New garden pics

[golden&hovawart]

Pretty!.

[smkie]

my fingers are crossed that I get one pic of the goldfinches that have been singing to me every morning. I know they are checking on them now. I will have to sit still and quiet, but I might get one. Wish me luck. They are a big reason, but not the only one, that I plant the sunflowers. I love seeing something grow so fast it soars over my head like the first one. It must be 10 feet tall and it's only been alive for a couple months.

[smkie]

[smkie]

I am going to draw from this one
15 minutes after I took this pic all the petals on top had been pulled off and half the seeds eaten. I pulled out the stalks as they finished and left them out for Mr. and Mrs. Groundhog.

[smkie]

Plain old sunflowers. I think I paid 99 cents for the packet. I enjoyed them, the finches have too. Finally I pull the stalks down and set them out for Mr. and MRs Groundhog who visit each afternoon. They live on the side of a steep wooded hill and are no nuisance to anyone. Mr. is a senior and he is funny, and I can watch him from my window while he tries to figure out how to get on the feeding table. Mrs is sleek and fat as a stuffy. She seldom comes out of the underbrush. He often carries a flower or an apple core to her. Next year if I am still here I think I will plant them in a different place, and many many more.
mr



mrs

[smkie]

[~Jessie~]

Those groundhogs are so cute! I don't think I've ever seen one in real life before.

[smkie]

I saw one off of the highway today where sprinklers were running. HE was standing there getting a good soaking. I don't blame him, it's a 105. I have seen them from a distance, but never up close and certainly not every day. I love the MR. you can tell he is quite the survivor. Don't know how he got the long scars down the back of his neck, but it probably happened when he was still the size a hawk could go for. Not too many wild things get to live long enough to have a grizzled muzzle. I wonder how old he is.
THanks for viewing.

[~Jessie~]

That's so cool. It really is rare to see an aged wild animal- their lifespans in the wild are so much shorter than in captivity.

I love seeing your photos- I really do envy your garden! It just looks so peaceful, and obviously the wildlife agree!

[smkie]

Thank you. It would not be home to me or Hyia without it. IT's not very big, but it is enough.. Tiny little praying mantis, the skinks, my families of birds, the gold finches praising their suppers, it's just my joy. There is going to be work to divide things up this fall and I am going to need help. Since I am not expanding putting up a sign that says free Hosta for help dividing out to be enough. The iris need it now but love nor money will drag me out in this heat. They may just have to hang on until next year.

I did one smart thing, when I watered I also watered a strip along the woodline. THe moles have all headed there for moisture instead of tunneling into my shade bed. They can have all they want, but over there.