Apple Shunned

I tossed an apple in the bird feeder just for the squirrels..and the first customer refused the treat.

How Many Birds Do You See?

This is the favorite hiding place for Oregon juncos, house sparrows, goldfinches, pine siskins and house finches. It's a mini rose bush that drapes over the fence from the neighbor's yard. When the hawks come around, they're too big to get into the thorny twigs to catch the birds.

Ready to Help the Birds for Nesting Season

This mesh bag is filled with pieces of string and yarn, so nesting birds can help themselves to materials.

Cedar Waxwing Peek-a-Boo

A flock of cedar waxwings were dining in the crab apple tree yesterday. I hope to get a shot showing off their colors when the sun returns.

Three Doves

The mourning doves don't mind the rain today. They're perched here scouting out the spilled seed under the bird feeders.

Tie a Green Ribbon 'Round the Cherry Tree

A mysterious green ribbon has wrapped itself around a tree in our backyard. It's just something that blew into the yard during our recent windstorms.

Wind Damaged Climbing Rose

This climbing rose cane didn't survive some recent big wind.

Snack for a Crow

I didn't know crows liked crab apples. Several were feasting in the front yard tree this week, though.

Dried Hydrangea

A naturally-dried hydrangea bloom.

Thyme in Winter

This creeping thyme gets a purple tinge during the cold months.

Seed Thief

Yep. I knew the new supply of seed would be irresistible to this thief...who invited friends, too.

Re-Stocked

Re-stocked the bird feeders Sunday. The way the squirrels have been decimating the supplies, this won't last a day.

Middle-Aged House Plant

An indoor plant from my childhood...literally. I purchased this philodendron at the local Safeway store when it was in a little pot with just two leaves, and I was in the 4th grade. There have been times I've let it grow long and leggy. Over the past eight years, I've kept it trimmed to fit this space.

"Giant" Saguaro

That's what the tag says - Giant Saguaro. It's about 4 inches tall and lives in a bathroom, since despite its fearsome look, it couldn't brave an Idaho winter.

Garden Dreaming and Planning

These catalogs have been brightening up my mailbox over the past week or so. I'm dreaming and planning. Hard to believe, but seed-starting will start in about a month for petunias.

Somebody's Watching

Meet our cedar fence critter, who watches us in the backyard. I like to think he's an owl, or maybe a cat. Can you see him?

House Sparrow Invasion

House sparrows gather probably 50 at a time under, and at, the backyard platform feeder. They don't stay still for long. They swoop to the food, eat for a few seconds and swoop away.

Fuzzy Frost

Frost makes this weed look soft.

Snow Rooster

The rooster that stands guard over my strawberry patch has been wearing a dusting of snow for days, as we're in a deep freeze like much of the country.

Red Christmas Cactus Wakes Up

The red Christmas cactus is the last to bloom this year.

Spiky Frost

Spiky frost has greeted us each morning recently...

Pine Cone Collection

A planter basket filled with pine cones until the planting season arrives.

Bird Seed Thief

One of many daily squirrel thieves who raid the bird feeders. Yeah - I let 'em.

Daylily Pod

I'm imagining a tulip when looking at this daylily pod in the dead of winter.

Patio Visitor

Say "hello," to Damon. He lives next door, but likes to lounge on our patio furniture when the sun is just right.

Snow Toppers

The black-eyed Susan seed heads topped with snow this week...before the rain turned everything super soggy.

Magenta Christmas Cactus Bloom

I thought my Christmas cactus plants weren't going to bloom this time around, but instead, they were just very late. This magenta bloom is in its full glory this week.