California Backyards

SingingWolf
That is so cool. I hear owls around my house but have never seen one. I wish i knew how to attract them.
SK your GD are so cute. Grandchildren are the best! I love tree trunks also. I have a picture somewhere of a banyon tree I saw in Hawaii with the most amazing trunks.
I'll try and find the pic.
Linda

Burrowing owls are so cool. We saw a show on TV about rescuing them -- in AZ, I think -- from construction sites and re-homing them. They are so darn cute when they poke their heads up out of those holes!
You can sure see the shape in those first pics, SW.
We did put up an owl box but haven't had any takers. Got bats, though! Next, I want orchard bees.

KC, talk to DH about the bees. He can help you get a proper hive set up.
Thrilling to see my little friends again.
Hey, we got bats too, (no not me!) I love to watch them swooping and catching bugs at night. They'll put on a show for you if you turn on a light and point it up. I know, I'm easily amused. : - o
Hope to get better photos, but don't want to disturb the nesting site, especially since DH said he thought he heard chicks in there.
I guess I'll have to track down the woodpecker, the jay, or those roadrunners. Maybe I'll even see some quail. Kind of hard to go birding when Spirit wants to chase them away. LOL!
He doesn't mind the hummers, though.
I think he's afraid of the egrets. They are so tall, but he is getting bigger every day.
Speaking of which he wanted me to send this to y'all.
WIB,
SW

Aww...such a handsome fella. Can't wait to meet him. We've never seen our bats - just their guano! DH put up a house for them and we watch the ground below. Can't be too many from the amount, but we're glad it's being used. We have the plans for the orchard bee nest, it just needs to move up on the project list, then get the bees!

Don't you just hate not being able to peek in the nests? I know when we had killdeer, we would get the binoculars to watch them - it just killed me to see that wounded bird act if we got too close. Don't see them anymore, since the area is planted. They like rocky dirt, apparently.

KaperC--your flagstones are so inspiring!

Hmmm......

We think that our bats live in between the rocks on the hill behind us.
Off for that driving lesson.
: - O
WIB!
SW

Thank you! I will let the builder know. :-)

Well, su-prise, su-prise, I saw the first grosbeak ever on our property today! Pretty sure it was a female Black-headed. She came in for a bath in the fountain. Too quick for me to get a picture, though. The sad thing is I learned they are one of the only birds that eat Monarch butterflies! Monarchs are toxic to most birds.

Also found this nice web site for San Diego area birds (prob. also most of SoCal). http://www.bird-friends.com/

I'm glad I missed all the ruckus on the "previous" thread. I sometimes tend to be a little reactionary and may have tried to match wits with the party that commented on 'our' little thread. (you and I must be kindred spirits Sherry, LOL) Thanks for starting a 'Backyards' thread Kathleen.

LindaCA, if you want to attract local owls, just buy a few baby chicks from your local farm store. Any nearby owls will hear/smell them out. Of course you'll need to protect the chicks.

SW. I see you're getting used to your new camera. Your pics are getting better with each use. Also, great looking Canna. I'll have to post some pix of mine. I have Red, Yellow, Pink and Orange. I bought a five-gallon yellow in May, divided it and planted seven different pieces, now all of the pieces are as big as the 5-gal container I originally bought.

skwinter: I love your tree trunks. That second one is like a work of art. It looks more like a painting than a photo. Beautiful.

I'll post some pics soon. Sorry I've been absent for so long. I've really missed all my friends here. Feels good to be home.

OK, since this is a hodge-podge thread, I'm going to share something really nutty with you. The Cow Song! http://www.rathergood.com/cow
Oh, I listen to this while looking at our backyard through the window! lol

Ok that's beyond too silly---it's definitely at least THREE silly! LOL!!

I dare you to sing that song and not at least smile!

ahem...Kathleen, my good woman...you clearly have too much time on your hands !

I admit though...that IS funny !

I first heard it on the morning news. They use it as an intro when they're doing a story about cows or farming - it's become a favorite. Today they had the writers on the show - they were a hoot! I like the California cheese commercials, too!

I'd have thought they would have been a "mooot"...sorry....

groooooaaaan!

Look what showed up in my backyard yesterday.

Here's the other half. I was going out to cut back the daises, I waited awhile.

Oh! Lucky you....a whole covey of them, too.

They were sure busy. Did a lot of cleaning up! Don't want those seeds to sprout.

