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My Don Juan climbing rose never disappoints. No need for a calendar, he knows when to strut his stuff, green-up, and rose-out;) There's a hummingbird feeder in the vicinity too. Hummers don't feed on the roses, but they are attracted to the red, like to perch in the foliage, and will collect spider webs to build their nests. An added bonus this spring, the BEES ARE BACK! Some years are pretty lean though our trees have housed traveling hives in the past. I've noticed lots o' bees working the rose blooms and orange blossoms this year. Yay! (Visit City Bees blog. I found it via our Hummingbird Happiness webring. Cool site. I like it;)
Lots of hummingbird activity in Southern California these days. Hummers are draining the feeders, but always have a guarded eye on the competition. Some will even occupy a nearby perch to "protect" their favorite feeder, remaining close enough to drive away other hummingbirds trying to drink.
...of the Spring. We have two little ponds (40 & 20 gallons each) in the backyard, both in-ground. After a visiting heron cleaned out our goldfish, we rely on mosquito fish to keep the water free of mosquito larvae. The local vector control facility usually supplies them free of charge during 'squito season...(these fish are tough, prolific, and cannibalistic;)
Our ponds are 'for the birds' but we like waterlilies too;)
My parents feed the "birdies" too. They have a one-port hummingbird feeder (it's an antique;) and also hang a thistle sock in a flowering pear tree in the front yard. Today a beautiful little dovie waited to make a move on "spilled" thistle seeds below the sock. A dove's coo is such a relaxing sound.
Chickadees were busy this weekend working the bark for bugs and seeds. This one was scouring a pine tree located in Rock Creek Canyon (Eastern High Sierra, CA). The altitude is about 7300 feet.
Birdwatching in the early Spring comes with the advantage of naked trees! Without leaves to hide nests, viewing is easy. This raven pair took turns protecting their nest in the Eastern Sierra near Bishop, CA. (First thought these to be crows then noticed the wedge-shaped tail indicative of a raven. Crows have fan-shaped tails.)
