Animal Friends~ Eastern Bluebird

I have been trying with some success for several years to encourage the Eastern Bluebirds here by installing nestboxes, and making my lawn a welcome place for them. Last year with the new nestboxes I bought, they raised several broods between two boxes. I have a lot of them again this year, and we've left some trees that are dying out to give them places to cavity nest. They are the target of a lot of predators including but not limited to raccoons, snakes, house sparrows (violent nest invaders), feral cats, hawks, squirrels and a number of others. It seems a wonder to me that any of them survive with all the dangers they face, but somehow they do. The bluebird pictured comes to the top of this evergreen every day to scout for mealworms. I love to hear them in the spring time when they are broody, they sound like they are having quiet little giggly conversations involving some sweet secrets between them, with their little chortles and chuckles. 

The Eastern Bluebird is one of my favorite Garden Animal Friends......have a  great day, wherever you garden. ~JB was here.

Working in my Flowerbeds-What I Planted

Well! Since I last wrote a post, I have covered vegetables three or four times for freeze danger, and we have had a lot of rain, and just so Mother Nature doesn't catch us with our guard down, today is going to approach 90 Degrees in temperature!  Yikes!  The gardens seem to have two modes right now, either you can't do anything or everything needs to be done at once!  I have a lot of photos. I hope I can finally share everything here!

I have managed to get a lot of mulching and planting done, finally. Here with little markers, (because I like those details of it all) is a little map of what's "blooming next".  I can't wait for my beloved English Roses and my Lilies and my Irises and Hardy Hibiscus, and......well, there should be a lot of action here all summer. Right now there are Hydrangeas, with Roses and Irises up next! 

I have to write when I have time, so there may be multiple posts one day, then nothing for a week or so.....but I'm here!  I'm trying to nail down a once a week for sure but until I do, check back because, right now, you never know. :)

Have a great day wherever you garden! ~JB was here.

What I Planted-Nanho Blue Butterfly Bush

Yep, I went back and purchased this Blue one!  It will go in the same bed as my other new Butterfly Bush. We are looking at another cold snap here the next few days!  So I'm waiting until that is over to plant more new things and finish the vegatable garden. Have a great day where ever YOU garden! ~JB was here.

What I Planted: Butterfly Bush

I planted the variety "Attraction" it looked pretty purple to me but the description says it is the "reddest" of the Butterfly Bushes. I can handle that! :)

Here is what it will look like:

The local True Value has some pink ones too, and I might get one of those also. I'm planting these in the flowerbed where my "James Galway" English Rose is in my continuing quest to attract more butterfly varieties. Part of my reasoning is selfish. I want to photograph them! In fairness to me, however, it's part of a long range plan to naturalize the lawn more and have lots of wildlife to watch and enjoy!

Have a great day, where ever you garden! ~JB was here

Tomato Time

 I planted tomatoes night before last AND there's another cold snap on the way! *Note-you can access a different interesting website for each variety description, they are all some of my favorite online seed and plant resources, and find more information on each if you wish.  Tomato varieties Jetstar, Champion, Ball's Beefsteak and one Brandywine. The first two are early varieties, 60 days or so, the third one I never heard of but it's 72 days and the fourth one is an heirloom that's pink but has no disease resistance. The others are hybrids. 17 plants. Not done yet but at least I'm started! I want a yellow (possibly Golden Jubilee) and maybe some little cherries or something and, maybe some other kind of "heirloom". I find all that stuff fun and the breeding on these tomato varieties and their development is just fascinating, all the variety we have to choose from.

Blacks, Purples, Heirloom, Hybrid, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, White, Striped-they are a showcase of modern plant breeding and the very finest of old time genetics. Taste, color, science and art. 

I've been a little behind on writing this year but the weather is keeping everyone hopping!  I'm just thankful we have rain and no 90 degree days yet. Last year was, in a word, withering.

More soon. Have a wonderful week if you stopped in! ~JB