Welcome back DP, I missed you. Pink Cannas? You got to share photos.
Sally, I'm glad you got a special Bday present even if it was a day late. I am so jealous of your covey of quail. : )
I know they are around here but you just can't see them. Spirit was chasing low flying birds yesterday, and I know if he actually manages to catch one, he sit on it (like he does with the chickens), and stay there til I rescue the bird. Good thing they fly faster than he can run, but it was so funny to see him racing between the pine trees, chasing the birds. He was running flat out, and you could tell he was having a blast.
KC, I like the Cow Song. I am easily amused, and it brought a big grin to my face. I still ask for a glass of moo at meals. Family is used to it, but it does confuse waitpeople. (Wow, waitpeople is a real word!)
I'm being lazy although I have a bunch of photos to post, I just am tired.
I did see some neat things yesterday and again today, and now that DH has moved his bees, I'll be going walk-a-about more often. I like to go in the mornings when I still have some energy and it's not too hot. Chores first, and you know how they can eat up the time.
I took this photo from about 30 feet away on Sally's Bday. It was at the top of the old walnut tree that has so much character. The new camera seems to do real good on some things, I'm still figuring things out and might actually have it down by the time the extended warranty runs out. LOL!
I still can't figure out why it was hanging out at the top of the walnut tree.
WIB,
SW

Great Picture. I also have a new camera and have not come to terms with it. I guess I will have to play the CD and read the manual. All is well in Las Vegas. Had two wonderful cool days. We are leaving for Hawaii on Thursday very early am. When I get back I have to get started on my winter garden. Take care of yourselves, all of you. I am spending 11 days with 6 of the grandchildren and their parents. From 18 to 6 years old. They are very excited about going to Maui. Matter of fact, so we. I probably will see a bird other than different shades of brown Nevada birds. And the flowers will be beautiful. And they have a Costco. What else will we need...LOL. Our son and his wife and two girls are not going because she is expecting "Baby Boy" in October.

SW my favorite dragon fly!!!

Have a good trip sk.

SW, you are so good at catching those DFs!

SK, that is a great photo.

And you know KaperC that I am taking an extra suitcase to bring home ROCKS.

That's so funny, Sharon. I'm leaving for OR on Wednesday and was thinking, "Gee, maybe I'll look for a rock or three." Great minds think alike! lol

I was born in Portland, Oregon in 1942. Was immediately kidnapped by my parents and moved to Pioche, Nevada. The Government had taken over the mines and solders were sent there that could not go overseas. My father had only one eye so he was chose for Pioche. He went ahead and we, my mother, myself, 2 months old and our little puppy. The puppy got lost in Elko., She was left in the car when my mother went in to change my diaper and get something to eat. When she came back after dinner, the puppy was gone. She had a very difficult long drive to Pioche after that. When she arrived she found out their housing was a square shack with dirt floors and no water or electricity. That is why I am where I am today, because I was not allowed to crawl on the floor. Crawling establish brain development. Oh well, I could have been a "Genius. There is really a long story around this. Just think about it....

Lots of river rocks, if the water is low sis.

That is quite a story sk.

Quite a story, indeed !
So are you making up for lost time by doing a lot of crawling around in the dirt as an adult ? LOL

Good one Mike. I was thinking the same thing, it's what drew her to gardening. LOL. We're not laughing at you Sharon, just with you. Very interesting story. Sounds similar to my own family who traveled due to my father's military connection.
Randy

I think that's why I like gardening and making stuff out of clay, too----I wasn't allowed to play in the mud & get dirty as a kid so I've been making up for it all of my adult life...LOL!

I'm pretty sure I was a very dirty child - though I did have an 'ick' aversion. ^_^
Now my older sister will come in here and say I was never dirty and it's all my imagination. lol I DO know I crawled on the floor, though, because Mom told me she had a gate across the kitchen and I would play with the pots and pans and wooden spoons there.

Thank you friends. I always know you are laughing with me. And it is true. Sometime I am in hole two feet by two feet getting what I want done right. My neighbors are now used to my eccentricity.

Yep, she had an 'ick' aversion. She didn't like being dirty. LOL

I was standing on this step when I took that d.fly photo.

This is the base of the tree. The back side of this English walnut is all hollowed out. The tree is tenacious and gives us good walnuts every year.
Unfortunately, you can't see the top of the tree in this photo.

Found this guy up in the tree. I liked his rosy face and breast. Pretty sure he is just a house finch, but I think he is cute!

Amaryllis and plumbago out back by my pond. Most of the rest of that is weeds, but since they are green we are letting them hang around for now. (In other words, DH is too busy to help me with that part of the yard right now.) I really liked the pink and blue together.

Water hyacinth, in pond. Not me, the flower.

I'm breaking the rules because this last photo for the day is actually at the arch that is at the front gate. I've got climbing roses I'm training to cover the frame, however the pomegranite doesn't care what I planned and is taking advantage of the situation. This pomegranite is centered at the top of the arch. I just like the photo.
WIB!
SW