Queen of the Thistle Feeder

I kept an eye on this female goldfinch for quite a while. She wasn't letting any other birds share lunch at the thistle feeder. Aren't her pink legs cute?

Gutter Birds

I'm sure these two were staring at me while I was sitting in my office. I think they wanted the feeder to be filled. They got their wish.

Putting on a Summer Outfit

This male goldfinch is molting his drab winter coat in favor of the electric yellow he'll wear all summer.

More Early Purples

A couple of violets are showing their faces. I mentioned yesterday that several early bloomers in the yard are purple: rock cress and muscari are on the list.

Grape Hyacinths

A lot of the early-blooming plants in my yard are purple.

The Water is On

Irrigation season has begun. The water has been turned "on" from the canals and here we go....trying to keep the grass looking good until October.

They're Back to Decimate the Feeders

I was just this week wondering if the yellow-headed blackbirds would be back...and they showed up this morning. They're loud, clownish, showy and hungry. They can clean out the feeders faster than squirrels.

Munching on Pear Tree Blossoms

It's not enough that they've cleaned out the feeders, now they're eating the trees. Geesh!

Seedlings in Every Pot

Tomato and basil seedlings have popped up in every pot. For those growing black pearl cherry tomato hybrids: be patient. The seeds took more than 2 weeks to come alive. These plants will get long and leggy over the next few weeks. That's O-K, and I'll show you why later. I plan on getting these into garden beds the 2nd or 3rd week of May - if temperatures cooperate.

Duck Under the Tree

Our weeping cherry is covered with popcorn blossoms. Look who's hiding underneath.

White Daffodil

This isn't a "true" white daffodil. A closer look shows the center is light yellow, and as these blooms age, they become more yellow.

Spring Flowers

My daffodils are on the north side of the house, so they wake up a bit later than some of the others in the area.

Creeping Jenny Returns

This is a perennial tucked into some of the pots and planters. It spills over the sides with tiny yellow blossoms.

Electric Purple

The rock cress is blooming.

Hello Tomatoes

The super sweet 100s, sun golds and green envy cherry tomato varieties are the first to sprout this year.

Run Quail, Run

Caught this cutie mid-air making a dash for my shrubs.