For this week's Wednesday Vignette, the meme hosted by Anna at
Flutter & Hum, I have a miscellaneous trio of photos taken within the last few weeks of some of the little things that make the garden a wonderful place.
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| I was taking a photo of a plant when I noticed this little guy sitting calmly on a sprinkler head right next to me. This tiny western fence lizard - barely 2 inches in length - was not at all perturbed by my presence (until I stroked his back, at which point he took off). |
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| I noticed bees clinging to the edge of the fountain in search of water to sustain them during one of our recent heatwaves. Although I have a bee-ball floating in the fountain (a generous gift from Alison of Bonney Lassie when she visited earlier this year), the bees insisted on clinging to the rough concrete sides of the fountain. |
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| The birds are regular visitors to the fountain. They drink and splash about, especially when the heat spikes. Oblivious to the upheaval in the former lawn area just beyond the fountain, this photo captured a lesser goldfinch, a house finch, and what I think was a sparrow hanging out in harmony. I narrowly missed a shot of the scrub jay that chased them all away so he could enjoy the fountain by himself. |
Visit Anna at Flutter & Hum for a look at the images she and other gardeners found compelling this week.
All material
© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Such lovely, life-affirming photos!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed them, Gerhard.
DeleteI love the shot of the birds bathing. And the honey bee clinging to the concrete. Ah well, at least the bee ball gives you pleasure, and adds a touch of color.
ReplyDeleteThe raccoons like the bee ball, Alison - they tried to steal it but apparently it was too awkward to carry far so I got it back.
DeleteJust the sound of water would easily convince me of getting a fountain, but seeing those birds frolicking in the water just seals the deal. Next year, I really do need to install a fountain! Love your other critters too - they know all too well what a precious resource water is.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a fountain too but I never realized how important it would be to me until we inherited this one with the house. Actually, I had the realtor specifically write the fountain into the offer on the house - not that the previous owner would probably would have wanted to try moving it. It's made of concrete and, based on the experience of cleaning it, I can tell you that each tier is VERY heavy.
DeleteIt really is all the little things that make gardening so satisfying. You really captured the magic of water in the garden. Love those birds!
ReplyDeleteThe birds get such obvious pure joy out of the fountain, it's hard not to smile when you see them, no matter what else is going on.
DeleteYou are so right Kris, it is these encounters in the garden that make gardening such a special activity and makes you glad to be alive.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I saw what I can only characterize as a cloud of tiny butterflies - skippers of some type but not anything I've seen before. I had no way to get a good photo as they were too small and too active for my point and shoot camera but just watching them gave me a light heart.
DeleteWhat a lovely series of shots. Your joy in their joy is contagious! It is the wildlife in my gardens that currently has my heart (rather than any of the plants, though I do have favorites...). Watching everything interact has taught me such a great deal and helped me become at least a bit more philosophical about the challenges of drought, heat, and water restrictions in combination when it comes to tending the earth. We are all in this together - me, the plants and SO many creatures. It is very affirming!
ReplyDeleteI can feel your love of the wildlife in your garden in every post you write, Deb. And you're right - the creatures in our gardens don't moan and groan about the heat or the drought. They make do, adapt and get on with things!
DeleteIt took me a minute to realize that lizard was on a sprinkler head - what a tiny guy! You're so lucky to get a shot of him :) It's wonderful to see the birds and bees enjoying your fountain. Our wildlife still have to make the most of our horse watering tanks, but hopefully we'll get our fountain projects back on track before next summer. btw, I've definitely ID'd our hummingbirds as Anna's so you were right ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe lizard made taking a photo easy for me, Amy, by sitting so still. It's too bad the hummers don't do that more often - I've yet to get a really good photo of them.
DeleteSo cool! Encounters with wildlife in our gardens is an ethereal gift and your's is especially nicely wrapped!
ReplyDeleteNow, if I could only get Mother Nature to deliver more bees, butterflies and birds and fewer raccoons and skunks...Delivering more lizards is unnecessary (if not impossible) as you can't walk a foot without seeing one skittering away.
DeleteIt's a garden without a lawn, but not really a garden without birds.
ReplyDeleteSo true!
DeleteLovely photos Kris! And I love your birdbath, I used to have lots of birds visiting my birdbath in my previous garden, here in my new garden the small birds haven’t really discovered it yet, hope they will soon.
ReplyDelete