Daily Musings

How about a thread where we could post small ideas, observations and the like.
Like yesterday I counted 5 baby praying mantis in the yard. I hope they don't eat each other, LOL.
Or, I hope all you Bird Bath owners are keeping them fresh and filled during this heat wave. Mine hardly goes 3 minutes without a visitor.
Or, This hot weather is really making my sidekick Sarah shed.

I often sit in the yard with the Laptop and observe small natural events.
A young bird chasing a flying insect, boy they are quick.

I've been thinking about this kind of thread for a while and hope it doesn't sound ephemeral.
Did you notice some little thing of interest lately?

Andy P

Andy - my most interesting thing lately was that i filled up the birdbath and watered all the shrubs around it - and the black capped chicadees bathed themselves in the wet shrub and not the birdbath.

Seems to me that you're talking about recording ephemeral events, but the idea itself certainly isn't! What about "Walden Pond" and the observational journals of many other writers.

This sounds like a good idea to me --- it might even help some of us to "switch gears" so that we can get the most benefit out of our gardening addictions!

The only current thing that I can add is that in my brief sojourn outdoors in this horrible heat and humidity, I noticed a large black butterfly enjoying the nasturtiums in my vegetable patch. I tried to get a better look to see if it was one of the swallowtails, but it was moving too quickly for me to keep up.

A week or so ago, as I was pulling up grass and assorted weeds, I heard a funny sort of "peep, peep, peep" and looked up to see a beautiful green hummingbird only about 18 inches away, also feasting on nasturtiums. You know, much as these plants can get to be invasive, they return so many favors. If they stopped re-seeding themselves, I would definitely have to go get more seeds.

One more observation for today --- I now have loads of blue Nigella and a few white ones. Today I saw one plant that's producing pinkish-purplish flowers. I never even knew they grew that color. I also found a very few plants that are producing double flowered types. It's amazing to see what Mother Nature does all on her own.

Al, Maybe the water is too deep in the bath for the smaller birds. Interesting observation, though.
McCool, Maybe I have a little Thoreau in me?
When you think about it, isn't this what gardening is about? To see Nature evolve and grow. (So philosophical, I'm getting a head ache. LOL)
Andy P

I have a female white- not white tailed- white deer that visits my yard. She's not albino. She has brown eyes. There's a pack of them that roam here. She's by herself because she's pregnant and she's so pretty. She doesn't stay long enough for me to find my camera. Hopefully soon!

I just went out and filled my birdbath. It has a crack that I will remember to mend this weekend. I don't see too many birds but "someone" found the ripe blackberries and helped themselves. As long as they don't get them all - that is fine with me. I put a net over my blueberries bacause there are just a few and this is the first year I will get to eat them. I gave some water to the Maine Apple Trees I planted in my neighbor's yard over the weekend. They seem to be settling in nicely. They are "mystery" trees that contribute to the genetic diversity of the planet and maybe, just maybe there will be some tasty apples in the future. Even if "we" don't think they are tasty, I 'm sure the local critters will enjoy them.

My magnolia is blooming again - first time ever for a second blooming. Only 6 blossoms - but, hey. K

Mygypsyrose, keep the camera in your pocket. I'd really like to see that white deer.

Years ago I transplanted what I thought was a White Birch seedling. It turned out to be a Mulberry. The birds devour the fruit fast, leaving my cultivated fruit alone. Mulberry season is ending, I may have to get the nets out too. The tree is messy but it's on the side of the yard where messes don't matter.

Thanks every one for joining in here. I very much enjoy reading your observations.
Andy P

Andy, I like your new thread. Only have one contribution today. I've been carrying my camera and hoping for butterfly pics. There was a big, beautiful orange and black butterfly (I'm guessing a monarch) trying to get to my butterfly garden today. It was extremely windy. I stood out there watching for the longest time hoping it would light somewhere. The poor thing really tried but kept getting blown off course. It finally gave and went where the wind took it. should have had a movie camera

gram

Hi Andy! Hi gram! Hi Al! Hi everyone.

