Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sidewalk Christmas Cheer

My daughter and I lined the walkway with a few of these giant candy canes yesterday. She was concerned Santa wouldn't spot our house because we didn't put lights on the house this year (because of the weather). This will do the trick.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Snow, Rain, Snow!

Our weather pattern has turned to snow, rain, snow...and about an hour after I took this photo last night, back to rain :)

Friday, December 17, 2010

Kitty Indoor Lawnmowers

I am growing a few little containers of wheat grass for winter kitty snacks. As you can see, they're a big hit.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Garden Flag

A seasonal yard decoration. I put this up two weeks ago and just noticed yesterday it was backwards, and with Merry Christmas written on it, it was noticeable. I turned it around.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Back for Seconds

Back for more. Bird-expert friends tell me this is a sharp-shinned hawk. It drops by our backyard bird feeders to catch juncos, finches and sparrows.

I See 21

Bird silhouettes against our colorless skies.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Bird Dinner Party - Robin and Northern Flicker

Lots of tasty bug goodies to be found under the leaves as the snow melts. And geesh. There are still a lot of leaves that should be raked...if the weather cooperates before spring.

Somebody's Watching Me

And this bird patiently waited for a couple of hours outside my office window until I filled the feeder.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Nest of Snow

This was a robin's nest. One they built but never used.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Blue Bowl of Big Snow

Another perspective on our snow storm this week. This is a bird bath.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Goldfinch Dressed for Winter

I refilled the thistle feeder after the big snow storm and it was instantly popular.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

House Sparrow Fluffed Up

A little girl sparrow waiting her turn to swoop in for a snack at the platform feeder.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

It's a Bird Eat Bird World

Over at BoiseDailyPhoto.com today, I'm featuring a photo of an American Kestrel that was making a racket in the backyard yesterday. This hawk, unsure of the identification, got its picture taken just after capturing an Oregon junco in the front yard yesterday.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Don't Eat Yellow Snow

Hey! My front yard needs a fresh coat of snow, now that it's been "visited."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Tomato Cage Brights

Right before the first big recent snowstorm, we painted the wooden tomato cages bright colors - thinking that would liven things up during the non-growing season.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Snow Blues

Love how the snow coat on the crazy wisteria vines looks blue before sunrise.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

House Finch

This super-red house finch caught my eye yesterday at the bird feeder.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Scarecrow Snow

My cute little scarecrow girl got sprinkled with snowflakes yesterday.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Another Garden Freeze-Dried Special

Greek oregano. It's another winter bird snack.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Last Pear Hanging

I don't know how it's survived the wind, but it's the last one left on the tree.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Zinnia Ghosts

It was just a few weeks ago that I was posting all the bright zinnia blooms...I'll leave them up for the winter in case the birds want a snack.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Surprise Salad

This planter was full of salad greens, until one day they were all eaten down to nubs. I moved the pot to a neglect-o-zone and noticed last weekend...somehow, a little bit of salad survived the invasion.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Fruit of the Roses

Rose hips on one of the climbers.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Frozen Dead

That's that. The true end of the gardening season with a no-question-about-it killer frost this past week.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Red Christmas Cactus

This bloom isn't fully open yet...and I don't remember seeing one this red last year. It's welcome anyway!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Yellow Christmas Cactus

And another one popped. The Christmas cactus colors are blooming closer together this year.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Stuffed Candle

A new candle in my favorite candle holder - it's an apple spice "stuffed" candle from Rosy Rings that my mom sent me. Amazingly scented and so pretty with all the leaves, flowers, berries and seeds.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Christmas Cactus Already?

A bright surprise this week...the first blooms on the Christmas cactus plants.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Taking Down Halloween

Putting away the Halloween yard decorations today...

Monday, November 1, 2010

Dried Flowers

It was just a month ago that I was posting a series of zinnias here in full bloom. I will leave this up over the winter in case they make a handy bird snack.

Purple Tomato Cage

Wild colors are coming to the garden beds. I'm painting the wooden tomato cages :)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Daisy Surprise

Cleaning up some garden beds over the weekend - and here was a happy surprise. A curly, fringed "crazy daisy" that somehow survived the recent frosts.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Hail, No Snow Yet

There may be snow in the mountains above town, but here in the valley, the white we've seen has been hail...and frost.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Digging Up Spuds

We dug up a few potatoes from the garden beds to make mashed potatoes this week. There are many more to dig this week!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tree Show

I'm sure enjoying my neighbor's maple tree this fall.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

White Glad

The last set of glads to bloom before the big frost.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Last Blast of Color

This is the last one, and it's already been touched by frost.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Critter Suspicions

I suspect a raccoon has been scoping the area under the deck for a home. I guess if these blocks are moved, we'll know for sure.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Pumpkin Arrangement

My talented friend Karen made this for me :)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Cotoneaster berries

A low-growing shrub in the rose garden.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Squirrel Treats

A few hardened ears of corn were discovered while clearing out the stalks, so we put them out as squirrel treats.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Virginia Creeper Color

I love the mauves and purples on this vine in the fall.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Zinnia Gallery Series - Tiny Light Purple

The last one for show...frost has killed them off. But they're on my planting list against next year!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Friday, October 15, 2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Zinnia Gallery Series - White-Tipped

Superstars in the zinnia patch this week :)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Zinnia Gallery Series - Red/Orange/Tan

Featuring stars from the zinnia patch this week :)