Baby Purple Martins

Baby swallows under our porch are growing fast. There are at least four in this nest.

The trumpet vine, honeysuckle, and various other climbing plants have overtaken the fences of my dog runs. They not only provide shade, but birds hang out in the greenery and hummingbirds, bees and butterflies also flit around the blossoms all day.

Front porch plants and swallowtails

My front porch is now surrounded by butterfly bush, dill, fennel, hollyhocks and some potted plants (obscured by the dill). Every summer butterflies and bees are attracted to the plants and swallowtails, especially, love the fennel. Last year dozens of caterpillars metamorphosed into butterflies. The viburnum above had at least 11 different insects on the blossoms this morning. The small flowers smell wonderful and the odor wafts into the open window.

Early June garden

My largest garden seems to doing very well. I had some issues with mice and moles, but I dropped moth balls around the mounds in the foreground (that will eventually sprout The Three Sisters) and stuck some whirleys I got from Dollar General that I hope scare away bunnies. The broken ladder will serve as a support for pole beans. See my gardening links for info on how to get started with a garden.

A swallow takes a break

A swallow parent with a nest under our balcony takes a break in the hot weather. I stuck an old bamboo post in the ground four years ago and swallows use it each summer.

Goose Families

Two pairs of geese hatched some goslings in our neighborhood and showed up on our property the first of May. See the picture on the right panel. But look how they have grown. One family is obviously older than the other. The parents decided to band together for safety and it looks like all the goslings are still accounted for.

Purple Martins and Frogs

A typical late spring morning around here. A green frog sits on a floating plant in the small pond while a tadpole below sprouts legs on the other side out of the way of the goldfish.

A male and female Purple Martin sit outside their apartment that is probably a lot neater than the swallow nest under our porch (middle shot below). That messy nest is less tidier than the house parents created a few years ago (bottom). It's the same nest they use each year, but probably not the same adults.