I put out a birdfeeder this year. First time. I've seen many sparrows, mourning doves, and a cardinal or two. They scatter when I open the door, and wait nearby for me to finish my tasks, water, weed, fill the feeder. If I'm at the other end of the garden, only about ten feet away, and my back is turned, it seems they can't help sneaking down and stealing a couple of seeds. If I move, I hear them scatter again.

But the problem is, I made the mistake of putting the thing over a flower bed. Now my pansies are being choked out by all the seeds that have taken root. (Guess I haven't been as attentive as I should have been) Nobody told me they were going to be so messy!

By the way, is it mourning doves or morning doves?

Nap, Its mourning dove. I believe because they sound like they are crying.

Too hot out for me to have any thoughts while I was out there. Anyone else get Fine Gardening magazine? Good quiz on "what type of gardener are you?" Whether you are more controlled or spontaneous, private or expressive, etc I am definitely the latter in both.

I'll join in if I may. Walked the gardens even with all this heat the mosquitoes drove me in. This week seems to be the peak of all my daylilies. I need to do a search for later blooming ones. Yesterday while hosing off my horse a bird nearly landed on his head trying to get in the water spray. We also have a white tailed deer that visits the pasture and will eat with the horses. Stay cool

I love sitting out in the morning. It's quiet and the neighbors aren't out yet. I was enjoying listening to the Chickadees. There's a new family in the yard. I'm guessing the babies have been big enough to fly for about 2 weeks now. There are also some infant Orioles taking care of the bugs. My other friend has been a lite grey bird. Seems like a cross between a starling and a cat bird. Anyway, I think it has an injured wing. It was in the bird bath cleaning and preening with me sitting next to it and I noticed some flesh showing on the under part of the right wing. I've been noticing that she also likes to hop/walk around and is not overly frightened of me. I'm not worried yet, as I've also noticed that she has a great appetite! Bon Apetite!!!!

Heat and mosquitoes are the topic around here, too.
I tried to water a new flower bed late yesterday, the skeeters were so bad even the dog wanted to go in, lol.
Last Summer was my first with a digital camera. I tried and tried to get Butterfly shots. By the time I started to get decent pics the season was almost over.
This year the first 2 tries have been successful.
I just snapped this one an hour ago. I had to be patient and move slowly, but I got it on the Dahlias around the bird bath.
Andy P

WOW!!!!

K

Well this has been an exciting few minutes.
I'm sitting in the back yard and a baby Catbird falls out of a tree only a few feet from me.
Sarah jumps up to check it out. She will go after any thing that 'invades' her yard. She is good though and backs away on command.
I didn't even know there was a nest up there, the tree is dense.
I had just snapped more pics of that butterfly (it came back) so the camera was handy.
I asked Sarah (my dog) to get close for a cool pic. Mistake!! She grabbed it, but dropped it quickly. I picked the poor little thing up and put it back in the tree.
Meanwhile the adult birds are going crazy.
Soon the baby jumps down onto the lawn again, Sarah 'stays' and it slowly hops into some Day Lilies for cover. Then hops a good 30 feet to the edge of the yard where one adult feeds it while the other squawks like mad to distract us.
It has now hopped into the brush away from the dog but into a cat shortcut between yards.
Good luck little guy. As Anita said, "Bon Appetite"!
Andy P

Don't you just love the little ones???

Well, Andy, you've been busy. It's amazing how much 'nature' goes on right in our own backyards. So I was having a little quiet time in the yard this evening, took my camera, but I swear the critters've gotten together and decided not to cooperate. The great blue heron landed way down the lake with only his head showing and didn't move for an hour, the very butterfly that Andy photographed spent a while teasing me, practically landing on my head and then zipped away, the hummingbirds were at 2 of my feeders the second I came in the house. One of my neighbors from down the lake was taking her dog for a ride in a paddleboat...thought it was cute. Oh yeah, the critters did take a vote. They decided it would be safer to keep me in a little people zoo here LOL

