Summer is here and so are the hummingbirds! Hummers rarely sit still. This one however just sat and sipped nectar for a few moments. Crocosmia is a favorite hummingbird flower! “Lecker!” Delicious! Check out the tongue down below! I never get tired of watching hummingbirds! And […]
While sitting outside one morning last week, the Zendog and I suddenly felt a swoosh of air moving past our heads. For a moment all I could see was a bright blur heading straight for the lilac bush. Once this brightly colored bird landed, I […]
How do you spell potato? 😉 Late Sunday afternoon I I noticed a rather large creature rustling through the bushes around my wildflower corner. I looked up and couldn’t believe my eyes! Right there in front of me I saw this beautiful California quail. He […]
There are several birdbaths in my garden, but this song sparrow took a dip in a puddle that formed on a black plastic tarp. Last spring I covered a large part of a flowerbed with it, in hope of taming some out of control alstroemeria. […]
The arrival of spring always brings with it the Townsend’s Chipmunk. These adorable tiny rodents are related to squirrels and every bit as agile and acrobatic as their much larger relatives. They mostly scavenge on the ground, picking up sunflower seeds and bits of suet […]
Most of the time, chickadees don’t sit still for a portrait session like this one. But when I encountered this tiny chestnut-backed chickadee the other day, I was surprised at the cooperation, or perhaps he was simply just curious about me! Chickadees visit in small […]
With spring’s arrival nourishing blossoms unfurl hummingbird returns. For his weeks Friendly Friday theme Amanda  from Something to Ponder About chose Feelings of Spring for the theme. Go and visit her blog to check out the beautiful sunflowers in her post from down under, where […]
There are lots and lots of these tiny red-breasted nuthatches in the woods behind our house. How do I know you might wonder? Well, I know because I can hear them calling in their thin nasally voice all day long. For a tiny (4 1/2 […]
No need to squabble Robins of the Round Table Plenty to go ’round Since yesterday morning, a flock of 40+ robins has been hanging out in my garden. They arrived shortly after I filled up the birdbaths with fresh water in the morning. A few […]
This spotted towhee visited my garden last Sunday after it had snowed. The clouds had mostly drifted off into the distance and sun rays were peeking through the forest. The afternoon lighting was beautiful and the neighborhood quiet. Suddenly this distinctly patterned bird hopped right […]
The downy woodpecker is a regular visitor in the garden. Males always have a bright red patch at the back of their heads. Downy woodpeckers are only about 7 inches tall. They are very cautious and always take a look around before coming to the […]
This guy has been pressing his nose up against the patio door some mornings. He’s even knocked on the glass with his paws! I wonder if there is some coffee left for me? I hope you have better luck and get to start your Friday […]
Last week a small flock of 5 golden-crowned kinglets visited the garden. They are about the size of a hummingbird and can survive temperatures up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit by snuggling together in the cold. They don’t really sit still for more than a second […]
Years ago I took a few horticultural classes at the local community college. Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’, commonly known as beautyberry, Â was one of the many plants I was introduced to then. The instructor stressed that these plants like to be close to another one of […]
It’s not very often that I see coyotes walk past our garden, but we do hear them howling during the night sometimes. Yesterday evening a group of coyotes congregated in the dark forest behind us, howling, yelping and barking loudly. They sounded almost a little […]
Which side is greener? This flock of fluffy finches can’t seem to decide … Late Friday afternoon I noticed a kinglet foraging for insects in the butterfly bush. After watching it for a while I went inside to get my camera. By the time I […]
a rodent … no … a hardworking hipster Portlandia squirrel lugging an acorn up the old Douglas fir moving so quickly it’s almost  a vertical blur munching, crunching, keeping an eye on the scene all while hungrily enjoying the local forest cuisine From Portlandia to Michigandia greetings […]
Lunchtime for this little guy! With the weather getting colder it’s starting to get busy at the feeders. Suet is loved by just about all the birds and even squirrels try to get to it. Hairy and downy woodpeckers are almost impossible to tell […]
in cahoots with muddy boots 