About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

S is for Spring Has Sprung

Best said in a thick Cockney accent:

Spring is sprung,
The grass is ris.
I wonder where them birdies is?
Them birdies is on the wing!
That's strange,
I thought the wing was on the bird!

Although Spring officially began two months ago, I can honestly say that it appears to really be Spring now. My garden is blooming and a chickadee family has taken over my decorative wooden birdhouse, that I nailed up on the side of the house on the patio, as their home. Apparently, chickadees are quite picky about where to nest and prefer fir, white pine, cypress, or cedar, so we should be honoured that our home was chosen. "Mama Chick" has been sitting on the nest that "Papa Chick" made for her and the other day we saw Mama out and about bringing food to the newly hatched baby chicks. We're now constantly on the lookout for the neighbourhood cat who regularly visits our garden and has discovered the nest. We're constantly hearing loud chick-a-dee-dees when Papa wants to get into the nest and the cat's around. So out we go and shoo the cat away. Now Papa doesn't seem to mind if we're outside on the patio, weeding the garden, or even standing by the barbecue awaiting our ribs or burgers or such. Last night we sat on our lawn chairs away from the patio and watched Mama and Papa fly in and out of the house bringing food to the babies. As soon as they enter, we hear sweet little cheeps and we're wondering how many chicks there are. We felt part of nature and hope that the babies will survive.
Anyway, I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos of our garden with cornflowers, English poppies, rhododendrons, and azaleas. We also have a bleeding heart that's growing like a weed, some lavendar that isn't in bloom yet, some California poppies (pods are still closed), and other annuals in bloom. We've also planted 5 tomato plants in pots along the sunny side of the house and are hoping for a good crop. Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge them.





























































In the last photo, you can see where the birdhouse is located, so it's amazing that this chickadee family has taken it over. Around the corner to the right is the sunny side of the house where the tomatoes are growing. As you can also see, our patio and garden are not huge, but we're enjoying it so much right now. AND we saw our first hummingbird tonight, too!

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt.

16 comments:

Mara said...

Well, if you're ever bored with your garden, you're quite welcome to turn mine into a lovely Spring (and Summer and Autumn and Winter) garden! Judging by yours you know how to do so!

Reader Wil said...

Thanks for taking us in your beautiful spring garden! The flowers are lovely. Thanks for visiting.

Maggie May said...

I do hope that the birdies survive the fledgling stage. I think they have a very posh house!
Enjoyed going round the garden with you! Lovely Spring garden!

photowannabe said...

Lovely Spring garden and I think its so cool that the birds have taken residence right by the door. Its always exciting to watch the birds feed and learn to fly.

Janie said...

It's amazing how close birds will nest right on or next to a house. Beautiful flowers. Isn't spring great?

david mcmahon said...

Lovely post, Leslie. We're five days away from winter and there are DEFINITELY no hummingbirds here!

Miss_Yves said...

Lovely garden and stunning close-up!
I added a link towards Daniel's surprise (I forgot to put it )

Rune Eide said...

With a Spring garden like that, I would certainly have smiled. Who can smile because of Moss? Only a neighbour...

Marie Reed said...

I just love this little poem! I taught it to my sons last week and just die laughing whenever they spout it! Perfect S!

nancygrayce said...

Wow! Your garden is beautiful. Makes me want to get out in the yard and pretty it up a bit! Spring is beautiful there!

How are the wedding plans coming along?

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Its beautiful...yes any helpers welcome my way too!!

Trying to sort mine out again, I need professional help and it designed.. Will get there.. :-)

sally in norfolk said...

what a fantastic looking garden... so nice to have someone to share it with too .. small things are usually the best things :-)

Q said...

Happy Spring!
Soon we will have Summer and maybe your chick-a-dees will nest again...sounds and looks as if they found a perfect place to raise a family.
Sherry

Tumblewords: said...

What a lovely place for spring to happen! Cute bird house - no wonder the chickadees captured it!

EG CameraGirl said...

Your garden is lovely. Apparently the chickadee agrees and wants to be there to enjoy it!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Beautiful. Love the birdhouse!