Yes, you will be subjected to some photos from the good ol' SW Ohio backyard. Actually, I poached a couple of shots into a neighbor's yard. They have enough bird feeders that I would bet they go through 40 lbs. of bird feed at least every other day. They also have squirrel feeders, and are the same neighbors that feed the feral cats (and for you newer readers, they also trap new feral cats, have them neutered/spayed, and checked by the vet before releasing them).
It's been a muggy day, raining off and on, or threatening to at times. It's been cooler than normal, which is a welcome relief, and the rain is desperately needed. I figured my best opportunity to photograph much of anything in any form of comfort would be to hit the back yard again. I wasn't disappointed.
I didn't realize how hardy verbena was or I might have planted some before this year! I love the color, and it's handling the dry summer very well. If only it were a perennial.
I don't have a clue what this is, but it has popped up next to the clothesline post with the trumpet vine vining around it. Since I've had several suet feeders hanging nearby, I'm assuming it's a volunteer plant from one of the seeds from one of the suets. Heaven only knows which one!
I'm more in love with the mandevilla than I am the verbena. Part of that might be that it's a perennial, but it's also offset by the fact that it probably won't make it through the winter unless I dig it up and bring it inside in a pot.
I love the look of this piece of clematis that had died. It has an ethereal quality to it.
I am anxiously awaiting the blooming of this daisy plant. It's growing like crazy, but I haven't seen the first bloom on it yet this summer. I don't remember if it's a late summer bloomer, but I'm hoping that's the reason for no blooms as of yet!
This is the pic where I "poached" my neighbor's yard. Can you blame me? How gorgeous are these birds??
I know this has to be a weed, but I found it absolutely fascinating! Once again, it was a situation where I didn't see half of the detail when I took the shot, and was thrilled to see it "up close" on the computer.
And I waited outside again for one of the hummingbirds. I guess if I want to catch a photo of the mature male hummingbird, I'll need to be out there around 11:00 a.m. That seems to be when he likes to show up. And I know it's a male because of the bright red gorget . . . it's a good thing that I've been inside when I've seen him because I have a tendency to gasp at how brilliant his colors are!
This is what the sky has looked like an awful lot today. Either this, or bright sun.
I'm assuming this is one of the goldfinches preening, but it just looked so odd from where I was standing that I had to get a shot.
I think the hummingbirds are getting used to hearing the shutter on the camera - they don't fly off when they hear it, but they do stop feeding and sometimes hover instead of perching. I'll just have to make sure I'm out at their feeding times to get them adjusted to hearing it.
I'm enjoying the challenge (and discipline required) of getting shots of the hummingbirds. I haven't had to wait very long for one to show up (I try to be outside at least 10 minutes before the time they showed up yesterday, if that makes sense!) but I really have to remember to use the bug repellent! I'm also going to have to get the camp chair out of the trunk of the car because it would be nicer to be at least a little more comfortable while waiting for them to arrive.
It's more than a bit ironic that I'll wait an hour or so to try to take a picture of a hummingbird, but can't stand it when I'm stuck behind someone driving under the speed limit, or someone who doesn't have their act together in the checkout lane at the store. Hmmm . . .
And since you've made it this far, I'll give you another chance to enter the raffle for my 100th post.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Joy these photos are gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ronda! I'm glad you enjoyed them, and I hope to have many more to bore you with, I mean share with you!
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