Nestling Update

Although I don't know the exact date each egg hatched, they are probably about two weeks old now.  They are growing and they are very loud, in a cute sort of way, whenever Mama or Papa comes bearing a meal.

It's still hard to tell just how many nestlings there are because I try not to linger over the nest for very long.  They have an awfully poopy nest don't they?  Whenever they have to do their business they stick their little hineys up over the edge of the nest and poop.  This is their way of keeping their living quarters clean.

Mama takes good care of her babies.

 I think I see four hungry mouths here but still not sure.  The one on the left is going to leap right out of the nest if he / she isn't careful.



Here is Papa.  He is a good help mate.  He will land on the chain or the basket and peruse the area before he hops down for the feeding.


Isn't the fern lovely?  Looks really nice hanging next to the other two that are, well.....alive. 

The Clutch is Hatching

It's been difficult for me to snap a good photo of the eggs that have hatched.  We ended up with 5 eggs in the nest.  I believe all 5 have hatched, but they are so crowded in the nest it's hard to determine whether or not they are all hatched. 

I try to stay at the next as little as I can because both Momma and Papa are diligent in feeding their little clutch.

Sitting in my chair and depending on which direction the fern is slowly turning I can see the chicks eager little beaks wide open waiting for their meal.

Spring Cleaning 2013

It's been a busy March and April for me and I haven't spent the time I need to in the yard.  I have been( able to get out and do some cleaning, trimming and planting in the front bed. 

Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantine) is not a baaaaad plant to have in the garden.  OK, that's pretty corny, sorry.  I love the thick, velvety leaves.  During a trip to Virginia one year Lovey and I toured the homestead of James Monroe, Ash Lawn-Highland.  It's not far from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and is a much, much more modest farm.  The  most interesting thing I recall from that visit was their colonial herb garden.  They grew a large variety of herbs that had medicinal purposes.  They used the leaves of Lamb's Ear as a band aid, to stop the flow of blood on cuts.

I cut back the purple fountain grasses (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum').  There is debate whether or not this will come back.  Most of what I read is that it is an annual but in warmer climates it comes back like a perennial.  If I don't see new growth by the time the weather decides to stay in the 80's I'll have to buy more.

The zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is coming back after its little trim.

Behind these whispy volunteers of Mexican Feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) are the plants from whence they came.  I cut the older ones back then dug these two up and planted them at the back of the driveway.  There are actually tons of these new plants throughout the garden and I'll transplant those as well when they grow to a certain size.

The muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) received a trim as well.

 The Threadleaf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ) is returning to its pretty little self.

My two Red Yuccas (Hesperaloe parviflora) are donning their flower spikes for the first time.  I bought these as very young plants at a plant sale so it has taken them a couple of years to flower.

Finally, an update on the Finch family.  5 eggs seems to be the final number in the clutch.  Momma is sitting on the nest.  I checked the nest yesterday evening and none have hatched yet.

The Finch Family is Growing

We've had rather nasty weather the first part of this week so I have stayed away from the nest in the fern.  I was watching Howard and Harriet as I was potting up some plants and when they flew away I took a peek.  They now have five!  According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology House Finches have from 3 to 5 eggs.  I am assuming Harriet will begin to sit and stay on her nest now. 

Learn along with me;  we'll see.

Howard and Harriet House Finch Start a Family

This nest-in-progress I told you about last week is all finished now.  Harriet worked hard weaving her new little home out of fine grass, leaves, and rootlets. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, she uses finer materials such as thread, wool, and feathers for the lining.
And Harriet is making sure it's occupied.

On the evening of Sunday the 31st she had laid one egg.  This isn't a very clear photo.  I guess I was a little excited about there being a tiny egg there and moved the camera a bit too much.

When I got home from work last night I walked past the fern on the front porch and craned my neck to see if Harriet or Howard was sitting in the nest.  Seeing that is was unoccupied I used the step ladder to peek into the nest; careful not to touch anything.

Now we have two.

I can't wait to see if there is a third this evening!

Spring is Here...So I Thought

This weekend proved to be anything but nice, weather-wise.  I spent the first half of Saturday working a bike ride in torrential rains getting chilled to the bone.



While the race was delayed for over an hour we cruised around the State Park and we saw lots of deer.  I was just glad to get home that afternoon, take a nice hot shower and crawl in bed.

Sunday proved to be a gorgeous day with blue skies and quite chilly but was spoiled by 25 - 30 MPH winds that made the temperature feel like it was 30°.  My anticipated day of working in the garden went down the tubes.  I don't do wind.

Sunday night was supposed to freeze so I took the 12 dwarf English boxwoods, that were scheduled to be planted Monday, into the garage for the evening.  I also took down the three Boston ferns that were hanging on the front porch.

I was giving the ferns a drink of water when I discovered this.  Yes, it's a little nest, about 3 inches wide.  I called Lovey to come take a look.  I was in a quandary whether to return the fern to the front porch on the chance it would freeze.

Within minutes Lovey discovered poor, frazzled Mr. and Mrs. House Finch fluttering around wondering where in the world the fern disappeared to!  Her little beak was full of nesting materials and it was in that moment I realized her nest was still a work in progress.  They flew away in a panic and I returned the fern to the porch hoping I hadn't spoiled it all.

An hour or two later Mr. House Finch came to check things out, disappeared and returned with the little lady; beak full, ready to continue the construction of their new Spring home.

Mrs. House Finch stayed busy all day Monday working on her nest.  Mr. HF is proving to be such a caring mate.  He acts as the watchman as Mrs. HF gets in there, bottom up, weaving all of those materials in what will soon be the home for 3 to 5 little light blue speckled eggs.

I've had a hard time getting a good photo of the couple as they fly away anytime I walk outside.  Here is what they look like.  Photo is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website; which is a fabulous website for all things birds.

Hopefully I'll be able to share a photo of the eggs in the near future!

Vitex Montrose Purple

This was our sunset last night.  The mild temperatures and rain we've been blessed with this week past has put me in the mind set of planting new shrubs and trees, as well as getting my bulb order together for the fall.

This weekend I bought two Vitex 'agnus-castus'.  These are also known as Chaste Trees and Texas Lilacs.  I have wanted a Chaste Tree ever since I saw them in full bloom lining the entry drive to the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine.  They reminded me of big, giant Budlias, or butterfly bushes.  The flowers on this tree is what I love the most.


The variety of my Vitex is Montrose Purple which produce large 8 - 12 inch purple panicles.  Mine are small shrub-size right now but they'll grow fast.  You can grow them as large shrubs or trim to grow as small trees.  They will quickly grow to 10-20 feet tall.  I plan to limb them up and grow them as trees.

Other positives about this tree is that, once established, they are drought tolerant.  The foliage is fragrant.  Bees love 'em, deer don't.

For those of you who are into holistic health practices, you might find it interesting that an extract made from Vitex supposedly controls PMS.  Which means any of you guys out there who have to endure such punishment every 28 days might want to consider planting a couple of these.

This is what I hope mine will look like one day. (photo from delange.org website)