it's been to watch this happen! We've watched this family for months. We drank coffee on the deck as a pair of wrens built the nest. We drank coffee on the deck as they took turns sitting on the eggs. We drank coffee on the deck as they have fed the brood. We'll drink coffee on the deck when they have gone.

These unlikely pals will no doubt entertain us as we drink coffee with our waffles while at the kitchen table.

Planting Time

We had the eye of a downgraded hurricane pass over our property last week. Bad news is that we lost a rather big limb off our very large oak tree at the side of the house. Good news we just had small limbs and branches to clean up ... no real damage. Better news is the nine inches of rain that came. I know that sounds huge, but we were very dry, and we have shallow soil over hill country rock. The rain headed straight for the aquifer, but it left the garden perfect for tilling.

I got the cemetery bed cleaned, tilled and ready for planting. The big garden in the back is partially tilled, but needs another round. Surprisingly, the front of the garden will till, but I can't say it's moisture content is perfect. I'm hoping to get my seeds in this week...and, for another lovely rain to germinate them. Tomatoes, which I put in last month, have a couple of blooms. I'm already thinking about eating those lovely fall vegetables.

From the Big Blow

These are additional views of the object in the post below. This hummingbird's nest was a causality of the violent storm that passed by here this week. The nest sat on the end of a very large branch of a very large oak tree beside our house. We found it last year when a hummingbird darted between our feeder and the nest while raising babies.

The bird returned this year for another round. We are pretty sure all this year's babies had left the nest before it went down. We cut it off the fallen branch and will keep it for future show and tell. Amazing construction. Beautifully built. Long lasting.

Photo of the Day

If I did the 360 Project (a-photo-a-day), this would be today's post. What do you think it is?

The Broken Bird

One of the few great things of this incredibly hot and dry summer has been birds. We put up a finch feeder for the the first time, and dozens came. They are the lesser finches...tiny little things flocking to the feeding sacks in large groups. Our early mornings on the deck with coffee is enhanced as we watch their morning rituals. They don't even mind the hummingbirds whizzing pass to get to their feeder.

Lately, we've observed a bird which tries to eat on the wing. She seems to struggle so hard to get feed, but quickly turns away. For some reason, Walt decided to leave some feed sitting atop the railing just under the hanging feeder. Soon, a tiny bird was resting peacefully...feeding. We continue to leave feed in this way, and the little bird continues to come.

I've had a chance to watch her in my binoculars. Her body rests on the railing...no legs are seen. Walt, who possesses an eagle eye, tells me she has a club foot, or, a foot that has been damaged. It obviously prevents her from grabbing hold of the mesh to feed.

I'm amazed that she survives. We'll continue to make sure her food is there, but what lies ahead is less certain than for the rest of the little birds. Still, she greets each day with hope, and probably with more appreciation than the others.

Two Beauties

Saturday night Walt woke me up to ask, "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" I asked. "The new day lilies opening," he said. No, I didn't bop him on the head. Can you tell he is excited about this day lily project? It's been two years since we planted the seeds and a long time to wait.

It was worth the wait for these two beauties. The yellow is a deep, clear yellow, rounded shape with very ruffled petals. It measure 6" in diameter. The deep burgandy purple is 7" and the brand has a bluish hint to it. Both winners.

Seedlings 2 & 3

These two day lilies bloomed 2 or 3 days apart. They are similar in color, but differ in shape. Notice the triangular shaped one seems to have a yellow flaw on one petal. Both have enough appeal that I think they will get planted in the garden.

Worth Waiting For

This is our "first to bloom" day lily grown from seed Walt pollinated and I cared for. We love it's pink color and dark eye. Look closely and see a very thin line of yellow edging the petals. About 4 inches across, it is nice and flat and beautifully shaped. This one is a keeper.

New Zealand in the Texas Landscape

Looking around my backyard yesterday, I was surprised to see so much of New Zealand in my landscape. These are snaps of items brought to me by my sister who lives there or brought back by me. Among the pansies are a pair of lovely pukeko birds. This are my favorite New Zealand birds. They remind me of chickens, but the color is all blue. Love the orange beaks and legs. The paua shells that hang in my metal tree reflect the blue of the waters and shimmer in the light when the wind blows them. These shells get used in all sorts jewelry and art produced in New Zealand. The sea glass, small stones and tumbled brick pieces I found on the beach of Days Bay across from Wellington. The larger stones in the bird bath I picked up from a Pacific Ocean beach. The sound of the water rolling onto the beach of stones and receding back to the ocean amazes me and remains one of my fondness memories of visits.