Bird Box Check

Checked in on the bird boxes.  This is all that was in the new box.  Can't imagine that a bird would leave just this one little bit.  I'll have to check back again in a few days.
The old box has the beginnings of a new nest.  Too soon to tell what kind of bird is building this nest.

Fun with tulips, too

Fun with tulips

Just bought some more tulips.  It's so nice to be able to have pretty spring flowers about the house this time of year.

Ten Plague Masks

No offense to my Jewish friends but I saw this in the grocery store in the Passover section and was quite amused.  I am guessing they are used for educational purposes during Passover but the thought of someone wanting to be Lice or Boils I found to be rather odd.  And, hopefully no child would want to be Lice or Boils so much that they would dress up like that for Halloween.  There would have to be a lot of explaining to do around that costume.  Also, in what context would a child don such a costume as Lice or Boils?  It doesn't sound like much of a fun party game.

More spring blooms

Cone flower heads

For the birds

Not sure how these gouges got on the suet cage or who made them.
The sun setting beyond the suet cage.

This is what our lawn looks like under the bird feeders. Now, if I can just find a bird or animal that would like to eat seed hulls. I guess I could rake them up and add them to the composter.

Spring - around the yard . . .

This is a problem

One of the squirrels finally figured out they could leap over to the bird feeder.  Time to move the feeder farther away from the railing of the deck.

Wind flower

I don't recall exactly, but I think this was a windflower or anemone.  I didn't catch this last year but this year I noticed the seed heads just getting all cottony.  At first I thought they had some kind of fungus or disease but on closer examination this past weekend, it looks like the seeds are taking to the wind, hence the name, I guess.  These seeds are really small, too, on the order of celery seeds or smaller.  I guess I should save some and try to grown some more to plant in the flower beds.

Punk Rock Garden Style

When I saw this, I thought of a punk rock hair style.  It's really the remnants of a cone flower from last summer.This is a punk rock hair style gone awry.
I just liked the design and texture of this cone flower remnant.

New bluebird box

I bought Bob a new bluebird box for Christmas.  This one has a plexiglass inside wall so you can open the box without disturbing the nest to see what's going on.The other side opens so you can clean out the box when the fledglings fly away.
It also has a copper ring around the opening so other birds, like woodpeckers can't enlarge the hole.
So, here it is all new and clean and ready for one of our sets of bluebirds to occupy it. 

We've had at least 6 bluebirds at the bird feeders this winter so with any luck we will get two pairs of bluebird nests this season.

Old bluebird box

After watching the bluebirds (Mr. and Mrs.) fly in and out of this box for a few days, I opened it up and was surprised to see it was totally empty.  I thought they were starting a new nest.  This would be the third year in a row that we have had bluebirds nesting in this box.  I was disappointed.The is the old bluebird box, lived in and weathered.
This is the entrance of the birdhouse.  We're pretty sure it's the woodpecker who's been at the doorway.

Our doves . . .

Doves are ground feeders but our doves seem to like roosting on the tray of the bird feeder.  They were hanging out there for so long, I actually thought they might roost there overnight.

More signs of spring . . .

Buds have appeared on the lilac bush.

Tulips are starting to push their way up through the soil.

Day lilies are growing.

Columbines are popping up, too.

Signs of spring . . .

The crocuses are starting to come up and bloom.

Bleeding hearts are starting to grow.