Happy Earth Day!

I've not posted in a while...just been too darn busy.  Today seems like an appropriate day to share some of the beautiful visitors to my garden.  This cutie, a Flycatcher, has chosen a different birdhouse this year.  She usually nests in a box out front with the Bluebird population.

 "Close enough", she says.

Bluebirds are always welcome visitors.

A frequent guest for dinner!

Checking out an abandoned Wood Duck box...

A lovely Cardinal enjoying a shower in the vegetable garden.  We've been terribly dry so many birds are attracted by the sprinklers any time they're on.

This shy Ground-Dove has found itself a quiet, shady spot to get a drink of water.

Sandhill Cranes are also welcome in our yard.  He can have all the grubs he can hold, with my blessing.

My Mexican Flame Vine hasn't slowed down for two years.  I originally put it behind the vegetable garden to cover a pile of firewood, but, oh my, it's taken over!  I hope it continues as it draws in so many butterflies!  We often just hang out in the veggie garden to see what's visiting  our vine.

Monarchs

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Gulf Fritillary

  

The Gulf Fritillaries love this Passion Vine that is also planted by the veggie garden, so I expect to see it being consumed by caterpillars any day.

I'm going to close with just a couple photos around the garden.  Then...I'm going to catch up on some of my favorite Florida garden bloggers!  

Happy Earth Day...Happy Gardening!

Life Within The Garden

We've always had rabbits around, and luckily they've never been too much trouble.  In the past they've cropped a few newly sprouted beans, but nothing we couldn't live with.  They've always been very skittish, taking off whenever our paths crossed.  But then...the other day I came across  this bunny that has no wild in it.  I  walk by this camellia, probably twenty times a day, and was noticing a cat bird often flew out the other side when I passed.  I took a look inside to see if perhaps there was a nest...

No nest, just this bunny.

A couple hours later, I was out front taking a few pictures.

And, bunny shows up again.

She had brought pine straw from the other side of the yard and she was making a nest.

I'm three feet away from her, and she could care less.  She steps out and starts picking pine straw out of her teeth.  She was so darn cute!

She washed her hands.

Then she washed her face.

She hopped under a lily, and appeared to be taking a rest.  When I came back out an hour or so later, her nest was covered up so neatly, you would never know she had been there.

We see her in different areas of the garden every morning now, I'm glad she's made herself at home.  We also have some beautiful birds that have returned for the season.  This Flycatcher has already chosen a house to nest in.

The Humming birds have returned as well. 

This is the first  American Redstart I've ever seen in my yard.  I think he's heading home from down south.  The sprinklers were on the day he stopped and he had a great time playing in the spray.

The same day we had another rare visitor, a House Finch.

This Carolina Chickadee is also nesting in one of our houses.  I'm so thankful for my garden and all the life it draws in.

  I want to share my new adventure with you...they're all tuckered out after a long day.  I've had the notion of getting chickens for some time now, so today we brought six little ones home.  Tomorrow, it's off to get lumber and wire to build a permanent home for them.

Just a couple clematis, one by the porch...

A new one started up the arbor out front.

Thank you all for stopping by.  

Beyond The Garden

Our property backs up to a canal that leads to a small lake.  When we first moved here, of course we did a lot of fishing.  Now, not so much...mostly we'll ride out on the lake in the evening just to enjoy the sights.  You can go along on this trip, if you'd like...

A clump of Arrowhead by the boat ramp.

One of three Wood Duck boxes my husband put up....as of now, they all have occupants.

This is the canal leading out to the lake, and no, the water is not blue.  It's only the reflection of a beautiful Florida sky in dark water.

About half way down the canal, the Great Blue Herons are nesting in the tall pines.  At least three nests were being built.  I think some of the birds we observed were juveniles.

Out into the lake...

A pair of  Mallards enjoying the day.  The males are in their eclipse plumage right now, not their most vibrant selves.  From what I have read, this occurs after breeding.

Just a hint of shiny green when he turned.

This male seems to be protective...sweet.

A pair of Mottled Ducks, looks similar to the female Mallard.

Muscovy

Another pair of Mallards resting on the bank.

This pair of Mottled Ducks was hanging around the boat ramp when we returned, looking for a hand out.

Up our boat ramp, and to the bird feeders they go...

Just one more bird, the Osprey that are nesting on our neighbor's antenna have built a huge nest now.  I so hope they are successful, as we sometimes see the crows aggravating them.

Thank you all for visiting!  Next time, back in the garden.