The Day I Have Been Waiting For

Hilda Van Netten
2 minutes ago
3 min read

I think that this is our big bird migration day. As I was beginning to transplant lettuces and perpetual spinach into the garden, I clued into the fact that it was very noisy. Birds! Let's pay homage to today's birds as we tour the gardens.

Rusty Blackbird
Blue Jay

Ted has been pushing himself to install new fencing. The old wooden frames were starting to rot and I guess Ted thinks we will be living here for quite a while because he's welded frames for these panels out of rebars.

Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo

It's only been 3 days since I heavily picked the Mesclun greens. The way they've grown since Wednesday, it looks to me like we'll have a good haul next week.

Scar;et Tanager
Northern Flicker

A dear friend gave me these cool tulips one wintery day. Last fall, I planted their dried bulbs. They seem to be happy where they are.

Tree Swallow
Common Raven

I am trying to strike a balance between native plants and hybrids. Also trying to make less work for myself going forward. Hence the row of large ferns next to the cedar hedge. I hope they will fill in that strip so I won't need to mulch or weed there.

American Crow
Cedar Waxwing

Another view of the vegetable garden. Because we grew a "green manure" - rye grass, we chose to use plastic tarps to help it die down so we can plant into that area easily. So far it seems to be working. You can see the part of the tarp that I flipped over this morning. No weeds or rye grass growing there.

Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch

Looks like we have the beginning a decent blueberry crop. Who knows where it will end?

Red-eyed Vireo
Northern Cardinal

And, be still my heart! Finally!!! Our redbud has budded. We purchased this small tree around 4 or 5 years ago. Last year, Ted cut down a cedar that was shading it. Looks like it helped. I am so excited!!!

Great Blue Heron
Common Grackle

While some plants are just starting, others like this colt's foot are setting seeds.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
House Finch

I am so glad that I found a really, really good recipe that calls for red currants. Currant Raspberry Cobbler with Cornmeal Biscuits. It looks like we've got a good start to the currant crop and....

Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush

... someone is working hard to make that a reality.

Gray Catbird
Magnolia Warbler

Next Wednesday we should have a few lilies-of-the-valley to share.

American Goldfinch
Red-winged Blackbird

Some of the native wildflowers like these wood poppies are very happy this spring. Such a happy looking flower. Thanks to my friend, Susan, for suggesting and giving these.