.....and they put up a sign

Gram, I've had a butterfly that I was chasing brush my face as it flew by (last year).
They can be mighty frustrating.
Your story gave me a big smile, thank you.
Andy P

You're welcome :-)

I like this thread. I have been out early every morning with the dog {mini dashhound, Noodles} because she has to go out and I want to enjoy my daylilies which are having an exceptional year! even the newest ones I put in last year sent up several stalks each and there have been lots and lots of flowers. It 's been too hot for going out in the afternoon, but I go out with her at about sunset 7-8 or so and enjoy the garden then. we have skeeters too. I had surgery last week and I am feeling glad to be alive at the moment. Appreciating my garden is more precious now.
Martha

That's a wonderful sentiment, Martha. Thanks for that reminder to be thankful. God is so good.

Thanks to Dave47 for agreeing with me on the spelling.

Great butterfly pic, Andy. And the dahlias too. Pretty

I have a three year old living next door. Our yards connect, with only about 8 ft between the houses. So when she's out in the yard and I am too, she always comes to visit. With her Corgi, Jasmine.

I have allowed her to pick the lemon balm and roll it in her hands to bring out the sweet lemony aroma. Also the spearmint and the sage. Now, every time she comes over, she asks if she can pick them. I say, of course. It's so cute to watch her do that. She's a pro!

Then she always asks if she can put birdseed in the feeder. And sometimes I let her water, with my supervision. (She only hosed me once. I THINK it was an accident.)

Hanna and Jasmine....

Good luck Martha!
Nap,Very, very cute!

This is a lovely thread. What a nice idea!

I've lived in small NYC apartments all my life (over half a century). A couple of years ago, my husband and I bought a home in a beautiful, quiet area of Long Island where I garden on weekends. I spend much of my time there weeding, digging, mulching, watering, etc., until I'm exhausted. But when I take a break and look up at the sky framed by oak leaves, inhale the fresh air scented with lavender, and listen to the birds chattering all around me, I feel like I'm in heaven.

Loretta, how lovely for you. I just closed my eyes and felt the peace with you. gardening is a good exhaustion. I got in an hour of quiet weeding this morning, no one outside, no dogs barking, no wind, no heat (yet), our little lake so still like glass, birds singing, the ducks and geese were just waking up....aaaaaaaaaah

I like the peace of the morning too...6:30a-8a... Then the power of Mother Nature reminds you to be respectful of her...incredible thunderstorms last night!!! I was half expecting there to be a tornado. I love the feeling of standing outside and watching the approaching storm. It's energizing! The lightning, the wind, the distant thunder......I love it!

This is the first year I've put out a hummingbird feeder and I'm very lucky in that from the moment I put it out the hummingbirds have flocked to it. But this morning around 6:30 I saw the hummingbird hovering about 3 feet off the ground in the middle of my lawn and catch bugs in mid air. I knew that they ate bugs, but I never thought I would see them catching them, it was really neat! I also have to add that I'm really excited because I grew fern leaf lavender from seed this year and not only is the plant looking healthy and happy but I noticed last night that it's going to bloom soon. Go me!

Morning is my favorite time in the garden, too. When I wake up, I can't wait to go outside to see what's new and to enjoy the peace and quiet (except for the birds, of course).

AlanaG, Welcome to the Forum.

Anita, I too love the storms. While Sarah cowered in the basement last night, I was outside watching the lightning. It was the best show of the season, so far.

I must admit that I don't do much early morning gardening.
Andy P

The above mentioned Hannah tried to help me this Spring with some planting, but ended up yanking something recently planted, came to me with it in her hand and said, "what's this?". It was then that I decided to take some sage advice and plant a little garden just for her.

I took two plastic tubs, only about 18"x12"x5", and filled them with soil. I bought one of those boxes of mixed wildflower seeds at the Dollar Store and sprinkled them into the soil. She has never been interested in them. Not when they first poked their little heads above ground. Not when the first tiny little white flowers opened up. Not even today, with such a pretty array of colorful little flowers filling the tubs. So, although it's called Hanna's Garden, I am the one who cares for it, takes pride in it, and finds joy in it.

