Good Monday morning to you all.
While the moon has been the big talk of the morning I on the other hand am sitting here awaiting the sun to burn off the frost and thinking about all the chores I want to do today when it warms. Think 'leaves' here.
Frost the past few nights have taken it's toll in the garden as can be expected. We were lucky to have such a long frostless autumn. The cone that did so well with the big coleus in it has succumbed.
As you can see the frost has put the coleus and other tender annuals down for the season. Even most of the perennials have given up.
All of which lead to more chores in the garden. I have already had to put a cage around these potted minature hostas. The darned squirrels keep digging them up. I hope they survive. While they are small they are mighty. The two smaller ones would be much larger if the squirrels would stay out of the pot. This isn't the only pot they dig in either. They have pulled out orchids and other plants from their pots.
The migrating robins have been in the garden gobbling up all the fruits that are available. They have just about finished off the Beauty Berries.
When the only berries left are the ones on the tippy tips of the the shrub they do all sorts of acrobatics to eat them. The picture below shows one climbing on the adjacent trellis to get at the ends. It is fun to watch them.
It is now more seasonable temperatures even if we haven't had our usual rains. Even the birds of the fields have been coming in to the water feature. The robins, much to their chagrin, have had to share the water feature with the starlings.
Starlings are so pretty in their winter plummage. They are very skittish so it is difficult to take pictures of them. Sorry about the quality of pictures. All of the robin and starling pictures are taken through one or two panes of glass.
One last bird photo. As we were out birding last week we saw a juvenile Surf Scoter in a pond. Surf Scoters are sea ducks. I live in the middles of the country 100's of miles from the ocean or the Great Lakes. It was such an unusual sighting I thought I would share it with you. If you click on the photo it will get larger so you can see the unusual shape of the bill.
I hope all is going well in your neck of the woods. Have you seen anything unusual in your area lately? Are you about to drown in leaves?
Woops sorry Lisa, could not type for the leaves :)
ReplyDeleteI am definitely drowning in leaves. The oaks are starting to shed and the lawn is now disappearing.......sigh
I have six visiting moorhens each day.....they constantly squabble and fight over the seed around the garden. I have never seen them in such numbers before.
The moon was stunning last night. I could have gardened at midnight..........
Hope your hosta survive, pesky squirrels.
In answer to your last question: no drowning in leaves for us! But we do have dust aplenty here in the desert.
ReplyDeleteMMT I can imagine the dust swirling. It is dusty here due to lack of rain. Of course nothing like where you live but it is not comfortable here. Praying for rain.
DeleteIt's that frosty time of year! I still have a few annuals going strong here and there around the yard, but most of them have brown edges because they were bitten with frost. I have the same issue you do with squirrels and chipmunks getting into my pots. Some of the things that have worked for me include the chicken wire, as you show; lining the soil with prickly evergreens for mulch; and lava rocks. The lava rocks are very effective, but they make planting each season a little more challenging. And, yes, I was drowning in leaves--until I raked up 25 tarps of them this past weekend and dragged them into the woods!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas about the lava rock. I imagine it is a pain at the end of the season to remove the rock to empty the pots but it would be worth it to me. I will give it a try. The squirrels have killed so many of my mini hostas. Grrrr
DeleteWhat a gorgeous shot of the sunrise! I've been moon-watching the last few days, but didn't attempt to take a picture of it. It's been so bright at night I can let the dogs wander out and still see them wherever they go:) I don't have a problem with squirrels near the house, but the other day I was driving down the main street in town and saw a squirrel jump three or four feet straight up into one of the planters on the lampposts lining the street. I was so surprised--no wonder those ornery critters can do so much damage! First frost this weekend here, too, and I've finally realized I'd better get busy finishing up outside. As for leaves--I'm hoping for a really windy day to blow all mine out into the fields:)
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful morning Rose. This warmer weather has had us all lulled into thinking that winter is far away. It is skulking right around the corner. I would take wind if it would rain right along with it. We need rain here bad.
DeleteThat duck bill is really unusual! Love the after shot of the Coleus. Supposed to be pretty nice weather today so I will be doing leaf duty and general clean up. We've dealt with tons of leaves but our paperbark maple is just turning color now and is fully leafed out still.
ReplyDeleteOur Coral Bark Maple is now shining. It is one of the last to lose its leaves.
ReplyDeleteI love all your pictures, and I love the birds! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jess. I hope you get to feeling better soon.
DeleteAwesome sky and nature shots ~ beautiful! ~ thanks,
ReplyDeleteWishing you a peaceful week ~ ^_^
You are most welcome Carol. Have a great week.
DeleteLove the beautiful photos ♥
ReplyDeleteYou have some really good pictures of the moon, sky, the garden, and birds. That moon has been beautiful. I LOVE this cooler weather and the changes it brings.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures of the Robin.
ReplyDeleteHello Lisa girl !
ReplyDeleteI love your tiny hosta and I hope the squirrels leave them alone now for you .. I have a weakness for grasses of the mini me type?LOL .. We have shifted into winter conditions very quickly now, so I am grateful we got the garden almost 100% ready .. you know how you think you could have done more all the time? .. in any case I gues we all have to batten down the hatches and grit our teeth for the big freeze.
I clicked on the picture of the sea duck and what an unusual beak it does have ! great catch for that picture !
Take care !
Joy : )
Maybe I need a tiny grass to go along with my tiny hostas. That was a good idea. :)
DeleteP.S. Also ... wonderful picture of the sunrise !!
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful morning.
DeleteLisa, that is the biggest and best coleus I have ever seen ! I grow them from seed every year and nurture them along, and they only ever get to a tenth that size! So sad that the frost has got it now. Still , there's always next year ... :-)
ReplyDeleteYes Jane, that coleus turned out to be a brute. I took a couple of cuttings. I hope to have it next summer too.
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