The Wild Side

We had such a good time this weekend.  We birded every day and we weren't disappointed. The photo below show just a few of the Snow Geese that were coming into the lake where we bird. It is an amazing sight and sound. 

If you look right in the center of this photo you can see the Barred Owl that flew across the road in front of us and landed in a tree. We stopped and watched it for a few minutes. All the while it watched us. When we tried to get closer it flew back across the road where it came from.  

I must stay that the most fun was watching this skunk foraging at the side of the road. The road we were on was down a grade from where the skunk was foraging so we were almost eye level with it.  It trundled along  so I drove ahead of it and stopped the truck so Gary could get a good picture of it.

All went well until it heard the clicking of the camera.  Huh? What was that??

It turned face on, lifted that tail and stomped its paws into the ground. Fare warning to any human crazy enough to cross that line. Needless to say it didn't have to go any further. We sat quietly.

It turned and strolled away from us. 

 

Did you notice that this skunk didn't have a stripe down the middle of its back?  Most skunks around here do. They are Striped Skunks after all.  It looked quite interesting with a white top knot and a white tip to its tail. Did you have an interesting encounter this weekend? 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - January 2011

Today is January 15th and we all know that the 15th of each month is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day as brought to us by Carol at May Dreams Garden.

Sitting in my kitchen window I have a trio of Hyacinths that are sitting on regular little vases and a small jar. I can't tell you what color they will be because my neighbor gave them to me. She thinks they will be an apricot color. We will see. 

I am most happy to report that there are buds on one of them. That counts doesn't Carol?? For us that live in the Zone 6 or colder I think that buds should count for today.

Another bud going here only outside is on a pachysandra. I checked the Hellebores but they haven't been fooled by the meltdown occuring today. They haven't set any buds as yet. Just as well. This way I hope to have something to show you next month.

Do you have any blooms in your garden today?  If you do won't you post them for all to see? For more blooms around the world go to May Dreams Garden.

Snow, Luna and The Birds

This morning we had a heat wave for a few minutes before the cold front came in. So Luna and I decided it was time to get out into the neighborhood and test out the new fallen snow. I guess we had 4".

She loves to be the first dog on the block to break snow. There wasn't another critter track in the driveway before we went out.

 Several people have asked me if I can see her in the snow. It is difficult but you can see her. That is why I have to keep her teathered. Besides I am afraid that someone driving by wouldn't see her and there would be trouble.

 By the time we got home she had snowcicles on her whiskers.  She loves this kind of weather.

When we got back to the house I made a hot cup of tea and did a bit of bird watching. We had quite the influx of field birds. Brown headed Cowbirds and a few Starling joined the masses of House Sparrows at the feeders. They have a game they play. First you see them... 

Whoops... 

Now you don't. Ever vigilant for the Cooper's Hawk that patrols the garden. One can't blame them for being so skittish. 

The temperature dropped all afternoon. Quickly getting into the twenties and upper teens. This will be the high tomorrow what with the wind whipping through here. 

I am glad the snow is insulating the garden. I hope you are all warm and safe inside.

Garden Journal Beginnings

It is that time of year my fellow Gardeners. It is time you seek out that special journal to keep this years musings, plantings and dreams recorded. I have my trusty 5.5x8.5inch Cachet sketch book settled in it's leather cover. The front page is sketched and I am ready for the new gardening year to begin.

While it is too early to actually get out there and do much until it thaws I like to take this time and do a little dreaming.

 I was passing through the Rural King while purchasing some bird seed for the feeders and came across this magazine about Chickens. I know those of you who read my blog regularly know my dream of having chickens. Just a few layers would be delightful to me. You probably know by now I can't have them due to city ordinances. I just have to bide my time this winter reading about the darling little feathery egg factories.

My poor Dearly Beloved gets mighty nervous when I start sketching ideas in my garden journal. He is worried that "something" might happen. I try to explain to him it is just "that" time of year. Things are slowing down. I have time to think, to dream. I tell him it is like these men who purchase Street Rod magazine and drool over the pages. They don't have the wherewithall to have such a gem but hey, it doesn't cost much to dream. 

