Out of My Rear Window 5/26/11

It's a cool and cloudy morning in the back yard today.  It's only supposed to get into the lower 70's, but, they say that the sun will come out this afternoon.
The usual denizens of the feeder area are around.
The squirrels are scarfing up the sunnies I put down for them.

They're only stopping to get a drink when they are thirsty.

The chipmunks are busy gathering those same sunnies, for the cold winter that they know is ahead.

Got fleas?

The birds are busy fueling up for a busy day, also.
Purple Finch or House Finch, it's kind of hard to tell.

Female Redwinged Blackbird.

English Sparrows

Male Cardinal

While, on the ground, Mr. Tom Turkey puts in an appearance.

And, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard come to dine.

Here's hoping that you all have as happy and fruitful a Sunday as the critters at the feeder.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

The flowers of Spring are gone, but, following in their wake are all of the glowing flowers of Summer.  My garden is beginning to be graced with them.
Sundrops, to me, always herald the arrival of the warm weather.  Their glowing faces reflect the sun.

Scabiosa, or pincushion flower gives a hint of blue delicacy.  Of course, these pictures also show that this gardener needs to get out there and rid the garden, again, of two of the major invaders around here, sour grass and violets.

The begonias that I planted this Spring are now blooming profusely.  For some reason, they're not one of my favorite plants, but they do add color, and do wonderfully in hanging baskets.

I just added this coneflower to my garden a couple of weeks ago.  I had been lusting after it all Spring, but thought it was much too expensive.  Apparently, everyone else did too, because it went on sale.  It was still expensive, but, I think it will prove to be worth it.  The variety is called "Firebird" and it certainly seems to be living up to its name.

And, finally, a flower that isn't in bloom yet.  Daylily fan that I am, I eagerly await blooming season each year.  This year is particularly exciting because, last year I added quite a few new varieties, and can't wait to see them in bloom.  Many of the plants are now showing scapes (stems).  I can't help myself, each morning I'm out there, counting how many there are, and waiting eagerly for the first one to burst into bloom.  The white spots you see on the leaves aren't fungus, they're residue of the deer repellent that I have to use to keep them from eating the scapes.

Come on, babies, bloom already!

Lake Ontario in the early Summer

Tuesday, I took a walk by Lake Ontario.  It was very quiet, not a critter to be seen, except this Robin, looking for food in a quiet little glen some distance from the Lake.

The Lake was calm, waves just gently slapping the shore.

Driftwood was piled everywhere, evidence of last Winter's fierce storms.

And, on the rocks, a miniature forest grew.

In the scrub near the shore, I found Dame's Rocket.  I thought I was too late to see that, so I was happy to see the pink and white blossoms.

This mystery shrub was in bloom.  I'm still trying to figure out what it is, and will update when I get an answer.  The shrub isn't much to look at, and I have to try and see if it's some kind of sumac.  But, the flower clusters are a lovely deep purple, with stamens full of golden pollen.
Edited to add that I got an answer from GardenWeb.  This plant is Amorpha fruticosa , False indigo, and, it is, of course, an invasive species.

And, in a secluded corner, I made the find of the day, lovely Canada Anemones, or Windflowers.  This is the first time I had seen them, and I was enchanted by their delicate flower supported by rather coarse leaves.

But, the overwhelming theme of the day was boats.  These two were on Lake Ontario.

And, these two were on the nearby Bay, where I found that the spot that I had gone to take pictures of all the goings on there had been posted as "Private Property, keep out."  Sigh.  I took these pictures from the road, but I have to find a new spot for pictures of birds and critters, I guess.

I covet one of those pontoon boats.

Big Bird

And, it has four legs!

 In the Winter I have many deer that come to my feeder, but, for the past two summers, only this young buck and another, have come in to scrounge for food.

I think that these two are two that came with their mothers a few years ago.  There were two does, and each doe had a fawn with her.  Those fawns played together in my yard while their mothers ate. I never see the mothers in the Summer any more.  But, now, I see two bucks at the feeder.  They often come together, which makes me think that they are the two fawns that grew up together.  Maybe fanciful, but I like to think it.

Back Later

Because Blogger has, apparently, chosen to be a pain about letting you put pictures in your blog.

Early Summer on the Orange Trail

I haven't been walking.  And, both physically and mentally, I can feel the difference.  So, yesterday, I started up again.  I walked the Orange Trail because it's an easy trail.  And, I made all 1.7 miles of it.  But, boy, did it take me a long time, with lots of rest stops.  That will improve, in time.  And, I did enjoy every step along the path, seeing the familiar sights along the way.

The trail starts out in the woods.  It was a sunny day, and the sun filtered through the leaves, making very peaceful scenes, including the first, where the floor of the glade is covered with ferns.

Deep in the woods, a Robin found a tasty treat.

 As the woods started to thin, this small meadow gleamed in the afternoon sun.  Wild roses edged it with white.

Along the trail, the Christmas Fern raised their fronds.  The undersides of their fronds are almost totally covered with spores.  I'm not 100% sure that I have these named correctly.  Ferns are hard.  But, it's the only one I could find with the correct spore pattern.

While, along the lighter parts of the trail, Herb Robert blossoms.  It's a pretty invader.

And, everywhere, the Wild Rose blooms.  The air was filled with its fragrance.  Most of the flowers are white, but, every now and then, you'll see a bush where some are colored a pale pink.   For all its beauty, it's a virulent invader, choking out native plants and making large areas impassible.

Once you're through the woods, you come to the Great Meadow.  The entrance is like a gateway to another world.

Here, the Turkey Vulture soars.

And, high in a dead tree, a Red-winged Blackbird sings his heart out, proclaiming his territory.

But, of course, what characterizes the Meadow is the flowers.
I don't think I ever saw the Common Milkweed flowers when they were just budding last year.

 And, I'm glad I haven't missed the Butterfly Weed.  It's late this year, just budding and getting ready to bloom.

Other flowers are in the height of their bloom.  This Blackberry blossom was in a shaded spot, and, so, behind most of its relatives, which have already set their berries.

Bladder Campion

Hawkweed

Deptford Pink.  I despair of ever taking a decent picture of this flower.  My camera just can't seem to catch the delicate beauty of its interior, or capture exactly the right color of its brilliant pink.

Cow Vetch

Buttercup

Fleabane

Ox-eyed Daisy

Red Clover

And, everywhere, Yarrow

Then, out of the Meadow and into a few more scrub woods, before I hit the connecting trail for home.  There, I found one last treasure.  Red Osier Dogwood blossoms.  They're not as showy as the Dogwood we grow in our yards, but they have a delicate beauty all their own.  They're almost done, so I'm glad I caught the last few blooms.

It was good to be back on the trails again.  I can show you the pictures, but I can't take pictures of the sounds of all the birds, that I tried to photograph in vain.  I can't take pictures of the smells of flowers and green growing things, or the way the sun beats down on you, warming the last of Winter's cold away.  I've missed this.