What's That I Hear

After finishing my morning garden watering I was sitting on one of my designated "sitting chairs" and was enjoying the sights of my garden when I saw a slight movement and heard something way across the street coming down the long driveway that is covered with a lot of trees, bushes and foliage.

I rushed into the house to get my camera.  When I returned, two deer (mama and a little one) had already come down the driveway and were on "high alert" as they slowly walked behind a garage and into another neighbors long driveway!

This driveway is directly across from my driveway. Out of four quickly taken photos, two turned out OK. 

The beautiful creatures continued on their walk behind houses and toward town which is only a short distance away . I'm quite sure that they took a different route away from Main Street! 

I love where I live!!!  No bears or lions,  but they are not very far away . Maybe seven miles away .  I have seen many videos from home surveillance cameras posted on websites of neighboring areas. 

Throughout the years living here I have seen many skunks, racoons, opossums and foxes.  But, there seem to be fewer as the population and number of homes have increased . Or maybe I have been going to bed earlier (but I don't think so) and don't see the nocturnal visitors !

A memory I always remember is while looking out my living room window with a flashlight I could see a whole family of a Mama Skunk and Eight Little Babies coming out from a burrow under a huge boulder which surround my property.                                  They were so cute !  

                                                        (google image)

And, then there was the time my little dog got sprayed the first week I lived here!!!  Without a doubt, that was a Smelly Event !

Yes, I love living here and I really have a lot of stories (like the Alligator Lizard) of living here as a country girl - or maybe a little old lady!

Stay alert .  You may see a pretty Butterfly!

Mary

Hello

Sunflowers are a favorite of mine.  August is suppose to be the ending of Summer and I am ready for some cooler weather.  This picture looks so cheerful and I am ready for that too. No specific issues, I just think I am tired and some days the world issues have more impact on me even though my goal is to stay strong and focus on gratitude for the many aspects of my life that are exceptional.

Have a Fabulous Day and look for the goodness in the day.

Mary

Hummingbirds And Their Feeders

Hummingbirds are such a delight in my opinion! They are very little, very fast, very curious, very beautiful, very competitive, very feisty and a whole lot of fun!  I recently came across this little info regarding care of a Hummingbird feeder.  And, some of the information is new to me. There may be some information new and/or interesting to you, too.

If you are interested in some detailed information about Hummingbirds this is a very informative website. I guess I can say "everything you ever  wanted to know about Hummingbirds - and more!   https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-hummingbirds/

And, this is a nice presentation of - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

A few days ago I went to Ace Hardware that has a lovely Garden Center.  And I realized that it was the first time this year that I have been anywhere that sells plants , etc.  That means that I have NOT spent even a penny on my garden this year. And, that is for several reasons. I have not had the energy/stamina to do anything that isn't necessary. Another reason is that I don't have the strength to work with whatever I purchase.

The only activity that I have been able to do in the garden has simply been to maintain it by weeding and pruning what needs it and of course a lot of hand watering and setting and moving a sprinkler.  And, you know what - - - the garden looks quite good.  At the present time, my corner property is bordered with 25 Bright Red Oleander shrubs that are in total bloom.  It is a beautify sight when you approach my corner. I wanted to take a photo but the sun exposure has not been good when I think about it. 

Oh, I found I have a couple photos!  The hedge is about six feet tall and still growing.

In reality the color looks more red.

It is starting to give some nice privacy, which I appreciate.  Especially since I am not particularly well groomed these days! 😎

That's it for today.  Be Happy - Be Healthy.

Mary

The sun is out but distorted because of a lot of smoke.  However, there are some nice billowy white clouds trying to break through.  And, it is already feeling hot and sticky.

With the poor air quality, it seems like there aren't as many birds in my garden.  Since I regularly sit in an outside chair throughout the day and enjoy the presence of nature and the thoughts that gently swirl around in my head and also watch the antic of the birds in particular, it seems quieter when there is smoke in the air.

Yesterday, I did not do a thorough job of watering because I went to the grocery store.  That errand has become very difficult and less desirable because of the pain of lifting much weight.  Bringing the box of CAT LITTER into the house is terrible. Next to impossible. And, they seem to be packaging it in larger-heavier boxes.  Which is good.  But, some days I wait until the next day to bring it in the house because of my pain level!

So, I look foreword to soon going outside to water and check for new growth and flowers.  And, then I need to do some cooking for meals for the week.  Sometimes it is hard to eat healthy when sometimes I don't feel like preparing anything!

