A Second Look

 If you read here, years ago, I did a weekly feature to see what was happening around my yard. I called it a Second Look. (Here's the post that started it all.) I did modified versions of it after we moved, but our new yard didn't seem as interesting, so I gave up on it. But it seems that's the kind of posts I'm doing recently, so I'm bringing back a Second Look.

BTW, still busy here, but hopefully next week, after things slow down a little, I'll check back in with more news. But until then, here's this week's Second Look.

All of our dianthus died over the winter except this one little clump
with this one little flower. 

Remember the fig tree that grew wildly last summer? We transplanted it in the fall from the pot it was in to this spot. I think the transplant went okay, but the branches did not survive the single-digit temps we had in December. However, we are getting growth from the roots. Apparently, this is typical for figs in our area. So, if all goes well, we will have a healthy fig bush instead of a dead fig tree.

We have two poppy plants that the previous owner planted. However, the spot they are in is now shaded and covered with ground cover. Last year, we had no blooms, so I didn't expect any this year. But a few days ago, I spied a spot of red in the bed and found we did have a bloom. However, I missed its peak, so you see a picture of a faded bloom.

We've been having some haze and redder suns from the wildfires in Canada.

I am particularly happy we have our first blooms from these Siberian irises. We had a lot of these at our old house, enough so that I gave a bunch to a friend. She grew them for a while and then gave some back to me. So, these were originally mine. This house is a much better fit than our old one, but I miss the yard and flowers we had there. So having a bit of the old at our new house makes me happy.

A surprise azalea bloom.

Bachalor's buttons

Robins have been building nests on top of our porch support columns for a few years. They had returned this year to spruce up their old nests. However, one morning we found three of their nests on the ground, mostly intact. Still trying to figure out what kind of animal did that. 

The robins immediately started to rebuild. However, on this spot, a wren has taken over. You can see that a robin uses mainly grass, while a wren uses primarily sticks.

Until next time...

A Second Look

The constant rain has turned into just showers and the lower-than-normal temperatures have turned into hot and humid days. Summer is here. Most of the plants have been happy with both situations. For instance, yesterday I noticed in one of the beds the weeds were three feet tall. Last time I looked, I didn't see any. And the foliage on the day lilies is especially vigorous (what the deer haven't eaten). We'll see if the blooms follow suit.

The azaleas and rhododendron are done blooming, but iris continue to bloom in new places. Many other plants are forming buds, but haven't flowered yet. All of the baby birds are out of the nest boxes and I have cleaned them out. The sparrows and wrens had already started rebuilding. I hope the bluebirds will come back.

Here are a few things I saw this week 

during a Second Look.

Iris

Pansy

Iris

Spirea

Pansy

Iris

Yellow Star of Bethlehem

Iris

Rozanne Geranium

Tulip Poplar

A Second Look--May 11, 2016

We are continuing with our rainy, cloudy, and cool weather. However, it's still warm enough for everything to continue growing. Green is everywhere with just a few trees left to leaf out all of the way. These are mostly the oaks. The hummingbirds are here and we've put up our feeder. So far, a few have found it and that causes a bit of excitement every time it happens.

Unfortunately there are plenty of weeds to feature in the weed showcase. They are the happiest of all from the ample rain we have gotten. But I don't have space this week for that. In the meantime...

Here are a few things I saw this week

 during a Second Look.

The azaleas are in various stages of bloom. If you look closely, it looks like some pruning
has been done on this bush. The deer have helped us with that.

Star of Bethlehem

Another woolly bear on the move.

Black-capped chickadee

The Japanese Iris continue to bloom, but the bearded iris are still just budding.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit. I haven't seen this wildflower for a couple of years since it got accidentally cut down with the lawn mower. I was very happy to see that it had returned.

All of the rain is bringing out some interesting fungus.

Goldfinch

Rhododendron

Geranium, hosta, peris japonica

House finch

Baby bluebirds, 7 days old

A Second Look--Part II

Yesterday, I showed you some of the bird activity and today I'm going to show you a few of the flowers that are blooming. Things are changing so fast this time of year, it feels like I shouldn't go two weeks before I show you what things look like now in the plant world. And oh, it's still raining. However, now the rainy periods are interspersed with just cloudiness. :)

Here are a few things I saw this week

 during a Second Look.

The first Japanese Iris to bloom this year.

Pansy

Peris japonica. This one is about a month behind the one directly across the walk from it.

The bleeding heart are still blooming.

Lily of the Valley

Azalea. Others are just budding.

Nettle

Rhododendron 

Pansy

Raindrops on Lady's Mantle

K is for Kitchen Window

K is for Kitchen Window or

Where I did a Second Look from this week.

Well, actually I did go outside this week for a Second Look, but I also did a fair amount of looking through my kitchen window because of the weather. It has been cold, windy, and wet including some snow. Despite the more winter-like weather, everything is continuing to green-up. In fact, we cut the back forty last week, and the front of the yard could also use it's first cut. Maybe when it stops raining we can get to it.

Here are some things I saw this week 

during a Second Look.

Bleeding hearts

Bluebird pair. The bluebird nest continues to grow.

Tufted-Titmouse. Notice the bolt that Ward installed on the suet feeder. The squirrels had gotten into the habit of opening the door and carrying the entire cake off--even after we wired it shut. So far, they haven't been able to open this arrangement.

The peach tree blossoms are almost gone.

The woodpeckers have started on a new tree this year.

House sparrow

Spring wildflowers (otherwise know as weeds in some places). Dandelion, violets, dead nettle, chickweed, ground ivy.

Turkey vulture

Sunrise out the Kitchen window.