Birdfeeding: Friends of a Feather Flock Together

Today is cloudy and cool.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

I've seen a young fox squirrel.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Of the 6 pots I sowed with Gaillardia 'Firewheel' seeds on 2/23/25, three sprouted.  One of those has since died, but one of the remaining pots had two seedlings in it.  I planted the survivors in one of the mowed strips of the prairie garden.  So that's roughly 50% success if you count by pots, but less if you count by seeds since I put two in each pot.  I plant them by pots, though, so it's not a terrible result.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I started trying to trim grass around the septic garden, but the grass shears broke.  >_<  Fortunately I had an older pair that I could use, but I need new ones.  I did get one section trimmed.  I'm taking advantage of the cool, cloudy weather for a laborious project.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I trimmed more grass around the septic garden.  

I've seen a mourning dove, a phoebe, and two young ground squirrels.

The first peas sprouted a couple days ago and more are up now.  :D  The 'Chocolate Sprinkles' cherry tomato has the first green fruit, although it's among the last ones I planted, just over a week ago.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I wanted to go back out, but it was raining.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Eventually it stopped raining long enough for me to do more trimming.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- Aaaaand now it's raining again.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I got back outside and started pulling weeds from inside the septic garden.

EDIT 5/22/25 -- I pulled more weeds from inside the septic garden.

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

Today is cloudy, warm, and damp with a light breeze.  It rained last night.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches plus a catbird.  We seem to have a lot of catbirds this year.

I put out water for the birds.

I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I did a bit more work outside.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I trimmed grass beside the new picnic table, filled one of the new taupe pots, then planted it with a 'Pink Berkeley' tomato and Charleston Food Forest marigold seeds.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I sowed cypress vine seeds around the support wire of the telephone pole.  Asiatic lilies have buds.

I planted 'Purple Ruffles' basil and curry plant in a trough on the old picnic table.

The new variegated iris is blooming pale lavender with a strong cotton candy smell.  :D

I've seen a brown thrasher, a blue jay, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I planted a Shasta daisy in the white garden.  There's another one blooming there from earlier.  \o/

I started pulling grass from the septic garden.  I sowed cypress vine there.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I brought in the flats of pots.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I sowed borage and summer savory seeds in the trough pot with the basil and curry.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I sowed 'Lovely Lettuce Mesclun Blend' in 3 pots on the top shelf of the metal planter.

I've seen the black-sided skunk.

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

Today is mostly sunny and mild.

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

I put out water for the birds.

I put out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- We drilled drain holes in the 2 giant pots we bought yesterday.  I'm wondering if one would work as a water garden, for future reference.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- While working on various projects, I saw a young fox squirrel on the hopper feeder, who has absolutely no sense of self-preservation and stayed put while I walked past within arm's reach.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I intended to fill up one of the giant pots, only to discover that I'm almost out of composted manure. :/

So instead I moved the flats of wildflowers from the ground at the west end of the new picnic table to the ground east of it, then trimmed grass at the west end so I can later set up the tall planter with shelves.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I got a bit more yardwork done.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I set up the tall planter with shelves at the west end of the new picnic table.  I haven't put any pots on it yet.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I watered the strawberry towers.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I've seen a blue jay and a starling.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I trimmed brush around the patio.

EDIT 5/18/25 -- I trimmed brush around the barrel garden and a few other places.

I brought in the flats of pots.

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

I put out water for the birds.

I put out the flats of pots.

EDIT 5/16/25 -- We went to the Strawberry Festival.  On the way home, we stopped at Backyard Garden greenhouse and I picked up a flat of plants.

EDIT 5/16/25 -- I watered the flats of pots. 

EDIT 5/16/25 -- I was going to plant some African marigolds, but the wind started howling and I could see rain in the distance, so I brought everything back indoors.  Eh, at least the downdrafts made everything cooler.

I found a squirrel tail and a few tufts of fur, so I expect that the careless young fox squirrel became somebody's lunch.

EDIT 5/16/25 -- And now it's raining. \o/

EDIT 5/16/25 -- It rained off and on, then stopped.

