Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Fall Flowers

No frost yet so flowers and even vegetable plants are still blooming, producing and getting new blossoms. Although I know it's a matter of days before first frost, I am enjoying every moment of this late season display.
Gibney's Rose

Sunflower

Fly and be Free Milkweed Seeds

Ghost Protecting Begonias

Begonias, Alyssum and Leaves

Curbside Color

Zinnia

Nasturtium

Fuchsia

Tomato Blossoms

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Carolina Wrens Nest in Yard.


At the end of July, I noticed a couple of Carolina Wrens flitting about the yard and checking out a nest box on the apple tree. Soon we were awakened each morning by the male continuously singing a very loud song. We could even hear him through closed windows. Nest building started going on as the pair brought leaves, small twigs, and rootlets into the nest box. The wrens appeared all over the yard and garden looking for insects to eat, grooming, and striking poses. I spent a lot of time taking pictures of them. Soon the female was in the box incubating the eggs and within a couple of weeks the babies were born. The parents constantly were retrieving insects for their young. They would also bring out the fecal sacs (poop) to keep the nest clean and also not to attract predators. In just a couple of weeks the babies fledged, first into the apple trees near the nest, and then a short distance to a maple tree, Within hours they left as a family. They flew over to Andrews Avenue where I could hear them calling to each other. So entertaining!
Checking out nest box

Strutting!

Looking for insects along fence

Grooming

Hanging Out

Fecal sac on neighbor's garbage can

Wrens feeding babies
Inside of nest box