Happy New Year and best wishes for 2015! As many of you have noticed, I had to take a little break this fall. Sometimes, life just gets busy and something needs to give. I've been taking lots of pictures and notes, so I'm looking forward to catching up over the next few weeks. In the … Continue reading Happy New Year!
Category: Nature
This Birthday Was For The Birds
Every year, my husband asks me what I want for my birthday. I'm usually not very helpful, but this year I knew just what I wanted! Last fall, I decided a little late I was going to get back in the bird feeding business. It had been a while, as evidenced by one of my … Continue reading This Birthday Was For The Birds
A Disturbance at the Birdfeeders
Many of us are used to having unwelcome visitors to our feeders and gardens. Squirrels, rabbits, even deer are common visitors to our yards. Whole businesses are out there dedicated to creating garden pest deterrents and squirrel-proof bird feeders. But, nothing is a match for what came to visit Peggy's feeders. Here's a before... Then, one … Continue reading A Disturbance at the Birdfeeders
August Garden Surprises
I took a walk around the yard today just checking everything out. It must have been a while I'd done that, since I had quite a few, luckily mostly pleasant, surprises. This Rose Of Sharon has always grown in the shadow of surrounding trees which are no longer there. I never understood why it was … Continue reading August Garden Surprises
Busy Beaver
I was out on a bike ride recently with Steve and my mom on the White Pine Trail State Park in Cadillac, Mi. This is a beautiful, partially paved trail extending from Cadillac to Grand Rapids. On this day's ride we rode from Cadillac to Tustin, about 20 miles round trip. When my mom and … Continue reading Busy Beaver
Summer Sunflowers
Normally this time of year, I would be commenting on how the summer heat has been taking its toll on the garden. Not this year, though. The gardens have responded to these cooler than normal July temperatures by being one explosion of color after another. Right now it's the sunflower's turn to show off. … Continue reading Summer Sunflowers
July Meadow Wildflowers
We were out on a bike ride over the weekend enjoying the meadow wildflowers that were in bloom (or prairie wildflowers as we call them here in Illinois). I tried to take some pictures, but between the camera lens being dirty, the mosquitos being so ferocious we needed to keep moving, and taking moving shots of flowers don't work … Continue reading July Meadow Wildflowers
Baby Robins Have Flown the Nest
Most years, I have had at least one nesting pair of robins. They seem to rotate between 3 or 4 places in the yard. This year they chose to build their nest right on top of last year's disintegrating nest. They must have really like this spot! Early April--4 eggs were laid 12-14 days later three of … Continue reading Baby Robins Have Flown the Nest
Spring in Northern Michigan??
While I've had my share of bad winter and spring weather here in Chicago, it still isn't nearly as harsh as it's been at my mom Peggy's house in Northern Michigan. She's still patiently (??) waiting for the soil to get warm enough to get her plants in the ground. Just yesterday morning, there was yet another dusting … Continue reading Spring in Northern Michigan??
The Seedlings are in the House, Literally!
Just when we all thought we had turned the corner to spring, Mother Nature decided she doesn't want to let go of winter quite yet. Temperatures dropped down into the mid 20's and we got about 1.5 inches of snow, although it didn't really stick to any pavement type surfaces. Because of the freezing temperatures, … Continue reading The Seedlings are in the House, Literally!