Birdfeeding

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today is cloudy and cool.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/22/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/22/26 -- I filled in the two big pots.  I added 4 assorted coleus and 1 dusty miller to the grape pot.  I didn't have time to pick up a white trailing filler like sweet alyssum this time, but the pot still looks pretty good and will look better once the small coleus grow out some.  I added 2 blue lobelias and 1 dusty miller to the blue pot.  

 

This would've been a lot easier if I could've bought everything for those pots at the same time, but it was a case of one place having nice accents but no fillers vs. other places having affordable fillers but not nice accents.  *sigh*  The lack of widely available fillers is a serious pain in the ass.  I use those to unify the diverse plantings: dusty miller, white or colored alyssum, white or blue lobelia.

 

So I've got 6 dusty millers and 6 blue lobelias to mix and match with other things or find somewhere else to put.  I've got 4 coleus left, which will make one or two pots depending on size.  Progress!  Finishing those two big pots was my top priority for today. \o/

 

Also I'm really loving the <a href="https://www.danzigeronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Scaevola-Blessing-2024.pdf">fan flower</a> I tried new this year.  It looks like half a flower with petals on only one side, and makes a great component in a mixed pot.  It came in multiple colors; I got a white one.  It's in a pot with a new spreading yellow thing that's also new, and a yellow-and-white <a href="https://www.sedanfloral.com/_ccLib/image/plants/PDF-600.pdf">nemesia</a>.  Nemesia is beautiful and comes in many colors, but it's a bit delicate and has died on me in the past.  The ones I got this year are thriving though.  These are all things I bought in individual pots.  If I could get them in 4-packs, I could do more with them, but the higher price of individual pots limits what I can do.

 

I've seen a male cardinal at the hopper feeder.

 

EDIT 5/22/26 -- I potted up the remaining coleus in two medium pots, each with 2 coleus and 1 dusty miller.  Those look pretty good.

 

EDIT 5/22/26 -- I planted 2 blue lobelias and 1 white impatien in the rain garden.  I potted up the rest of the impatiens in two pots with a dusty miller each.

 

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