I did a bit of work around the patio. 

I collected some microfauna and installed them in the cookie jar terrarium.

I planted 12 assorted yellow and orange African marigolds around the telephone pole garden.  Some of the seeds there are sprouting too.  :D

I've seen a male cardinal and a young fox squirrel.

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

Today is cloudy and warm.

I fed the birds.  I've seen several sparrows and house finches, a catbird, and a blackbird.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I put out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I planted the 'Poquito' orange anise hyssop at the base of the barrel garden.  I figure the hummingbirds will like it, since I couldn't find a jumbo salvia this year.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I planted the iris 'Aureovariegata yellow' at the base of the barrel garden.  Its leaves are creamy green with wide yellow streaks.  :D

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I moved the 4 big smooth pots from the top of the new picnic table to the ground along the south bench.  This makes room for the remaining 3 fluted pots to be added later, and gives me 3 tiers of planting space on the side.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I filled a big fluted pot with half compost and half potting soil.  I planted a 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomato in it.  These were a big favorite last year, so I bought 2 of them.  Regrettably I'm out of marigolds.  I may just use seeds in that one.  I put the pot on top of the new picnic table.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I potted up the second 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomato the same way.

I've seen a male cardinal.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I potted up a 'Carmen' Italian sweet pepper in the last of the big fluted pots and put it on the picnic table.

I've seen a brown-headed cowbird.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I took several 'Ambrosia' melon plants that came in the same small pot, and put them in a much bigger pot which I moved to the new picnic table.  The fruit looks like a cantaloupe but is actually an exotic melon.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I sowed seeds for goldenberry and 'Aunt Molly's' ground cherry in large pots on the patio.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I planted coreopsis 'Permathread Red Satin' and yarrow 'Firefly Red Pop' below the barrel garden.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I planted a 'Husker Red' penstemon in the wildflower garden.  A spike of white flowers is blooming there, something I don't recognize, but very pretty.

The first purple-and-ivory iris is blooming in the wagonwheel garden.  The first two dark purple irises are blooming in the tulip bed.

I've seen two brown thrashers, a lady cardinal, the black-sided skunk, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 5/14/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I watered the newly planted things.

I brought in the flats of pots, now down to 3 partial flats.

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

Today is partly cloudy and mild.  It rained yesterday.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.  I heard a woodpecker drumming, low and slow, so I suspect it's one of the bigger species.

I installed the four new tomato cages.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.

I've seen a brown thrasher.  I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it.

The first new iris is blooming under the maple tree.  It's a lovely pale yellow.  The scent is not quite as strong as some others, but with a definite sugary note like the purple-and-ivory ones in the wagonwheel garden.  A bunch of poppies are blooming nearby too.

I put out the flats of plants and watered them.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- Today's project is the beige trough pots for the benches of the new picnic table.  I have 6 total.  One already has wild strawberries in it.  I just filled a second with compost and potting soil, then put it on a bench.  I also separated 24 of the S-hooks from their clips, so that I'll be able to make cords for anchoring them to the benches.  I couldn't find suitable bungees premade, so DIY it is.  Thank you, hippie parents and Depression Era grandparents for the gift of these DIY skills.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I filled a second trough and put it on the new picnic table.

I've seen a catbird and a male cardinal.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I moved several flats from the top of the picnic table to the ground, then some large pots from the benches to the top, making room for more troughs on the benches.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I filled a third trough and put it on the new picnic table.  I also did a bit more pot-shuffling.  The south bench now has 2 troughs and an empty spot for the next.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I filled the last two troughs and put them on the new picnic table.  Each bench is now covered by 3 trough pots.  \o/  After lunch I will need to make the anchor cords to keep them in place.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- My partner Doug came home with the 2 bags of potting soil, so we hauled those to the old picnic table.  The lawn mower had died in the south lot and wouldn't restart, so we pushed that to the driveway so it can be picked up for repair.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I made the first 2 anchor cords to secure the first trough pot on the north bench.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I made 4 more anchor cords to secure 2 more troughs on the north bench.  That leaves the 3 on the south side.

