Saturday, May 21, 2011

Empty Nesters

I knew this time would come, I just didn't think it would come so soon. Yesterday, my last baby birdie flew away. Just earlier this week I took this picture of the babies in the nest. As the flash went off, one actually flew out and away.


My three-year old still insists on peeking at the nest, which triggers a multiple of 'why's about growing up and moving on. In stark contrast, my almost two-year old daughter doesn't seem to mind. As long as she gets her snacks on the porch as usual, she couldn't care less about the empty nest in the fern above her head.

Friday, May 13, 2011

The babies are here!!!

Sometime this week the eggs hatched. Aren't they precious...[insert audible aaaaawwwwwwww]

Nasty Flying Things and Creepy Crawlies

This has been a fun week. In addition to watching our little baby birdies, we came across a hornet's nest with babies in various cycles and some sort of porcupine caterpillar. Let's start from the beginning.

One of my Mother's Day presents was having the DH swap out a damaged bird house for one in much better shape. As he was doing this, I noticed him on the ladder swinging a hammer furiously around his head. I thought he was trying to swat away a fly, but turns out he was trying to kill a mama hornet (in mid air no less). Well, he got her and found what was making her so aggressive - she laid a nest in the damaged birdhouse. My husband was just as excited as the kids to observe the more developed larvae as well as those that could only jiggle as he moved the next around. Kinda gross but like one of those trainwrecks you can't look away from.



A little later on, the kids and I found a caterpillar which no one is able to identify. It's black with orange stripes, suckers for feet and quills. Yes, I said quills. Freaky. Anyway, this is not the first one I've seen over the years, but it is the first one we captured to hopefully determine what type of moth or butterfly it turns in to.



We currently housing it in a glass jar with a ventilated top. Since this picture was taken, we've added a few twigs and more leaf variety since its began spinning its coccoon. Not long now.

I was worried I'd run out of activities to keep the kids amused this summer, but seems like our yard has the potential to keep us plenty busy if only we can survive the heat.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Asiatic Lilies in Full Bloom

These started blooming Easter weekend. I couldn't have been more thrilled.



The surprising thing is I posted this particular flower bed on HGTV's Rate My Space and it got a 2/5. Guess it looks better in person.

http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Gardens/4-season-color/detail.esi?oid=24079501

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Still Here

Mama birdies and eggs ok even though they spent the night swaying recklessly in the wind in my hanging fern, thanks to the dangerous weather that hit the southeast yesterday.

Babies On The Way

Wouldn't you know it...a mama bird built a nest and lay three eggs in one of my hanging ferns and I didn't even know it.

A few days ago when a friend came to visit, she noticed the mama bird fly out of the hanging pot as she approached the door. We stood sentry inside and watched as the birdie flew back into the nest.

A few hours later, I stretched to get this shot. Awesome, but going to make watering the plant super tough.



I'm inching closer and closer to that certified wildlife backyard habitat status I'm longing for.

Don't you just love spring?!?