It hasn't rained in two weeks and while preparing to take pictures of my flowers, a dark stormcloud appeared in the west. Hoping it would refresh my garden, I began to do a rain dance. Alas, I think it was too effective because the rain turned into hail and many of my blooms were shredded. The pictures are few.
Do not assume I am whining about the weather. Oh, no, no, no. My under quarantine lockdown resolution was to complain less, so I am celebrating the rain and hail. Really! (Do I detect a note of skepticism in everyone's mind?)
The rain drastically cooled the air and made it pleasant. There was no hot miserable rush to snap pictures so I paused to enjoy the beauty. While resting, an Eastern Bluebird began chirping and glaring at me from high in an overhead tree. It was obvious she was not happy with my presence.
Eventually, she ventured forth from behind the tree branches and approached an old, rotten birdhouse precariously hanging on a cedar tree. It was a clearance rack find at the dollar store hung up years ago for decoration and not intended for use.
Fear of starving babies drove the frantic mother bird to risk approaching closer. The second she landed on the little house, roaring chirps erupted from inside. Even though I don't speak bird, it was obvious what each one wanted.
Lovely daylilies. Mine are still in bud, or too young to flower, except the orange ditch lilies which are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a bluebird. They are said to be "common" in my valley, but not for me.
This is the first year we have ever seen them and didn't know they had built a nest. Now that we know it, as soon as the young have "flown the coop", Bill will be securing the house better. It is hanging by a thin rusty nail...or maybe I should go shopping for more little houses.
DeleteLove those bluebirds! We have some nesting in the rickety fence posts that separate our yard from an adjacent field. Your photos are super.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been some rain dance! Maybe save that one for when there are no dark clouds : )
Hopefully, the neighbors didn't see me dancing. I would hate to have that posted on social media!
DeleteYou are a better person than me. I am complaining loudly right now, and it's about rabbits. They are eating all my plants that aren't caged, one by one. I think we must have a large nest of baby rabbits in the garden because they're sneaking into tiny places and even eating "toxic" plants, like alliums and Euphorbias! Anyway, your garden looks luscious, despite the hail. Onward!
ReplyDeleteWe have rabbits that have eaten my bean sprouts three times now and I think they moved in under the old shed by the garden. Around here, they get out of control, then suddenly disappear. We think it is hawks. You have tempted me to complain - gosh how I miss doing it.
DeleteOh, what a sweet photo of the birds! I would love watching them. Isn't it funny how baby birds are all mouth? I LOVE your day lilies...
ReplyDeleteWhen my family reads your comment I know they will say I am just like a baby bird - all mouth!
DeleteBeautiful flowers, and great photos of the Bluebirds!
ReplyDeleteHappy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!
Hail! I've tried rain dances here in coastal Southern California without success - I think I'd accept hail in lieu of the early heatwaves we've been getting. Your daylilies look wonderful despite the pelting they received.
ReplyDeleteOh wow those colors of Day liles .That birdhouse reminds me of mine which was captured by squirrels .
ReplyDeleteMy squirrels are more interested in flipping the new bird feeder upside down and devouring all the seeds.
DeleteThank you for those lovely pictures showing the bluebird´s family life. As we do not have bluebirds in our country, I had sought information on the internet. Now I know a bit more.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for the damage caused by the hail on some of your flowers. But I am sure there will be
many more buds that will open now after that unpleasant weather. Gardeners are patient.
Christel
Christel
I gladly traded some blooms for rain, even if it included hail. It didn't damage anything other than the flowers. The temperature dropped so quickly afterwards it was wonderful.
DeleteI just had a nest of Bewicks wren living on a shelf in my garage of all places-the chicks just flew off last weekend after a morning of flying around in the garage trying to figure out the exit. They had success ! I can know move around in my garage without the parents loudly warning me away.
ReplyDeleteThey can get quite bossy even though it is YOUR garage in which they are kindly being allowed to trespass.
DeleteLove the butterfly weed. I planted some of that native this year and it has bloomed a little bit so far but not nearly as gloriously as yours. Bluebirds are always welcome visitors to the garden, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteMy butterfly weed planted itself a few years ago. It grows wild in the fields around here and it appeared in my garden as a weed. It has been in the same spot ever since and gets a bit bigger every year.
DeleteHello, thanks for stopping by my blog. Yes rain can stop play, even when wished for, when taking photos of blooms. It's the greens though than I love after rain. Oh my, you do have some stunning daylilies. I'm liking your darker flowers :-)
ReplyDeleteIn all my years garden watching, it has been brilliant discovering something new when out photographing something else entirely. I smiled reading about your bluebird family. Wonderful, thanks for sharing these images. I loved seeing a bird not seen in Scotland too :-)
Your variety of daylily colors are impressive. And, you have so many blooming at the same time. Daylilies never do that in my garden.
ReplyDeleteYour daylilies are all so lovely and I love the assortment of varieties you have. The photos of the Bluebirds feeding their babies are so sweet too!
ReplyDelete