FLORALS? FOR SPRING?

We sure can't complain about the weather this weekend. It's been downright beautiful, sunny and comfortable. Being away the last couple of weekends, I did have some tending to do in the garden. There was a bit of shopping, a market trip for dinner being grilled later tonight for my uncle who's coming to dinner, and just taking in the garden. It's been a flurry of bird activity that weekend...and the garden is continuing to take off. I was a bit worried at first about the Cassia and Datura Ballerina's at first, what with so much rain, but now the warmer, not as wet weather is doing them just fine. Even the coneflower and dahlia are way more grown then normal for this time of year. The coneflower even has buds already. And the wildflower garden I seeded looks like a huge weed bed right now. The lawn guy almost mowed it over, but luckily, we caught him just in time. Blooms abound. The only thing up and bloomed already in it is the borage. And of all earthly delights the blueberries are in!!! They've been great in granola, over vanilla ice cream and muffin, not to mention just popping them in my mouth. Here's some snaps from the weekend.

Baby fledglings are all over the yard. Here's a baby robin in the lilac outside my boudoir window.

Delish!!! The bush is yielding many berries. I have to keep it covered with net. The thrasher, robins and catbirds are avid berry eaters.

Cassia, one of three plantings.

Catbird. I love their song.

Since my clovers went outside, they have double in size.

Columbine

The Fushia so far has been putting on a show and hasn't stopped. Once our hot weather gets here it will make or break it. We generally haven't had many survive after mid-July.

New to the garden this year. Jacob's Ladder

Nuthatch

Roses...love this new color.

This bed has many roses, sages and lavenders. Smells heavenly.

Coming to get their nuts!

To the dismay of the squirrel patrol.

Sweet William

Yellow columbine

This rose has a magnificent scent.

Borage

Most days I still have no idea what in hell I'm doing or if I'm even planting anything correctly, except for the type of lighting and sun it needs. My mother says I have my grandmother's green thumb. But don't ask me to grow indoor plants. I am pleased so far with the results. Now on to getting the fish prepared for dinner. How's your gardening growing?

USUAL SUSPECT

 

It's been another glorious week in the garden at the Casa du Borghese...even after a cloudy and cool week, but it brought about many more things in bloom, not to mention this week a few new birds I've never seen here, at least in our garden...and a rabbit. We don't historically have issues with rabbit at the Casa but last year after planting a few False Sea Thrifts, a dense herbaceous evergreen with a mounded form and brings about pretty little balls at the top of the tall stems. Last year the balls disappeared after they bloomed and found out they are like gold to rabbits. Oh dear. And the white squirrel Blanca was scene yet again this weekend, this time in the side yard. I had a chance to play with all three camera between here and the park. I just adore the spring, have I mentioned that?

The boids seem to love the Eaatern Red Bud

This week, I saw this bird for the first time. After some research found it to be a songbird called a Red Breasted Grosbeak. Seen them all weekend now.

The other new bird was a Brown Thrasher. Seemed to be on the ground alot when feeding, especially with the fallen seed and peanuts from the feeder.

Meanwhile on the shed door wreath, chirping sparrows are infamous for building nest on hanging wreaths. But I noticed the other day a cowbird had added her eggs to that of the sparrow, to sit on and hatch. Cowbirds for some reason always lay their eggs in that of other birds, unbeknownst to them and that bird will indeed raise them. For some reason though Catbirds recognize then own eggs and will eject the interlopers eggs.

Last of the Spring Tulips.

A yellow throated Warbler.

I just love the assortment of birds I've been able to attract this season. Soon I suspect the Catbirds and hummingbirds will arrive, especially since the Juncos have now departed for the season. Birdwatching can get tiresome apparently.

UNUSUAL SUSPECT

.....in the garden! Bouvier II and what might be another sighting of his girlfriend!

Exciting times at the Casa du Borghese!!!! The white squirrel that had been spotted before in other part of the neighborhood, was seen when I arrived home today! But I could never understand why we didn't see one in our yard. At the time most thought there were two. But now there has to be at least four in the vicinity. I hadn't seen Bouvier II for about a week and a half, and low and behold this scene today! Maybe baby albinos are in the future!!! And it seems to be very trusting and curious.  I rushed in to get some walnuts.

How exciting!!!! I have since deemed her Blanca.

I really need to get out more.

USUAL SUSPECTS

 

When I moved from the Casa du Borghese in Bucks County to the new location, I left behind quite the menagerie of wildlife critters. But luckily the new current Casa du Borghese has no shortage of wildlife or house boys for that matter. The two most current visitors are the birds, and the squirrels. Originally there was just Bouvier II, and now has mated, and we must have about 6 regular squirrels to the dismay of the Mother. Yet, they don't disturb my garden at all, well, except for making a meal of a few of the dahlia stems before they bloomed. Lately they have gone insane forging and bury acorns in addition to the peanuts I give them. The original will take the nuts right from my hand, the others are still leery, but getting closer. I watch. They will bury their acorn and some of the peanuts, but will enjoy about every third peanut, then go back to burying them. I understand they will bury close to 300 or 400 hundred nuts acorn and or peanuts and will remember where each is buried!!! Then there is the play time where they will all chase each other all over the place. I do believe they were a bit dismayed that we cleaned up the yard yesterday of the leaves though.

Here were a few of them right before autumn.

And this week into this morning.

My pots of morning coffee are used in this mug that Duchess Deedles sent me. She has no idea just how perfect for the morning watching party this mug is. It was accompanied by vanilla waffles today with bacon and home fries.

 A few weeks ago, while walking in the park across the street, I was delight and in awe of some albino squirrels!!!!! I have yet to see them mingle with the regular grey squirrels in our yard.

The mug is right. Who rules the world? SQUIRRELS!!!!

Hence why I use them as my henchmen.

Bwahahahahaha haaaaa haa haa