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.