There’s been a seemingly endless stream of bird parents bringing their fledglings to our garden this summer, teaching them how to feed themselves. Northern Flickers are in the tree climber/woodpecker family. They are shy birds and easily spooked by people. They also always announce their […]
All posts tagged: close-up photography
Up Close & Personal … The Pileated Woodpecker
It’s been a while since I saw a pileated woodpecker in the garden! Well technically he landed high up on one of the Doug firs just behind the fence. I look at the forest as an extension, a space that attracts an enormous number of […]
Hummingbird Magic!
Years ago I planted a “Cotton Candy” white butterfly bush right outside our bedroom window. During the summer months we leave the windows open and many mornings I wake up to the sound of hummingbird wings whirring by. I open my eyes and am treated […]
Hummingbird Magic
Every time I think of pulling out this bright pink vetch one of my hummingbird friends comes along to let me know how much they love this beautiful invasive weed. 🙂
Up Close & Personal … The Cooper’s Hawk returns
Imagine my surprise when I got another visit from the Cooper’s hawk Saturday afternoon! He came swooshing through the shrubs and landed right in front of me on the birdbath. There he sat still for a few moments, then hopped onto the ground behind the […]
Zunday Zen … Ensō
Open hearts and minds trump ignorance, hatred, fear. One’s character matters! When I discovered these incredible pieces of art on display in an office I’ve been to a number of times, it surprised even me that I had never noticed them before. I came […]
Hummingbird Magic
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 […]
Up Close & Personal … The Western Tanager
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 […]
Happy Friday from the Sara Hite Memorial Rose Garden!
While running a bunch of errands on Wednesday I decided to take a break and visit this rose garden nearby. The Sara Hite Rose Garden sits on about an acre of land. There are so many spectacular roses in bloom right now and most of them are delightfully fragrant! […]
Up Close & Personal … Introducing Dan (the) Quail
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 […]
Up Close & Personal … Song Sparrow’s Bath Time
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. […]
Up Close & Personal … The Townsend’s Chipmunk
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 […]
Up Close & Personal … Painting with Sunlight
Rainbow planet wearing a belt? Potholders created from worsted felt? Gutter ball rolling down the lane? Colorful art work ready for a frame? Bright yellow, green, purple and blue What are you looking at? Do you have a clue? At the bottom of the post […]
Zunday Zen … All Aboard!
Pineapple Express recycled sky-cloud river rushing back to sea. If you live along the Pacific Ocean along the West-coast of the US, you are probably familiar with the term “Pineapple Express”. This tropical atmospheric river originates in the Hawaiian Islands where it gathers massive […]
Up Close & Personal … The Golden-Crowned Kinglet
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 […]
Zunday Zen … Winging it
hungry chickadee coming in for a landing on translucent wings. Have a Zen Sunday! Sabine
Up Close & Personal … The Downy Woodpecker
This time of year we get a lot of woodpeckers visiting the suet feeders. The female downy woodpecker identical to the hairy woodpecker, except for its size and the length of the bill. The downy has a short stubby beak in comparison to its body size. Males […]
Up Close & Personal … Purple Blaze of Beautyberries
Years ago I took a few horticultural classes at the local community college. Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’, commonly known as beautyberry, 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 […]
