Monday, January 20, 2020

Monday Mishmash

It has been warm enough this month that after a heavy rain we saw earth worms that were encouraged out of the soil to trek across the street to drier areas. This is normally a spring, summer or fall happening. 
This morning was a different story . The cold front has come through. After the bitter winds  we have a skiff of snow settled upon the garden.  The snow isn't likely to go away too soon as it is quite cold.
 These conditions really stir up the bird life in the garden and beyond. We have had lots of birds at the feeders mostly the usual. Like the House Finches,House Sparrows and Juncos.
Half dozen Cardinals. The heated water bowl is a good place to find all the birds at one time or another. 
The Red-bellied Woodpecker grabbed a peanut.  You can see a tinge of red on his belly.
While a Hairy Woodpecker feasted on the suet. This is one tough woodpecker. He wasn't about to share with other birds. You can tell he is a male due to the red patch at the back of his head. You can tell him from a Downy Woodpecker first by his size. Look at that bill it is almost as long has his head is wide and it is thicker. A Downy also has little spots on the outer tail feathers.
The King of the feeders is the Northern Mockingbird. He allows no other bird on the platform feeder while he is there.
He is very secure in his position. He knows I put raisins on the platform for his use only. At least that is what he thinks. It is amazing to me that none of the other birds will take a raisin. After all the House Sparrows don't mind taking bites out of tomatoes or picking peas.
So while it is so cold outside I am inside admiring the packets of seed that were delivered this past week. They are from Botanical Interests. I so enjoy their packets because the are not only beautiful but are jam packed with information regarding the seeds you request. 
I not only received the seeds I requested but got a nice little Thank You in a packet of lettuce seeds. I always need a little push to plant edibles. Lettuce  and tomatoes are my go to vegetables to have in the garden. Nothing like a seed starting guide to get me in motion.  
The Botanical Interests company does a great job of filling orders promptly and answering any questions you might have. I would highly recommend them as a source for your seeds. I have never had any duds from them. I will also say that  they haven't paid me or even asked me to say something nice about them and their products.
One last thing today. I just had to show you the beautiful apron my dear friend gave me for Christmas. It has wide pockets at the bottom of the apron and the lettering, Plant Lady, is embroidered on the front. This all makes me want to start planting even tho it is a bit early in the season.
I hope some of you got to have this day off from work since it is Martin Luther King Day. Martin Luther King, a man we can all appreciate. A man I wish our politicians would try to emulate. We need more men like him.




25 comments:

  1. The apron is very pretty! I love seeing the cardinals and woodpeckers who don't travel into SoCal. In my garden, it's the scrub joy that rules the feeders, while the smaller birds patiently sit in the trees waiting for the greedy rascal to give up and fly elsewhere. My feeders are weighted so that heavier birds (and squirrels) close the seed portals when they try to feed. The scrub jays must manage to get a little, though, as they keep trying.

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    1. We have a couple of those feeders that close when heavier birds and squirrels get on them. They are mostly for the squirrels. The big birds around here don't get on the tube feeders.

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  2. I love seeing your birds. We don't have cardninals out here in Washington and now that I think about it, I don't believe I've ever seen a mockingbird. We've had some new birds this year and it is very exciting.

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    1. I am sure you get birds we don't get Phillip. You will have to take their pictures and show me. I bet your garden is full of birds.

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  3. Bird watching in winter is fun. You have some birds we don't have, like Phillip said.
    Great seed packets and apron graphics.

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  4. I like watching birds any time Linda.

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  5. Dear Linda - first thank you for stopping to visit me. Glad to read your furnace is up and running. Looks like we enjoyed the same cold blustery weather as well as lots of birds at the feeders. I don't see the mockingbird in the winter but for sure spring and summer. Interesting about them enjoying raisins. Take care and stay warm - we are to see an upward trend in the next few days - hope you do too. Hugs! P.S. - Your apron is gorgeous - just love it - what a great gift to receive.

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  6. Oooh ~ lovely post ~ worms and beautiful bird photos and what a gift you received ~ so perfect for you ~ ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  7. Wat een aparte vogels hebben jullie en die kleuren, prachtig.
    Gr Jan(Wilde een Tuin)

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  8. Nice apron! Like you, I'd started to see some signs of spring and then winter returned. The extended forecast looks rather mild, though. Yay. Have fun seed-planting!

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  9. Wonderful bird bath and sweet photo of our feathered friend ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  10. What a great friend to give you such a beautiful apron!

    I really enjoyed seeing all your bird visitors. A warm water source they must really appreciate when your weather is that cold.

    The Cardinals are very beautiful--we do not have them here. Mockingbirds we have--the one that rules our street apparently now has a lady friend. I'm happy for him. He seemed to be lonely.

    MLK, we do need more like him! Blessed are the peacemakers.

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  11. You got your seeds already! I haven't even ordered mine. We've had tons of goldfinches lately, they are really scarfing down the nyjer seed.

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  12. Thanks for your sweet comments about my haiku ~ Hope you had a great weekend ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. Glad you enjoyed our resident 'woodpecker' photo ~ thanks for your comments ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  14. Hope you got some sunshine or will get some soon ~ I saw some 'green sprouts' in my yard ~ ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka ( A Creative Harbor)

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  15. Lisa, how nice to see birds at your feeder.Hope this snow has melted in your garden. Here snow melts at the next day. No sun here at all.

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  16. Thank you for all the good information on the woodpeckers. I'll come back here when mine visit again. It is raining cats and dogs today in Oklahoma, and it's a cold rain. We have snow in the northwest panhandle. I am so glad I don't live there. I have loads of birds at my feeders too. I think I read somewhere that if birds feed in the rain, they know it's going to rain all day. Hugs!

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  17. Truly enjoyed this post. And mockingbirds rule!!

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  18. Thanks for understanding my feelings about the miracle of birth ~ love your comment ~

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  19. I love Botanical Interests seeds, too. I just started a boat load of seeds under lights in my basement. I grow all my own annuals, too. That mockingbird is quite the hog! I guess he doesn't share or care! Haha!

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  20. What a joy all those birds must be to you! I am sure many of them really appreciate that heated water bowl. Pure luxury!

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  21. Love all the birds that arrive ~ and thanks for coming by and commenting ~ ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Especially like the cardinal photo ~ wonderful ~ thanks for your comments on my blog ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  23. The archway photo caught my eye this morning ~ lovely ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete

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