Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Then and now plus Wildlife News from Miss B




These lovely blooms are already fallen. There was such an abundance of flowers in May that I couldn't squeeze them all into my twice weekly blog schedule. Still, I could not completely ignore the beauty of the crabapple blossoms. They deserve mention and a photo or two. They bloomed a week or two before the lilacs this year and like the lilacs their time is very brief. Neither the lilacs nor the crabapples have much to recommend them during the 51 weeks of the year when they aren't blooming. We gardeners put up with straggly bushes and problematic trees for just that one glorious week that makes them worthwhile.


These garish tulips are still blooming. It's been a very cool and rainy spring and my bulbs have bloomed for weeks. Nepata is beginning to flower in the background.


A very late blooming daffodil.



This delicate geranium is restful after the hot reds and yellows of the late blooming bulbs. The name geranium is from the Greek geranos (crane) that referred to the long crane-like beak of the seed pod. Some are called bloody cranesbills because the foliage turns bright red in autumn.



~ ~ ~
Wildlife rumors by Miss B


This story just in from our intrepid gossip columnist Miss B.

Mrs Rose Breasted Grosbeak has been seen at a trendy, upscale restaurant dining with the handsome Indigo Bunting. Neither Rose nor Indigo would give our reporter a comment.


Later that evening Mr. Rose Breasted Grosbeak was seen dining at the same restaurant--alone. Are the Grosbeaks calling it quits? Has Rose really dumped Mr G and run off with the handsome Indigo? A spokesman for Mr. Grosbeak denies these rumors saying the three are just very good friends. Our reporter Miss B will have updates as more news breaks.




Please stop by Rambling Woods Nature Notes for more birding and wildlife discussions.


35 comments:

tina said...

Cute Marnie! Very cute! I love that garish tulip but you know I simply adore the nepata for its long bloom. I've been busy spreading it around here too. Have a good day!

Gail said...

They are a cute couple and think of the interesting looking offspring they could have...if only nature cooperated! I saw an Indigo streak by me on a walk at a nature preserve...their coloring is exquisite.

Spring bloom just doesn't last long enough does it! gail

Dog_geek said...

LOL - I feel the same way about a few of our flowering trees - they are worth putting up with for 51 weeks of the year for that one week they look spectacular!

Love the wildlife report - I'm riveted! Can't wait to find out if the Grosbeaks are splitsville or not!

Terri said...

Gorgeous photos. I love that rose breasted grosbeak. They don't come 'round where we live. How fun that Miss B gives us the wildlife gossip!

Anonymous said...

Those Crabapples definitely deserve their 15 minutes of fame this spring! And that garrish tulip of yours is quite striking with the orange & red. Cute update from the Miss B, keep us in the loop on this pair, lol. ;)

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Tina, nepata looks so nice with so many other things. I have clumps of it everywhere.

Gail, it just flies by so fast you can't savor it like you want to.

Hi DogGeek, I know what you mean. About August you want to take a chain saw to some of these spring bloomers. When they bloom they are heavenly.

Hi Terri, perhaps Miss B and I have been reading to many Rita Mae Brown foxhunting novels. The animals in her books are such gossips;)

Racquel, those tulips stand out from a long way away. There is something about red and yellow that draws the eye.

Marnie

moosh said...

Can't wait to here more chatter from Miss B. I also like to read Rita Mae Brown .

MyMaracas said...

These are lovely photos, all of them. I've never seen a grossbeak or an indigo bunting. Thanks for sharing those!

And I do love the gossip, too.
;-)

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Miss B, thank you for keeping us, ahem, abreast of the situation. I have my own theory as to why Mr. Grosbeak was seen dining alone. Poor Mrs. Grosbeak was home tending to the nest and the little ones as Husband dined. Flashy Mr. Indigo just happend to be dining at the same time as the Mrs. Let us know the minute you hear anything!

The Birdlady said...

Beautiful flowers, wonderful birds, crazy cat!

BeadedTail said...

Beautiful flowers and love the gossip from the lovely Miss B! Hope to hear more from her in the future!

TC said...

Ms. Marnie, our crabapple seemed to be exceptionally brilliant this spring, and our pear trees too. I wish the blooms would last all summer. But we've got photos don't we? ;~)

sweetbay said...

Your Geraniums are beautiful. Great shot of the Indigo Bunting!!

Unknown said...

We don't have birds in here, only the common ones. Yours are beautiful and the captures of the tulip and daffodil are great! Nice job!

beckie said...

Marnie, such a fun report from Miss B. Hope she will share even more with us soon. your crabapple is gprgeous! We didn't see much of them around here due to a late frost. My tulips lasted longer this year too. Finally, a year where we could really enjoy them. :)

Lisa at Greenbow said...

