Friday, May 4, 2012

Birds and Blooms

Forget what I wrote about sprinkling dried chilli pepper flakes on the ground to deter squirrels and chipmunks from digging up your tulips!! I won't say it doesn't work at all, but the species tulips have no hope of survival in our garden. The hot and spicy bed containing Tulipa biflora (Polychroma) was severely excavated by the critter crew, so those I could salvage, were re-potted and placed where they give more pleasure, at eye level. Until then, I had no idea they smelled so fantastic, so sweet and so powerful, especially for such a small flower.
Other blooms I am enjoying at eye level, are my Auriculas. They never do well for me outside in the ground, so remain potted up year round, struggling through the winter months. But now is their time to shine and this lovely lady, for surely it is a lady in such beautiful attire, brings a smile to my face. There are four small pots all just beginning to bloom, but I remember the first time I ever saw these flowers....the display staged at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in England. Right then and there, I was smitten. Never mind that they don't do well for me, and it is rare to see them in the shops here locally (mine came from another gardener), but for their dainty flounce and flash, I love them.
Some fanciers make their own "Theatre" for the flowers, arranged in frames, usually with a black background and at eye level which I think would be wonderful to enjoy outside near an entry. There are lots of images online showing Auricula Theatres different folks have built, from grand to modest so perhaps someday I might give it a go...if I could accumulate a few more plants to make an impact.

Speaking of making an impact, the garden has been alive not only with squirrels but masses of birds..American Gold Finches most especially making an impact with their bright yellow plumage. But I was taken quite by surprise on April 26th, when I saw a spot of blue on the ground under the feeder...blue blue, so blue I couldn't imagine it was a bird. Not for the first time, have I blessed my point and shoot Canon PowerShot camera with it's terrific zoom lens. I have identified more birds from taking photos of them, than my eyes pressed against binoculars, could ever have. For example, there is no way I would have noticed yesterday, the bit of yellow on the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker's chest if I hadn't taken a photo, and so was able to identify it. But I digress... the blue bird, a rare sighting of a male Indigo Bunting perched on the old plum tree.
I have never seen an Indigo Bunting, ever ever so you can well imagine my heart pounding! He stayed just the one day and so far, I haven't seen him back.

And...an even rarer sight, unless someone out there can identify this bird below, (photo a tiny bit blurred) we believe it to be a Red-Breasted Nuthatch, which has somehow been born with a very long beak. What do you think?
This little bird comes regularly to the feeder so I hope to get a better photo soon. A birder much more knowledgeable than I believes it is an aberrant or mutated nuthatch.

The pickets are mostly stained now, the greens and vibrant tulips pop against the fresh white. It's a busy time of year, that's for sure, but at least now, I can safely say, we have flown into spring and more wonderful days are ahead.


31 comments:

  1. That blue bird is a beauty! I hope the nuthatch (certainly looks like one) manages with such a long beak.

    There were a couple of auricua theatres at a flower shoe we recently visited.

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  2. that bluebird is impossibly blue! breathtaking

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  3. What a beautiful bird, we don't have this species in England.

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  4. Hi Brenda, Sorry about he squirrels getting your tulips. I thin you would do a lovely job of staging a "theater" for your entryway! Your Indigo Bunding is beautiful. You gave me an idea of taking pictures of the birds so you can see them better! Your flowers along your white picket fence are really showey! I posted today. Come see me if you like. Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage

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  5. The Indigo Bunting is beautiful - startling so! Too bad about the tulips - we were in the same situation until we fenced a good deal of the property. It was quite an undertaking but worth it. We're not troubled by squirrels, but the deer ate everything in sight.

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  6. What a great dayof birding. How lucky are you. Great paint job on the fence!!!

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  7. A great photo of that Indigo Bunting. Glad it stayed around long enough to have its photo taken. I always find it a difficult choice to actually watch a new bird or dash for the camera only to find the bird has disappeared by the time I have the camera ready.

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    1. Yes, I was so afraid this one would disappear before I got the camera ready..and worse, the battery was dead but, thankfully, it stayed the day so got a number of shots. This was the clearest. Thanks for visiting the blog Greenfingers41

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  8. Love the indigo bunting shot! I see from the Nova Scotia Rare Bird Alert that they are showing up all over. I enjoyed seeing a couple of them this week in Ellershouse, Hants Co., near me. Maybe some of them will stay for the summer.

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    1. I sure do hope they stay the summer Jeff. As some readers say, they can be elusive so will learn their song from online and hope I can hear them in the woods. Thanks for commenting.