Do you have any dreams crowing at you this winter regarding your garden?

Azalea Path

This last day (oops I should have said last post) of 2010 I wanted to show you a place I had been this past spring. I wanted to save it for a time when the snow was blowing and we had our minds set on warmer weather. This is the time with the snow blowing and our wishes turn to spring.

A friend of mine and I set out to find the Azalea Path that we had heard a lot about. It is a Private Garden nestled in the back woods of South West Indiana not far from where I live.  Driving through the winding road that leads to this little piece of paradise we were surprised to see this sign indicating we had arrived at the gardens. We didn't know what to expect.

 We turned down the drive that takes you into the heart of the garden where you park. There was no indication of which path to take. This garden encompasses 50 acres more or less.  It is difficult for this person that lives on a 1/4 acre to wrap my mind around this much acerage.

However once you start walking the paths you just become engrossed in the beauty of nature.

The bit of tweaking of azaleas planted about everywhere you look enhances what Nature has given. 

You can certainly tell that the human hand has made its offerings too.  

 Of course every large garden must have a waterfall. This garden doesn't disappoint.

There are several bridges to traverse.

Large and small ponds to explore. 

There is even a childrens area. The play house and small furniture is for their Grands. 

Big kids are welcome too. 

If your tastes go more toward modern art there is a section that has several nice pieces. I wish I had written down what artists were displayed. I sure I did but I am sure I have lost that information. 

If the modern are is, well too modern, you will find more conventional art to peruse. 

There are benches everywhere. You can stop and relax, take in some of the majesty of the woods. 

Some of the benches are even incorporated into the art.

In one large section, my personal favorite, a tornado came through and ripped out a huge hunk of the tops of the trees. They hired a chain saw sculptor to come in and do their magic. 

These were only a small portion of the carvings. This angel seems to watch over this area now. Obviously one of my favorite areas of the garden. 

Oh, did I forget to mention the Azaleas?? 

Since we were told we had missed the grand display due to the hot weather we had in early spring we will just have to go back. 

If you get a wild hair to join me on a visit to the Azalea Path I would be delighted to be your guide.

They also have a page on Facebook. You can go there and see the garden shrouded in snow. It is equally as beautiful then.

The Week Before Christmas and all through the house

No one was stirring. Not even me.  I was sitting here by the fire trying to thaw out, feeling so lucky to have the tree trimmed, the house straightened (as much as usual), gifts bought and wrapped. Yes, life is good now.

We have even taken time to do the first of the Christmas Bird Counts that we participate in this time of year.  The sky was so beautiful at dawn. The fact that it was only 2degreesF to start the morning didn't dampen our spirits. 

 Owls were out on this cold morning looking for the last morsel to keep them warm through out the day. The skies turned to buttermilk as the morning wore on. There wasn't any more of the sun to be seen for the rest of the day as the clouds congealed and filled with ice and snow to be later dumped on the area.

 We won't complain because we saw 60 species of birds. Quite good for these kind of weather conditions. We were a small part of a team of 45 hard core birders at the Goose Pond Christmas Count this year. When all was totaled there were 104 species of birds seen. One of the teams found a Ross's Goose in with a flock of Canada Geese. This was a first for this count. While this was a special find since this bird is a rare species for this area my favorites are always the more common birds. The Short-eared Owls flying around barking at each other and a Tundra Swan taking flight from a pond edge that was open. These usual characters make me think it is all worth getting out on a cold winter day.

If you would like to read more about last year's count you can go here. It will be a few days before this year's official numbers and species are counted and published. I hope everyone is doing the fun things they want to do on these cold winter days. Take care and keep warm.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This is how the big snow and blow started in our area a couple of days ago. The sun was trying its best to peek through those snow clouds.

 When the clouds started dumping the snow it was a slow process. It took all night to get about 3 inches of snow accumulated. This picture was just at the start.

 The next day despite the temp not rising out of the teens the sun made it seem like it wasn't so cold.

 The outside christmas decorations got a bit of a flocking making them seem a little more authentic.

I hope everyone is toasty warm and enjoying the season.