April was a rainy month and it's continuing into May!
We had a wild night of storms the night before last that seems to have brought in more hummingbirds. I counted twelve yesterday morning. I wonder if they catch the jet stream? Maybe. So anyway, I put out two more feeders, making it five. Hopefully that will be enough.
I hung the first hummingbird feeder out on March 28th, right on time since they usually show up around the first of April. The first sighting was on March 30th.
A female Ruby-throated hummingbird. There's another one on the back side.
The Coral Honeysuckle begins blooming just in time for the hummingbirds arrival. It's almost finished now but other things are blooming.
A few of the flowers blooming right now that they like to visit.
Nasturtium
Culinary Sage
Penstemon, Dark Towers
The Phoebes nesting on the back porch fledged about a week ago. I hadn't seen them until yesterday morning. There they were in a little tree sitting on the porch the morning after the storm. I think they were hungry because the parents came and they all flew to some logs where it looked like they were feeding the little ones. It was sweet to watch. I can hear them chirping in the nearby trees. Being flycatchers, they are my little garden friends.
I don't remember seeing so many squirrels before but there are a lot! I think the bird seed is part of the problem bringing them too close to the house for my liking. The dogs usually chase them off, or up a tree! But lately I've been seeing one of the dogs sitting about five feet away, watching the squirrels eat bird seed!!! When I open the door, he gets up and chases them up a tree. I think he might be buddies with the squirrels!! Funny but not funny! Now they're pulling the unripe peaches, eating them part way and then discarding them!! I'm not very happy about that.
Last year I watched the apples disappear from the apple trees one at a time, before they were ripe. I couldn't figure it out until I saw a squirrel run off with one! It was a funny sight as the squirrel tried to carry it in its mouth while running away. He kept dropping it and stopping to pick it back up which made me laugh to the point that I was amused instead of upset. They were completely gone before they had a chance to ripen.
So, this year we ordered some fruit protection bags. I put a few on some of the peaches too.
And, since the tomato plants aren't fenced in, I'm putting the bags on the low hanging tomatoes so the chickens won't bother them. Or those darn squirrels!!
Looking forward to ripe tomatoes. The Sungold surprised us with two little ripe fruits so far and lots more on the way. The first one got plucked right out of my glove while I tried to take its picture. He said it wasn't very sweet yet, too early I guess.
Cherokee Purple is this year's surprise so far, just from how many fruits have set! I lost count at twenty. I tried to grow this variety last year but the plant didn't give a single fruit!! I'm happy I tried again.
Bloody Butcher, a potato leaf variety is growing in a pot.
The kale and peas are done and they've been pulled up so the pots can be used for something else. They've been replaced with Shishito peppers and squash.
A recent backyard view ~ Finally, a sunny day.
An afternoon serenade by Mr. Cardinal
I also enjoy hearing the mockingbird sing.
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