Summer is here. Brutal heat, little rain and lots of activity nonetheless. Nesting season for the song birds is winding down. The little Mockingbird nestlings I found in mid April…
have became strong little nestlings under the watchful care of their parents,
and fledged successfully. Momma Mockingbird was not too happy with my excursions to her nest to take the photos, practically growling at me from the top of the tree while I was taking these photos and only to happy to see me walk away.
Now I see those little fledglings playing rambunctiously around the garden, scrapping with each other on the feeders and in the birdbaths.
And a pair of Wrens chose an odd place to nest (as wrens do) in a paper bag on our woodpile near the house.
We were blessed with so many wild flowers this season and Kokopelli was practically swimming in flowers all of June:
Heart leaf Skullcap and Stiff Greenthread spent some time together in the warm evening sun.
The woodland garden next to the bog was lush and vibrant this time of year.
Birds weren’t the only thing busily raising a family:
Lacewings laid their eggs on my elephant’s foot plant in the gentle shade of my back patio.
Here’s a closer look at those little eggs on sticks they lay. Lacewings are so good for the garden, devouring aphids by the dozens.
It truly was a bouquet of flowers in the garden this year!
And as the weather heated up our local foxes appreciated the ground birdbath we set out for just this purpose. What a beauty he is.
With the early June rains the Hairstreak butterflies appreciated the flowering Kidneywood shrub. We appreciate it too. It smells so lovely when it blooms, like strong, spicy honey.
Young fledgling cardinals were everywhere, trying to figure out their new life adventure, begging their parents for more seed,….
trying to figure out how to get into these weird bird feeders,…
or enjoying a refreshing summer splash in the local pool:
A Painted Bunting blessed us with it’s presence at our fountain. They do so love the gurgling water.
As do all the other songbirds around.
The pond finally came into it’s own too.
Leopard frogs returned to lily leaves to sun themselves;
and gentle rain showers left little diamonds glittering in plants and shrubs…
making for lovely afternoon shots.
Rain is always appreciated by everyone.
Even Sadie came out to relax with us on the patio. But her primary focus was that dinner would be served soon. See those begging eyes? Who can say no to that sweet face??