EDIT 5/13/25 -- I made the 6 anchor cords to secure the 3 trough pots on the south bench.  It started spitting rain about halfway through, but not enough to interfere.  So that part of the project is done, other than sowing the seeds in them. \o/  

These pictures are mostly from the prairie garden.

( Walk with me ... )

Today is sunny and quite warm.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

I put out the flats of pots, watered them, and watered the strawberry towers. 

EDIT 5/11/25 -- We went back to Riley Creek Vintage.  The 15% discount for people who bought something at the Vintage Fair Market is still good today.  Turns out they do that one spring and fall each year, so we'll have to watch for the next one in September.  All of the things we went back for were still there!  I got two more short plant stands, the big tall one with shelves, and the blue side table with a flower painted on the top.  :D

EDIT 5/11/25 -- took some pictures around the yard.

I've seen several catbirds, a brown thrasher, a blue jay, and a young fox squirrel.  I spotted a female cardinal in the red birdbath, which is the first time I've actually caught that one in use.

EDIT 5/11/25 -- I finished planting the rows of the telephone pole garden with Evening Scented Stock, Centaurea 'Tall Mix', Nasturtium 'Alaska Mix', Zinnia 'Big Flower Mix', Sunflower 'Mother Garden Mix', and Towers of Flowers.  

EDIT 5/11/25 -- I sowed Shithouse Marigold seeds around the north and east edges of the telephone pole garden, and Charleston Food Forest giant marigold seeds around the south and west edges.

The south lot has been partially mowed, but the mower is being cantankerous.  Still, some progress has been made.

I heard a woodpecker drumming, low and slow, so I suspect it is one of the medium-sized species (red-headed or red-bellied) that I've seen recently rather than the smaller downies who sound higher and faster.

EDIT 5/11/25 -- I planted 4 yellow and 4 orange large-flowering African marigolds around the edges of the telephone pole garden.  Then I watered that garden.  So that project is done, unless I find someone else selling the large-flowering marigolds and pick up a few more for the long sides.

EDIT 5/11/25 -- I trimmed grass around the telephone pole garden.  That makes it easier to see.

EDIT 5/11/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/11/25 -- I brought in the flats of pots, currently down to 2 partial flats.  I took some measurements of pots and things for shopping later.

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

Today is sunny and mild.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches, along with several blackbirds out foraging in the recently mowed grass.

I put out water for the birds.

I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- Today's main yardening project is the goddess garden.  I have started trimming around the edge and digging grass from the inside, but it is slow going.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I did more work on the goddess garden.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- The greenhouse has arrived!  :D  It is in two big heavy boxes.  The delivery guys were kind enough to put them in the garden shed  for us!  Quality blue-collar workers still exist, they're just rare as hen's teeth nowadays.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I did more work on the goddess garden.  I'm about halfway around the outside edge.

I've seen several mourning doves, several catbirds, a brown thrasher, and a robin.  Yes, the catbirds really meow, and you can hear it on that page.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I did more work on the goddess garden.  I'm about 3/4 around the outside edge.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I did more work on the goddess garden.  I finished trimming and cleaning around the outside edge.  Next I need to do the inside of the garden.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I did more work on the goddess garden.  I pretty much got the inside cleaned up.  Next will be reinstalling the goddess statue.

I've seen a young fox squirrel in the forest garden, smaller than usual, with a less bushy tail, and not very confident aloft yet.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I planted 4 pink peppermint and 4 peach moss roses around the goddess statue.  I'll need to do the outer ring later.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I planted 12 assorted color moss roses around the outer ring, just inside the bricks.  And that project is done! \o/

I saw a skunk digging in the south lot.  This one has a lot of white on its head, a white stripe down the left side, but mostly black down the right side.  So I think it's different from the others I'v seen.

EDIT 5/9/25 -- I planted the last 4 moss roses in a pot by the old picnic table.

I watered the goddess garden and pansy pots.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.  *goflopnow*