An Only Child is Best

Nest is left of the chain

Look how he takes up the whole nest.  I thought she'd build in the same bush as last year; she spent a couple weeks banging against the window nearby and scooting in and out of the branches. I'm not sure if her choice was optimal--every time we go to the garage she flies off to the nearby tree and curses us repeatedly.

Three More Columbine/Big Fingers

 It's very hard to hold the ipad with one hand and focus/click with the other, all while trying to keep my dirt covered hands out of view.

This one is so pale pink that it's almost white

All the others of this shape are white

Early Morning Collision

Same window, same bush....

He sat for a few minutes with his mouth open...

then a few minutes more like this, staring at us with those tiny, beady eyes before flying off to the sumac tree

More Flowers and Other Stuff

Enough for a cobbler and a pan of muffins

Bought this for $2 in Bath. I'm trying to switch over to all glass/no plastic.

Grandma B said it wouldn't bloom the first year after transplanting. This is now my favorite plant.

Wild columbine near driveway. Looks like Paul Bunyan's hand!

Wild columbine near the compost area

I got these last year for a quarter, in the "I'm almost dead but please buy me" cart.

Isn't it neat how all three types had different shaped outer petals?

Yes, You Told Me This Would happen

Rusty went straight to the scene of the crime

Apparently he gnawed the rope. The feeders next to the house were already put away for the summer.

Can you see his prints? He was polite enough to step over the plants. He also knocked over the cement bird bath, but at least the balsam wasn't squished.

More Plants and Flying Fish

I knew I'd lost my reign as queen of the faux Tiny Wings game when I saw him sitting on the couch and smirking.

All but two of the perennials came back

It's more orange than it appears

Balsam--Haven't seen this in years

Keeping the dahlias in pots, because I'd forget to dig the bulbs up later

I love these colors

Green Stuff

Finally!

My cuttings from this survived winter--they're  only about 8 inches tall, though

Near the spring--doesn't look like an apple

He's watching a deer across the road

Almost time for pie

A deer gave birth in our driveway yesterday.  The guys saw the baby all wet and wobbly as they drove in.  Right after this photo today, we startled the mom and baby. I think I even heard it mew as it ran off. What you can't see in this pic are all the tiny face-biting gnats that swarm in the shady spots.