hummingbirds

I've been busy this summer. Trips to Iceland and Maine and packing kids for various camps. I finally managed to get out in the garden and capture some hummingbird pictures. There were at least 4 flying around and chasing each other today. Lots of fun:)

Honeysuckle and weigelia

I've been really busy with visiting guests, gardening and end of the school year activities. I hope to update the blog a bit more now. While some of my plants are not liking the unusual cool temperatures this summer, my Weigelia and Honeysuckles seem to be thriving. Here are some pictures from today.

She's back

Looks like she is back and hungry as usual. I haven't been posting too much. Too busy planting, end of the school year activities and with visitors who are venturing to Wisconsin to visit which is great!

Female oriole and hummingbird with full beaks

Caught these two females eating today. Grape jelly for the oriole and nectar from the feeder for the hummingbird:)

Rose Breasted Grosbeak is back again

This is one bird that migrates through, but unfortunately doesn't stick around. I spotted two male grosbeaks today at the feeder.

Can you spot the bumble bee?

I took a couple pictures of this bee checking out my new hanging basket. Every year I can't resist buying one of these at Eberts Garden Village. With all the flowers finding the bee is a little like a needle in a hay stack:)

First Hummingbird arrived today

Not the best pictures as I snapped them from inside and through the deck rails, but it does show the first hummingbird of the season:)

A perfect hiding place for a coyote

The coyote has been back hunting in the field near my house. He hides in the weeds and then pounces on little field animals. Now you see him and now you don't.

Mr. and Mrs. Goldfinch

The goldfinches are now in full yellow for the summer. What a change from a couple of weeks ago.

I love how the wind is ruffling her feathers:)

First Oriole of the Season

Always a toss up which arrives here first the Hummingbirds or the Orioles. This is the first of either I've seen in April:)

More signs of spring despite the snow yesterday

The garden stores are opening! Couldn't resist taking this pansy picture while visiting one. Another sign is the 100 or seedlings I've transplanted into bigger cups this week. I'm trying to start hardening some of them off. No room left under the grow lights.

The neighborhood cats are back out. I really like this friendly one. Nice kitty:)

Spring Snow

Woke up to snow falling this morning. Hard to believe it was so warm last week and going to be in the 70's again later this week. The bird feeder is very popular right now. If I were a bird I think I would fly south again.

Yellow Headed Blackbird

I had to get out my Wisconsin bird book when I saw this bird under my bird feeder today. Turns out it is a yellow headed blackbird. They are only here in the summer and usually are found deep in the marshes. I hope he sticks around a while.

Great Blue Heron In Flight

I caught this picture of a great blue heron fishing in the pond next to our house. Soon after he saw me and took to flight. We have tons of great blue herons around here in the summer. They nest on the property of my children's school and I've been seeing them flying around with large sticks in their beaks to make their nests. The really remind me of Terradactyls when they fly.

A couple more pictures from the marsh today