Missed you..............

To those who normally follow my blogs I am sorry. I have not been on here since Thanksgiving. I have been sick. I am finally beginning to feel better. I am hoping to begin December on a better note.



Thank you for your support and understanding.
Janice

Garden visitors..........

I took a break from my blogs while over Thanks giving. I was also sick and had no energy for it. I did manage to get some bird pictures though. Pretty much the same ones show up all the time. It looks as though the Red Bellied Woodpecker is going to be a regular though. That's nice. Apparently they are moving further north from their normal territory.



Mr and Mrs Cardinal are here regularly again. They look so much better now. I was worried as I had never before noticed the birds during molting season. They all looked terrible but now they are back at their prime I think.

We always know when the Blue Jays arrive. They come several times a day and announce their arrival with loud squawks and shrieks.


They are beautiful birds. Just so noisy.


We got the Yellow Finches today too. We have had the Rosey ones for several days but this was the first time since summer that the yellow ones showed up. They often travel together.


They hang out with the other small birds and its not unusual to see a whole flock of small birds come in at once. Chickadees are here every day


The Nuthatch hangs out with the Tufted Titmouse and the Chickadees among others


The male Cardinal is cheeky and will often hang out in the bushes until the others leave


yellow Finch



Cardinal in the Burning Bush


The Squirrels are being a real pest and about 5 of them are showing up on a regular basis. Trouble is they scarf all the food and keep the birds away. I let them eat but then try to scare them away so I can get my pictures.

I am having a giveaway...........

I am having a giveaway over at English Spirits Pretty Things.
Do go on over and check it out.

This is the book I am giving away. Go over there to check out the rules when you have a moment.

Robin Redbreast............

The North Wind doth blow
We shall have snow
And what will poor Robin do then poor thing?
He'll sit in the barn and keep himself warm
And hide his head under his wing poor thing.
(Childrens nursery rhyme )



A few pictures of Robins that I have drawn. A few poems I have found.


Bearing His cross, while Christ passed forth forlorn,
His God-like forehead by the mock crown torn,
A little bird took from that crown one thorn.
To soothe the dear Redeemer's throbbing head,
That bird did what she could; His blood, 'tis said,
Down dropping, dyed her tender bosom red.
Since then no wanton boy disturbs her nest;
Weasel nor wild cat will her young molest;
All sacred deem the bird of ruddy breast.
--from The Redbreast--A Breton Legend, in "English Lyrics"




I think everyone is familiar with the English Robin he appears on many Christmas cards, probably due to the legend above.


The little chap below was one of the first birds I saw when I went to England. He came only once that I saw and I got his picture. Robins are very tame birds, very easy to make friends with and so anyone who has them visit is very fortunate.





I am entering my Robins in Just add water silly..........thank you for allowing me to share

Urban Foxes......................

When I was on holiday in England this year, we stayed with my Aunt Liz and Rodney. They have foxes who come in the evening for a meal. In their old home they also had foxes who would come to dinner. The fox has become an urban visitor in the English suburbs. Not so much here in the USA. People here are not so tolerant about wildlife. I suppose a lot of that was because of rabies and disease. I am sure the English foxes are not free of disease but they are made welcome anyway. The farmers maybe not so tolerant because of chickens or livestock, but in the suburbs they seem more welcome.

This man took in an injured fox and rehabilitated it. Some of my friends (in England) say they are a pest and go after their chickens, that they would just kill it. So I suppose you are either an animal lover or not. You either love them and want to save them all or see them as a curse and just something to hunt. I would be sure my chickens were safe and secure at night and probably feed the foxes. This would be heaven for me



They are just so beautiful, they say they would not make good pets. I don't really believe it.

Yes they may not tolerate children, who knows, I would not chance it but I think like most animals they behave as they are taught.



Well if we cant domesticate them can we just leave them alone to live out their lives in peace, learn to get along. Obviously they can get along with dogs.......




I am sure I could have one that would love to snuggle with my poodles but they wont let me have one and none live around this town. We are more likely to have Coyotes here. I have seen fox but not often and usually not healthy ones. The coyotes would eat my poodles so cant have one of those either. Maybe a wolf?

Winter Geraniums ...........

How to save geraniums over the winter in pots



(not sure the name of the painter here)





When saving geraniums for the winter in pots, dig up your geraniums and place them in a pot that can comfortable fit their rootball. Prune the geranium back by 1/3. Water the pot thoroughly and place in a cool but well lit part of your house.

If the cool area you have in mind does not have enough light, place a lamp or light with a fluorescent bulb very close to the plant. Keep this light on 24 hours. This will provide enough light for getting geraniums to last over winter indoors, though the plant may get a little leggy.




(looks like this could be the same artist as above. I love it)

How to winter geraniums by making them go dormant
The nice thing about geraniums is that they will go into dormancy easily, meaning you can store them in a similar fashion to storing tender bulbs. Saving geraniums for the winter using this method means that you will dig the plant up in the fall and gently remove the soil from the roots. The roots should not be clean, but rather free from clods of dirt.

Hang the plants upside down in either your basement or garage, someplace where the temperature stays around 50F. Once a month, soak the roots of the geranium plant in water for an hour, then re-hang the plant. The geranium will lose all of its leaves, but the stems will remain alive. In the spring, replant the dormant geraniums in the ground and they will spring back to life.



(Waterpainting done by me JKS2011)


I found this information at Gardening Know How

I am not sure what I want to do at this point. If you read this and have ideas please email me and give me some hints I would appreciate other peoples experiences.

Reflections of Summer..........

Now that it's gone for another year, the gardens are going to sleep. The birds are finding their nitch at the food tables and the squirrels are getting fat for hibernation.
I thought I would show a few of my older pictures, just to remind us that Spring always comes and Summer follows.........what is to come is Winter with its own beauty but for now lets take a moment to remember.
The Spring flowers first...........


Dandilions..........are sort of a favourite of mine. Go figure


There were many more butterfly's this year thank goodness


Forget me nots were everywhere in my garden

One of my favourite pictures








A close up on a pretty geranium

The roses










Iris, come and go so quickly but are so beautiful while here



The poppies bloomed on and off through summer and I will get some more of these beauties for sure





The biggest asset was the day lillies......so much beauty this year, I just cant get it all in.




I think I must leave it at that, even though I have so many more in my files...........enjoy a rememberance of summer

November the beginning.........

The beginning of November see's my garden unruly. The leaves are down and sitting in heaps blown around by the remnants of hurricane Sandy. Our neighbours had raked their leaves to the sides of the roads ready for pick up. Now its all back again. Ah well, we certainly can not complain I feel so bad for the folks on the coast.
Well, here are a few pictures from recent days.


The Chickadee's are still regular visitors, as are the Cardinal's. Here is Mr and Mrs Cardinal.


She is looking so much better since the molt is finished.


I love the little birds.



A few mums still doing well next door.

There is also this pretty still blooming


Grapes for the birds...........just a few left


The bushes are still pretty.


...and the Holly


A few pretty pansies still bloom....



Look at this beautiful rock......it's beauty never changes.






Asters are fading but I will be getting more next year because they are real troopers


A rose is still beautiful even when it's dead






I am linking with A Rural Journal'Sunday Best and thank the hostess for the opportunity to meet new friends.