Wildlife Sanctuary -- Our Back Yard

Mr Madley and I like to believe our yard can be a wildlife sanctuary of sorts for birds and butterflies and lightning bugs and bees.  We plant flowers and fruit trees and bushes to attract the butterflies and bees, and we let the grass grow long to give protection to the lightning bugs.  We love to see new and unusual (for us) birds at the bird feeders (like last week when we saw a beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak, whose mate is at the feeder as I write this).  We even like spotting the rabbits, despite their tendency to decimate my garden.  And so it was a blast to look out my kitchen window this morning and see a pair of turkeys tranquilly enjoying the tall grass and the warm sunshine in our back yard.

I know I live in Western Massachusetts, where whole flocks of turkeys can be found dining in front lawns, but it's not so very common at my house when I'm home to see them.  It was a happy way to start this summery week.

Spring has Returned from a Long Winter's Rest

Spring has been late in coming to our house this year -- last year at this time, blossoms had already been on the apple trees for a couple of weeks, the viburnum and lilacs were thick with blooms, and young plants were much further out of the ground.  But this week has finally brought the warmth and rain and sun needed for spring blooms and growth.  Every day (at least twice), I walk the perimeter of the house and notice new shoots that have appeared from the earth and fresh colours that have opened to the sky and new leaves that have unfurled.
Spring has returned from its long winter's rest, and it feels, smells, and looks wonderful!
(For a clearer, larger image, click on the picture.)

Violets decorating the lawn.

The ostrich fern unfurls.

Vinca blooms blue.

More fern unfurling.

A lone grape hyacinth.

A single narcissus.

A cluster of vinca.

The forsythia sunshine.

Rhubarb!

Happy May Day -- it's sure to be a glorious month!

PS -- the birds have also decided it's spring -- the catbirds are back!

What's Blooming

I spent much time working on the landscaping of our house this summer -- tearing out trees and bushes and planting.  Every time something grows or blooms, it's opportunity for celebration.  As of last week, here's what's growing / blooming in my garden.

(What's missing is the pink Dinnerplate Dahlia that has a huge bloom on it and multiple buds -- beautiful.   And the orange nasturtium, the red-berry holly, the orange chrysanthemums, the small yellow rose, the pink impatiens... even the hollyhock and helleborus have new leaves.)

Isn't Nature fabulous?!

Double Blanc Rugosa Rose

Dryopteris (Brilliance Autumn Fern)

Carpathian Harebell (Campenula)

Toad Lily plant

Toad Lily

The Birds are Back

Any of you who followed my Livin' in the Belch blog know that one of the things I joyed in was the variety of birds at the feeder we had on our back deck.  It has taken four months of preparations at our new house, but yesterday (Saturday) I was finally able to put up our old feeder (by the kitchen window) and hang a new one (on the tall trunk of a recently debranched yew tree).  And today, we have birds.  Many many birds.  First and foremost, we have a half-dozen of the brightest yellow goldfinches; we also have black-capped chickadees, titmice, sparrows, a woodpecker, mourning doves, and a beautiful lady cardinal.
And one of the resident chipmunks, who keeps making dashes to the area under the birdfeeder and filling his cheeks.
More bird posts to come, for sure.  Have a great week.