In My Garden I Do Best

Chart - "A Sparrow's Song"

Design - "In My Garden"

Designer - With Thy Needle and Thread

Fabric - 40 count Sand Newcastle linen

Fibers - WDW - 1 strand over 2 threads

Started - 22 September 2012

Completed - 21 October 2012

I thought I'd delve back into my Cross Stitch Archives for today's post.

As the theme is gardening, it seemed like the perfect time to take a look at this pretty stitch again.

With wonderful weather this past weekend, I have some garden progress to show so I'll link up today with the Tuesday Garden Party and the Maple Hill Blog Hop. 

Under the watchful eye of Tom-Cat Garden Supervisor, my sister, Dad, Mom, and I all spent time Sunday afternoon working outside.

My sister and Dad added more soil to our west end flowerbed.

That's why we have a tractor - for projects like that! 

My Mom and sister then set out several new perennials as well as a Sweet Pea trellis.   

One week later the Currant is in full bloom.  I've yet to see a hummingbird there, but I've got to believe that they are part-taking. 

I am partial to blue so love this little spring bulb.  We've had three flushes of blooms so far this spring.

I was busy too.  I set out all my pots of Salvias and Agastaches and added a dose of slow release fertilizer. Some of the pots still show no signs of life, but I continue to remind myself that even thought it was 71F on Sunday, it is still just March.  I am going to be patient and expect that there will yet be further signs of life. 

I also moved out my Mom's collection of Agaves and Lewisias.

I'm really pleased with how well they over-wintered.

Many of my smaller Sedums and succulents also came through with flying colors. 

Crazily this Ice Plant is already in bloom.

And this Lavender looks as though it spent the winter in southern California rather than western Oregon.

I still need to work on getting my Hostas ready for spring.  They are outside by my greenhouse, but unprotected.  As soon as they are showing signs of life, the deer are nibbling on them.  I have some Fuchsias and other tender plants that I should take out of the greenhouse.  I think that chances of a hard frost in April/May are slim to none!     

Our Festival of Daffodils continues on.

I enjoy all the different colors and forms.

It's hard to have a favorite when there are so many pretty ones.

Wonderful Woodpecker Weather Weekend

  

We had such a lovely weather (71F on Sunday) that I spent most of weekend outside, and do not have much to show with my cross stitching.  I have made a small start on "Gentle as a Lamb". While the word "Gentle" looks black, it is in fact navy blue.

I was not the only one who enjoyed our unseasonably warm weekend!

It turned out to be good weather for bird watching too.

Nice weather if you've booked a long flight north!

And good weather to warm up those wings before taking flight!

I've been putting out stale bread for the jays.

Both the Stellar's and the Scrub Jays like stale bread just fine.

I've had this male Sapsucker stop by the backyard feeders for three days running. 

Here's a Mystery Bird.  I think it is some sort of Warbler.  A female Yellow Warbler or Wilson's Warbler perhaps.

My male and female Lesser Goldfinch came by Sunday evening.

Still waiting to get that elusive good clear photo of the male.

And Sunday evening I was rewarded when not one, but two Pileated Woodpeckers flew past the backyard and lit on a tree nearby.

I expect the two birds were a pair - male and female.  Dare we hope for baby Pileated Woodpeckers?  Wouldn't that be awesome!

Hummingbird Sunday

For whatever reason, I only have one Rufous Hummingbird photo this week.

I guess the Anna's were just extra-active!

I hadn't seen a male Anna in a while...

...so not only did I see a male...

...but in the drizzly weather he deigned to share the feeder with a female.

I wonder if there are baby hummers safe in a nest.

Apparently rainy weather makes for a Feeder Detente. 

These two females shared the feeder for several minutes.

It is a rare sight for me - multiple birds at the feeder.

With few flowers blooming and fewer insects out and about in rainy weather, the nectar feeders become the primary source of food.

So while we may be a bit grumpy...

 ...and it is a bit upsetting...

...we'll just ruffle our feathers and share!

Saturday Critters

Yep I'm late with my weekend posts.

I'm late. I'm late for a very important date."

"No time to say hello good-bye. I'm late. I'm late. I'm late."

About once a week I treat the chipmunks with a few peanuts.

Given the choice between sunflowers and peanuts...

...the peanuts win hands down.

Not sure why this guy looks so grumpy!

While I've yet to have anyone eating out of my hand, the chipmunks do come very close while watching me set out the food each morning.

They aren't the only ones watching! 

Everyone appreciates a good breakfast!

Stripes and Flocks

I started Mosey 'n Me's "Folk Art Cat" back in November and it has not been part of my regular stitching rotation.  Last night I took it back out and stitched a couple of more stripes.

I received MUCH stitching encouragement from the Cat Crew.

While I still see a "V" of geese once in a while...

...I am much more likely to see a group of Turkey Vultures flying overhead.

My large group of Pine Siskins is still hanging out. In a couple of weeks when this Big Leaf Maple buds out I will not be able to see them as clearly.

I will still be able to hear the Siskins - they are noisy chatterboxes!

A group of 6 like this one can sound like 20 birds.

And look who was hanging out with them!

A female Lesser Goldfinch.

And she was not alone - she's on the bottom and the male Lesser is on the right. 

Last summer I had two or three pairs of Lessers.

I am hoping that will be the case again this summer.

Speaking of pairs...

My covey of Quail number seven - four guys and three gals. Now the covey has six members - 3 guys and 3 gals.  The seventh member - this bachelor has been banned and wanders by himself - lonely and more at risk... 

...from predators like this guy!