Birdfeeding

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today is partly sunny and warm. Last night it drizzled for several hours.

I haven't been out to feed the birds yet, but I'm having fun watching them. So far I've seen two gray catbirds, a robin chasing them around the patio, a male house finch, a mourning dove, and a white-crowned sparrow. :D

EDIT 5/8/23 -- Today is warm and humid. There are a few modest puddles in the fields, so at least the water table is topped up for the moment. :D

I fed the birds. I've seen a few more sparrows and doves.

I planted the Super Sweet 100 Hybrid Cherry Tomato in the big square planter that already has landrace marigolds volunteering in it (which tend to be red), added a top dressing of Scotts Humus-and-Manure (which is very heavy and wet), and planted more landrace marigold seeds around the edges.

EDIT 5/8/23 -- I planted a Chocolate Sprinkles Hybrid Cherry Tomato in the second square planter with orange marigolds, and a Yellow Pear Heirloom Tomato in the third square planter with yellow marigolds. Then I did the same top dressing with manure. Once I get everything watered in, I may go back and top it again with the Evergreen potting mix which has a better texture; I think that's a lot less likely to crust over.

There was a gray catbird watching me from a tree.

EDIT 5/8/23 -- I planted Silver Mound Artemesia in the white garden at the end of the driveway.

I've heard blue jays screaming but haven't seen any.

EDIT 5/8/23 -- I planted an Autumn Fire Sedum in the septic garden. I believe this is similar to the one I already have there (probably Autumn Joy), which is enormously popular with insects, especially my beautiful and useful blue-winged wasps. I will happily expand plantings of their favorite flowers to pay them for killing the grubs of June bugs and Japanese beetles. :D

Several sunflowers are already sprouting in the septic garden, along with sundry other things. \o/

EDIT 5/8/23 -- I potted up a lavender viola, a white viola, and two blue lobelias for the patio.

EDIT 5/8/23 -- I potted up a lavender viola, a white viola, and two blue lobelias for the patio.

EDIT 5/8/23 -- I potted up four pots for the picnic table:
* purple petunia, Dusty Miller artemesia, and two blue lobelias
* lavender petunia, Dusty Miller artemesia, and two blue lobelias
* Dusty Miller artemesia and four moss roses
* Dusty Miller artemesia and four verbenas

Repeating some of the same plants and colors helps a container garden look more planned and harmonious. This is helpful amidst a very laissez-faire permaculture yard that looks like a total mess to anyone but wildlife, who adore it. I like having a few tidy little gardens amongst the chaos. Dusty miller and blue lobelia are two of my go-to unity plants. I couldn't find the other two: white lobelia and white alyssum. I'll also use purple alyssum if I see it, but it's less common than the white.

I got the old chair frame untangled from other junk and measured it. The opening in the seat is 11" x 16" so I'm looking for a rectangular or square pot with a wide rim that is smaller than that on the bottom and bigger than that on the top. Then I can grow climbing and/or trailing plants. :D

Also, I've been hearing a sound in the trees that I didn't recognize. Turns out, it is gray tree frogs singing -- and I've heard several of them around. :D 3q3q3q!!!! For a creature the size of my thumb-end, they make a surprisingly loud sound. It is definitely not the green tree frogs or American toads. Usually what I hear is toads singing from the ground. I am so excited to have lots of tree frogs! Who are enthusiastically trying to make more tree frogs. I imagine they will be very happy to find that I have installed new greenery atop the picnic table. That's one of their favorite places to hang out.

... I realized that I spend a large amount of time arranging happy hippy sex lives for the plants and animals who share my yard. Mitakuye oyasin.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Comments

[pronker]

time arranging happy hippy sex lives for the plants and animals who share my yard A worthy endeavor! Yesterday I spent hours in my backyard amid the diminishing cloud of craneflies, which live for ten days or so. Imagine having to do everything in ten days! Anyway, going back into the house I spotted two of them joined end to end on the screen door and said, "Have fun, kids!"