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  9. The indigo bunting is such a treat to see. As the leaves come in I have heard they manage to keep themselves pretty well hidden. We had one pair come to our feeder all summer once ... but never again. Sure miss them. The fellow with the long beak certainly looks like a Nuthatch ... I hope he manage OK with such a long beak .. wow! Lovely flower photos as well!
    ~Michele

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    1. Imagine being able to watch this bird all summer long..I would be in heaven. Thanks for commenting Michele

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  10. I like the "framed" Auriculas so much that I think I might like to try my hand at re-creating the idea. Auriculas are hard to grow here with our dry summers. I think they are beautiful though and would love to have some in the garden. I was intrigued that you keep yours in pots. I was thinking I might have more luck if I tried pots as well. Where do you store the pots in winter?
    I am no expert when it comes to birds. It does look like a red-breasted nut hatch, but man he has a long beak!

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    1. Jennifer, I kept the pots in a room that was about 13 degrees all winter, and kept them watered but they did dry out sometimes through neglect ;-) I will keep them outside now, until the end of the growing season and up pot them if they need doing, after flowering. You are so artistic, I know you would do a great job of a Theatre for them.

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  11. The indigo bunting is amazing. I've never seen one of these either but what a treat to see yours. That second bird definitely has the look of a nuthatch but that beak looks like it belongs on a hummingbird! What a strange sight. Glad to see your garden is coming up beautifully, those little tulips are right lovely.

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  12. It has been a long time Brenda but I have been keeping tabs on you through your lovely blog. Have you let the Nova Scotia Rare Bird Alert know about your bunting and the little oddity? I am so envious! Off to the garden for a lovely day of digging and transplanting, whatever the weather.

    Donna

    PS Been busy learning the ins and outs of a new computer!!!

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    1. Donna, I did let our famous local birder know about the Bunting and the rare bird and I think he has notified the NS Rare Bird Alert. It is a great place to find what birds others are seeing this time of year. No hummingbirds in my garden yet though...late for them.

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  13. Hello -I am returning the favour and have come to see your blog. It was a nice surprise to see a fellow Canadian ! I have always wanted to see the indigo bunting as they are supposed to be in Ontario but so far I have not. Great shot too!

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    1. Thank you Patty. I really enjoyed your writing and your blog. You were kind to visit mine also.

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  14. I love the color of your primroses -- they're beautiful. Gorgeous picture of the Indigo Bunting. They spend their summers here and it's always a treat to hear them singing and see that brilliant flash of blue.

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    1. How lovely to have these birds all summer..wonderful!! Thanks Sweetbay for commenting.

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  15. I've never heard of or seen an Indigo Bunting, what an incredible colour.
    I pondered the problem you have with your bulbs being dug up and wondered if you planted them deeper and introduced a layer of chicken wire and inch or two above them before relaying the topsoil if the critters would not be able to gain access to them......
    This is either a great idea or I have no clue as to the determination of your squirrels!:)
    Paul

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    1. The chicken wire idea is great Paul...work, but great;-) I guess it will come to that, but I do note, there are some species they don't favor, like the Dawins. This also goes for the "Tommie" crocus.

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  16. It is great that spring has finally filled your world Brenda. Great photo of the Indigo Bunting!! I hope it stays there and finds a mate! You might not see them as much but if you learn their song you will know they are still there. Lovely blooms!

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    1. Thank you Carol. I will try to find the song of the bunting online and hope I do hear it in the woodland and garden.

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  17. My neighbourd cat likes to dig up my bulbs. I don't know if it is of any use to you but I plant my tulip bulbs in pots and leave them to grow on, then I sink the pot into the ground when they are nearly ready to flower.

    The things you have to do to stay one step ahead of the wild life.

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    1. Thanks for the tulip bulb pot planting tip. Around here though, it is just when they are blooming they love them!! At least that is when the chipmunks love them the most.

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  18. What you do to the environment are absolutely fantastic. Support from me to you :)

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  19. Hi Brenda - sorry it has been so long...I've been truly madly deeply busy! I totally gave up on tulips a few years ago - either the squirrels get them when I plant them or the deer eat their heads off when they come through. But...one lonely yellow tulip came up on its own this spring and is still there last I looked! hurrah! Luckily the deer don't like daylilies which is the mainstay of my place. They eat the hosta but the funny thing is I DON'T CARE! I think hostas are stoooopid. I only have them as we have such a shady garden and so if the deer eat them - no biggy.

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