Here's Hannah's Garden last weekend...

Those are pretty, Nap.
You never know what might/might not catch a youngsters interest. It was nice of you to try.

On my daily walk with Sidekick Sarah (my dog) this evening, I could hear all these air conditioners working. I guess after the long hot spell, people forgot how to open windows.
What? You say!
Well, it's 65° out there now.

I posted this pic on the Photo forum a bit ago but I think I can post it here too.
I was sitting in the back yard with the Laptop before supper and had a guest drop in, lol.
Andy P

Hi, Alana, welcome. It's my first year with a hummingbird feeder, too. In fact, I've put up 3. We have a regular visitor. We think it's the same hummer all the time. Either a juvenile or a female. Finally caught a few pics today, not good ones, but at least I have evidence that the little one was here :-)

Nap, Hannah's garden is very sweet. I have a granddaughter, now 12 who would have been just thrilled with her own garden at that age.

This mornings musing comes in the form of an apology. In a previous post I mentioned that I enjoyed the absence of the sound of dogs barking in the morning and it occurs to me that many of you have wonderful dog companions (Andy, please convey this to Sarah). I didn't intend this to include all of canine persuasion. I have a neighbor across the lake with 2 small dogs who will bark at anything that moves including each other. they have full access to the yard with a doggy door and electronic fence so it is pretty much constant. not a big deal, but it's just nice to 'hear the quiet'.

gram

nap - when my neighbor's boys - then 4 and 6 wanted to "help" me in the garden - they only wanted to dig holes! It didn't matter to them if I had just planted something in the ground where they determined a hole should be placed - or whether the dirt from the hole they were digging was burying something I had just planted. I've moved since them and I miss them - holes and all! I noticed that when they "helped" their Mom shovel snow - as often as not - they shoveled it from the yard onto the sidewalk. Well - there wasn't much snow ON the sidewalk, so how much fun could that be?

Thanks for the encouraging words, yankeecat! I do know how much you must miss them. Do what I did. "Adopt" one of the neighbors' kids. I hope they never move. At least until Hanna grows up.

(Jasmine had a corgi-brother named Simba, who died over the winter. That was sad, too.)

Gram, I don't like to hear constant dog barking either.
Sarah had to pass a 'bark' test before I adopted her. She has a nice voice and doesn't use it too much.
Andy P

Lorretta, How nice for you!!
Alana, Welcome aboard.
Gram, Your place looks beautiful!
Dave

nap, I'm lucky enough to have my grandkids fairly close by. but I have neighborhood 'granddogs' that I have adopted. almost everyone in the neighborhood has dogs...quite an interesting assortment, everything from a mini poodle named 'Precious' (no, I wouldn't make that up) to a sweet gentle black lab who always wears a red bandana, to a brother & sister pair of some kind of bassett mix that look like some other dog has been set on half-height legs. there was a very dear little beagle named Maverick next door who passed away last year. miss him...we had beagles many years ago.

Andy, I get the feeling that Sarah is a very well-behaved companion and I think I would enjoy her company.

Dave, thanks. I think so, too. this is our retirement home and I just love it here. now if only I could retire (sigh) I've been on 2 weeks vacation...spending my time in the garden, planning for new gardens, hanging out here at DG. I could get used to this.

gram

Daily Musing for today - -

I wonder if I would go insane without my garden? Even though it isn't a "real" garden with structure and form and function like the ones I see posted. It looks like me - full of creative ideas - only half completed, plants usually scavanged or bought on sale or so unusual that they look like weeds to the untrained eye, constantly in creation and destruction (so many seasons - so little time!), pushing the envelope of good taste and the growing zone (sometimes ending up marked "return to sender"), randomly tended, ignoring the needs of the whole. My garden is an outward expression of my psyche in dirt, rocks, and if I am lucky and it rains and the varmits don't eat it, green things too.