Ivy says HI and she says she is being a good girl and enjoying spending many hours a day outside in her Catio.

Take Care.

Mary

Mysteries In The Garden

I was not able to plant anything this year in the raised planter I use for planting vegetables.  However, the weeds found it to be a very desirable spot to go wild.  So, the time came for me to remove them. And, I planned to lay down some cardboard to deter any further weeds.  Like all my activities these day I have to do my tasks in small allotments of time.  A little now and a little then and it gets done.

As I was finishing up and smoothing out the soil a saw something that got my attention in the far corner of the raised planter.

What in the world am I seeing?  As I proceeded to pick it up with my gloved hand it felt and looked like a big chicken egg.  It had some weight to it and felt like something was inside.  I gently returned it to its location and covered it as I found it.  I have never seen anything like it in my garden in the past.

What do you think it is or what is it going to be?  After checking it for a couple days it is still intact and safe.  Is it a lizard or a snake?  Any ideas?  A little strange since I have been writing lately about the lizards in my garden!!!

And, here is a quick photo of the latest new bloom in my garden. 

 

From the White Garden, the Rose of Sharon Hibiscus.  The tall plant is getting limited sunlight because of a very large Fig tree that I have been pruning to give more sunlight thus more blooms.

This morning I have been getting caught up on miscellaneous jobs like refilling the Yellow Jacket Traps with attractant, installed a new outdoor thermometer on the outside window frame so I can easily see the HOT temperature through my dinning room window.  We are having a heat wave and it is currently over 100 degrees.  Also refilled the Humming bird feeder with fresh nectar.

And, of course the daily outdoor watering of the garden!

Have a Great Day and let me know what you think is going to be born in my raised planter.  Of course we may never know if it lives to scamper away!!!

Mary 

Squirrels and Butterflies and A Frightening Lizard

Along with my interest in birds and foxes there are many more creatures in my garden that I enjoy.  Along with the many Squirrels that are such a common sight that I often forget that not everyone sees squirrels when they walk out their front door! 

(I caught this one on the run to get a photo)

There is another little creature that can be very elusive especially during infancy and that is the Lizard!  Since the beginning of gardening season I have noticed a few more lizards like no other year.  During the recent weeks I have notice many many little lizards that are scampering about all over in my yard. I understand that this is the time that the baby lizards have been hatching out of their eggs.  Most of these baby lizards are one of two widespread species in this part of California and they are the Western Fence Lizard and the Side-blotched Lizard.

This is what "the little ones" look like in my garden that I think are the Western Fence Lizard.  When researching I came to realize how many different species of lizards there are around the world  -  and it is a LOT!   It's easy to understand why so many children enjoy playing with lizards.  They really are fascinating.             

                                                (Google Image)

Before this year, I didn't really care much for lizards!  Actually, feeling a little annoyed with them, not knowing where they were going "so fast".  But, now I think they are kind of cute as I constantly see them scurrying out from under one rock to another or an area they feel safe.

Many years ago I had an incident with an ALLIGATOR LIZARD (who looked pretty big to me) that got into my car - - some how.  And, he/she would lie in the back window of the car sunning itself when the car wasn't being driven.  For months we searched to get that lizard out of my car with no success. We even tore the upholstery apart!  What was I going to do.  I feared that one day it would crawl up my pant leg!  YIKES.  So, I kept using the car - always on "high alert".

Many months (maybe a year) went by when one day I went shopping to a garden center to buy a couple large clay pottery pats.  I put then on the floor in the back seat.  Nesting one inside the other.  When I got home I was tired and decided to take the pots out of the car in the morning because my back was painful and they were heavy. 

So, in the morning I went about my day and eventually decided to take the pots out of the car.  I lifted the smaller pot up and "WHAT THE ------"!  There it was!

(Google Image - California Alligator Lizard)

Alright now - RELAX AND THINK . I don't remember the details, but some how I managed to put a black trash bag over the large pot and get the lizard in the bag without the clay pot. 

 Off I drove to an area close buy that was more rural.  Because I didn't want to harm him I dumped him out to rehome him away from my home.  And, I yelled "HAPPY NEW HOME - LIZZY".  And, even now when I drive by that spot I occasionally remember and  say "Hi Lizzy".

A little "crazy" helps get us from one day to the next - - don't you think?

Well, I guess another day I'll comment on my love of butterflies!

