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?

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.

Goldfinch Dressed for Winter

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

Goldfinches Fledging

The goldfinches are among the latest nesters around here. This is a male goldfinch feeding a fledgling at the sunflower chip feeder.

Goldfinches

Isn't this a sweet little thing? A goldfinch munching on black-eyed Susan seeds.

Cosmos - One Packet of Seeds Will Last a Lifetime

I clearly remember planting the strangely-shaped cosmos seeds among my irises one spring about 5 years ago. My neighbor behind me said something like, "oh, well, you'll never have to plant them again." So true! I do have to do a fair share of pulling them out of areas where I don't want them. Cosmos are good cutting flowers and butterflies like them. They bloom when the irises are long-gone, and the leaves are starting to look ragged and faded. And the biggest bonus - goldfinches love Cosmos seeds. Even when you don't see goldfinches, their chirping and singing is a delight to hear.