The crabapple is definitely worth a post as they are beautiful. The wildlife gossip is hilarious. The grosbeaks have departed from our area. We have few migrants now. Mostly there are resident birds who have settled in for their nesting season.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Moosh, another RMB fan. I used to read her Rita and Sneaky Pie books but they got to be just toooooo far out there;) I do enjoy the foxhunting books.

My Maracas, hello. I'm glad you enjoyed the birds.

Hi MorningGlories, you may be right. Birds are notoriously macho-macho about leaving the little lady to deal with the kids and the housework;)

Hi Helen, thank you.

Hey BeadedTail, Miss B is really getting into this blog gossip thing. Next she will be wanting a novel like Rita Mae Brown's characters.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi TC, ours were extra nice this spring too. Wouldn't it be amazing to have them blooming for months?

Hi SweetBay, it's just a wild geranium but I like the blooms too.

Hi Silvia, the buntings and grosbeaks don't usually remain here very long. This year the buntings are staying awhile and perhaps will nest and remain. Fingers crossed.

Hi Beckie, I have had tulips for over a month. My parrot tulips are still flowering but the blooms are now ordinary singles.

Lisa, most of our migrants have come and gone too. It is unusual to have the buntings and grosbeaks stay this long. Perhaps they will nest here this year.

Marnie

A Wild Thing said...

My plum blossoms were to die for this year too, too bad the squirrels will eat most. Your bird shots are wonderful, hopefully we won't get all the rain that Memorial days usually give us...have a great, SAFE weekend!

Sherri said...

Marnie-you made me laugh when I read the Grosbeak/Indigo story!! You should write a book!! The Indigo Bunting is so stunning!

Love the pictures of the apple blossoms and the tulip-they are beautiful!

Brenda Kula said...

I just love this blog! Just found it, and I love it. I'm adding it to my blog roll pronto. Love the narrative. Love the pretty kitty. And oh, what I'd give to see an indigo bunting!
Brenda

Kathleen said...

Indigo could steal me away ~ he's a handsome fella! I'd love to see any or all three at one of my feeders. Tell Miss B to send them my way and I'll be sure to report what I see!! ;-)
I agree those crabapples are glorious when they are in full bloom. I'm sure someone is working on a hybrid somewhere to make the bloom time last longer, don't you think?? I'd plant one in my yard if they were successful. Have a great holiday weekend Marnie.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Marnie, I'm wondering whether a tree near my backyard is a crab. It doesn't have the suckers crabs normally get but your flowers look very much like mine did. Would you please jump over here and see if this looks like your tree? Thanks!

Miss B--we have confirmed ruby-throated hummingbird sightings, but no photos yet. They are very elusive! ~Miss F (Fiona the cat)

Anonymous said...

Oh welcome to Nature Notes Miss. B. You know that we are a cat friendly blog...This is a wonderfully amusing post for Nature Notes...Thank you!! Michelle

RJ Flamingo said...

Fun post! I wish those birds would appear in my yard - scandal or otherwise!:-) I'm down to the doves, grackles and parrots.

I can absolutely relate. My neighbor has these really ugly ratty "orchid trees" in his yard. But in January and February they are totally covered in the loveliest white blooms. Which turn into these terribly invasive bean pods that turn almost instantaneously into more ratty orchid trees!

Do stop by if you get the chance!

Susie said...

Cute post Marnie and wonderful pics!

Rose said...

Ha, ha, I'll stay tuned for the next gossip episode:) That's a gorgeous tulip! I do wish spring would last longer--how about a month of crabapple and lilac blooms? And even though the tulips did stick around awhile this year, a few more weeks of them would be nice.

And thanks for the info on the geranium--I always wondered about the "bloody" in its name.

walk2write said...

So, did our intrepid reporter make her way to the bird feeder via the catmint? Can we trust her interpretation of the scene? Funny post, Marnie. Keep us updated.

ChrisND said...

The crabapple trees here are just getting into full bloom...the neighborhoods now an abundance of wonderful blooms. Our spring bulbs are also liking the cool spring...still many tulips and some of the graph hyacinths.

100 Thoughts of Love said...

an odd couple, but so very pretty!

Carver said...

What a wonderful array of flowers and animals. I enjoyed this post.

Gayle@Mountain Moma said...

I adored the white blossoms! Yes, we do put up with a lot for one or two glorious weeks, but I look forward to the blooms every year.

JulenaJo said...

Lovely photos, Marnie! Thanks for sharing all that's going on in and about your garden.

oldcrow61 said...

Love Miss B's wildlife gossip. So funny. Wonderful photos.

Nan and =^..^= said...

Am looking forward to more reports from the very observant Miss B.
Our geraniums are just blooming and I love them, too. Tour photos are beautiful!