Birds & Blooms & Veggie Gardens

This is a time of year that I love.  I plant my garden and watch it grow.  I set out bird feeders of all sorts, and enjoy the many varieties that come visit our home.  It amazes me, the many types of birds we have that reside, and pass through here on their migration.  If you feed them, they will come!!! This small thing, brings me a great deal of pleasure, especially in difficult times.  This feeder is stuck to the outside of the window with suction cups, and is in my laundry room, which is visible from the kitchen as well.  It is a very busy spot for seed and nut eating birds like this House Finch, and Grackles.

 Mr Western Bluebird stands watch on a branch next to the nest box, while the Mrs leaves for a quick stretch.  They are sitting on a clutch of 5 eggs.

 I have multiple hummingbird feeders.  It is a job keeping them full.  The migrating Orioles, who are here from March to September, also drink from them.

 Below is an Oriole Feeding station.  I keep oranges halved on spikes, and they love grape jelly.  So I always have cups of jelly out for them.

 This feeder hangs in the garden.  It is simply a tuna can screwed to a fenceboard.

My garden has taken off pretty well, with the exception of the new seeds I planted a few weeks ago.  I have only got a few things sprouting up, which is probably due to the tenacious Toehee's that insist on scratching up the seeds!

The basket of flowers on the garden gate is a bike basket I got thrifting.  I tied it on with zip ties, and filled the basket with flowers.  It is so pretty.  The chair with the broken rush seat that sits outside of garden gate, was one that belonged to my Nana. Instead of throw it away, I put a pot of flowers inside the broken seat.  The front garden has not taken off yet, except for a few heads of kale, and the beginnings of cucumbers and sweet peas along the fence.  I have strawberries in the pot where I just harvested potatoes.  They are going like gangbusters, and I have enjoyed them on my cereal several times already

My mother in law, Mac, loved impatiens, and these are planted along the garage in memory of her.
My cat Maui stands guard in front of the nasturtiums that are planted from seed in the backyard.

 She is a gorgeous Calico kitty.  Almost 15 now.  In retirement mostly, but still loves to watch the wildlife found here on Grover's Grove.

She is still somewhat skeptical about this new house guest, Duke.  Duke has almost convinced her to be his friend.

Poor Dukey  He just wants to play with everybody!!

He stands watch while I go tend to the chickens.

I have a broody  hen.  She will not get off of everyone's eggs.  She is sure she is going to hatch them.  I keep saying I will go get some fertile eggs and let her hatch them out.

 It is the white one, a Lavender Sussex, that wants to be a Mama.  She is making the others a little bit mad, by hogging one of the nest boxes!

Thanks for coming along on this little garden tour.  As Spring turns into Summer, there will be a lot more to see.
Thanks as well, for the warm welcome back.  I appreciate all of the kind words.
XO  Kris