OH, I want to mention that yesterday when I was out watering near the front fence I thought I saw "my" fox. It looked like he was lying down, stretched out showing all it's beautiful colors.  Sadly, he was dead.  He didn't look like he had been hit by a car (since he was close to the road) but he looked normal - like sleeping! It was such a shock to me.  I had not realized how attached I had become to my forest creatures.  I found myself putting my hand over my heart!  Rest in peace little one!

Mary

The Plant That I Could Not Smell

That's right.  The day I could NOT smell the Gardenias that had just started blooming, I knew something wasn't right. 

But, had no idea what was going on with me.  And, I don't really have any idea to this day!   If you have ever smelled Gardenias you know what I mean!  It's a fragrance that you can not ignore. My plant is loaded with buds and before long the plant will be a shower of white blossoms.  I have always liked Gardenias.  When I was young and growing up our backyard was bordered on one side with gardenias.  I have no idea who planted them.  But, I always enjoyed the yearly fragrance!

I think it was in 2020 about this time of year that I totally lost my sense of Smell.  I do not know why but thankfully my sense of smell has almost returned to normal.  This was happening during the time I was loosing weight.  Otherwise, I felt fine.  In addition to loosing my sense of smell and appetite I have had a change in the quality of my skin. Never had dry and flakey skin prior.  My appetite has returned and I have gained some weight  The important thing for me is that I am feeling OK!  No doctor that I saw had any assistance or direction for me.  I had vaccinations as directed! 

Throughout my life I have had a strong immunity.  I never had any childhood diseases.  Never had the flu and can't remember the last time I had a cold - but it was a long time ago.  I kind of  wonder if my body was fighting off something!  Possibly Covid . 

With the recent serge of another Covid variant I take it very seriously to continue to be aware of precautions .

My sincere concern for all of you who have had life altering events as a result of Covid!

Interesting World we live in.  Blessings and Encouragement to live life to the fullest.

Mary

Do You Know The Green Man

This is The Green Man that overlooks my garden leaning against the upper region of one of my old and tall cedar trees. He has been up there for years and sure seems to being a good job!

The Green Man is Mainly associated with the symbol of Rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring. Some say he is the ancient guardian of the forest.

Some speculate the mythology of the Green Man developed independently in the tradition of separate ancient cultures and evolved into the wide variety of examples found throughout history.

The Celtic tradition was highly resolved around the fertility of the land and lush vegetation was a sign of prosperity.

Instead of repurposing the Green Man, the church embraced the Green Man through architecture.

In fact, most European churches have Green Men hiding all around the walls and ceilings. Next time you are in one be sure to look around.

You will be amazed as to just how many are scattered around from Ireland to even many parts of Russia.

The reason the Catholic church didn't seem to mind this Celtic symbol was because of Jesus Christ As the symbol is of death and resurrection (rebirth), the church saw it as a way to spread the word of Christianity through symbology. 

My garden has surprised me so much this year.  Even with the terrible clay soil, no

fresh fertilizer or compost and the late frost and snow fall, the blooms have been exceptional!

Similar to the one above but different.  There is slight difference in color and and the one above is edged with color.

All so beautiful, maybe for the fact that I have watered more frequently because there are so many things that I can not do in the house and the garden. And I want to be outside when the weather is pleasant.

A few days ago when I was watering I had an unexpected guest.  It was the most beautiful BROWN FOX cruising along the top of the fence not to far from where I was standing. He stopped and we starred at each other and then he continued with his travels and then jumped down into the neighbors yard.

(google image - California fox)

And, then a couple days later I was along the fence watering and along came another fox only a few feet away.  It looked a lot thinner than the previous sighting.  

The birds of all types have been visiting.  I especially enjoy the red headed wood peckers doing their thing on the trees and power poles! Their noise helps me to see where they are. And, their red crown is such a vibrant red!

(Google  Image - California Wood Pecker)

And, of course the Blue Jays are everywhere and constantly taking care of business!

Another frequent visitor soaring above the trees are the hawks. Reportedly, California has 13 different kinds of hawks.  I think our hawks are Red-Tailed Hawks. And they make a loud screeching persistent sound.  I saw one perched up high in one of my trees making lots of noise. I went for my camera and was able to get a photo with my simple point and shoot camera, much to my surprise.

 

And, Hummingbirds flitting here and there outside my window.

OH, What a Wonderful World!  My Garden is my refuge where I never think about the goings on we see on TV is we watch.

Mary