Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

What's Happening in our Yard this week????


First, let me say that our Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are still here. AND---the females are here also now. A birder friend told me that they are migrating and will stay a couple of weeks before heading north. In the meantime, I'm enjoying seeing them at our feeders off and on all day!!!! The picture above is of the female Grosbeak. I think she looks like a HUGE Sparrow ---with that big white eyebrow!!!!! (Excuse the window screen in the picture.) Below are many more pictures of things going on in our yard!







Is that male Grosbeak sticking out his tongue at me?????? ha ha







Another picture of the female.. She has that same huge beak as the male. But--except for the beak, they are very different--one from the other.







I had a couple of pictures with both male and female at the feeders. AND--I had a picture of FOUR males at the feeder together... Unfortunately, I was using my small camera from inside---and the window screen came out so bright that it almost covered up the birds totally. I was so mad!!!! Oh Well!!!! I have enjoyed seeing the Grosbeaks so much!!!







Also in our yard yesterday was our first (of many) IRISES... Isn't she pretty???? Her name is Honey Glazed Iris.









Another first for us this week is one of our beautiful Azalea blooms. We have about 7 Azalea bushes --and this color is always one of my favorites.







Here's one more picture of this pretty Azalea. This bush is in our back yard ---in front of our deck.







I absolutely love Pansies. They usually do well in our area. We purchase them in the Fall (about 60 plants) and put them all over our yard to add color through the winter. Most years, our Pansies make it through the winter--and live until June or July --when it gets hot outside. However, this past winter was consistently colder than most.. SO--we did lose many of our Pansies. BUT--we probably have about 20 left..AND--it's still nice to watch these pansies bloom and add color in our yard. Below are three more of our pretty Pansies.







I love this deep wine color, don't you?









I love this one also... Pansies are all just so pretty I think!!!









These are so unique-looking... I love them!!!









And last but no least, these are the first two Bluebird eggs in our nestbox in the back yard. Bluebirds add one egg a day until they get to five. Mama incubates the eggs for about 12-15 days. Once the baby birds (fledglings) hatch --it takes another 12 days before they get big enough to leave the nest.

I'm SO SO SO SO excited. It was the bluebirds nesting in our back yard last Summer (July) that got me interested in birding... I've certainly learned alot about many, many birds since last July.... Yeah -Rah!!!!



Hugs,

49 comments:

Kim said...

Your backyard is so busy! Love the grosbeaks! Your flower close ups are perfect and those blue bird eggs are precious!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: I love that male Grossbeak. I hope to see the little Bluebirds.

Michele said...

I am interested to see the progression on the bluebirds... how cool is that. I have always been loving irises... when I used to live in a house, we had tons and tons of purple ones in the back... it was so pretty!

Hugs♥

Unknown said...

You have quite a bit going on around your place. My baby bluebirds should be leaving the nest any day now.....I can see their little mouths open in the house when the mom comes to feed them.. Love the Irises!!

Cedar ... said...

wow,... iris and azaleas blooming! Iris won't bloom here for another month at least. How beautiful!

Jayne said...

Oh, I am jealous Betsy! No Grosbeaks here yet. :c) Love your photos. My nest of six eggs has now hatched and mom and dad are busy, busy feeding little mouths. :c)

Jessica said...

As you saw on my blog my first male grosbeak showed up last weekend. I haven't seen a male yet.

And I am so envious of your bluebirds. Maybe someday I will have bluebirds.

Arkansas Patti said...

Boy do the females in birddom lack glamour. Males get all the pretties.
My blue birds are all hatched. The nest is totally full. This year I hope to catch them fledging.

RA said...

Oh, how lovely to see the birds and your flowers after an exhausting day! It continues to be very humid and hot here these days, so it seems like spending more energy then the usual. Your photos are so relaxing :). I believe it is even better on the spot. Have a great day, Betsy.

Hugs from Indonesia :)

Busy Bee Suz said...

Grosbeaks who stick out their tongues, gorgeous Irises and azaleas, Pansies and Petunias?
Bluebird eggs are just the bonus!!
I am packing my suitcase!!!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

...I always learn something from your posts and I always enjoy the pictures...I sure didn't know about the five bluebird eggs...they are smart little "buggers"...somedays its a stretch for me to count to five so whose the real "birdbrain"?
We woke up to rain this am so its probably coming your way too...but we've had some gorgeous days...

penny said...

Betsy, your photos amaze me! I can't wait to see the baby bluebirds too. Thanks for visiting:) Hugs, Pam

Peggy said...

I would love to just sit in your backyard and enjoy the birds and flowers... what a perfect way to start a day!

SmilingSally said...

That bluebird nest would make a perfect Blue Monday post. Come join in!

NCmountainwoman said...

I am SO jealous! I will have female grosbeaks before long, but I won't ever have a bluebird. Lucky you!!!

Cicero Sings said...

Lucky you to have a bluebird nest right in your yard ... and with the ability to peek!

I think pansies are so cheerful too. They even survive the winter up here, insulated under the snow.

Your iris is a beauty.

Pigeon said...

Isn't it interesting that the male and female grosbeaks don't look anything like each other. I would have thought that they were two different kinds of birds. Your flowers are all beautiful. I have never had any success with irises. I think I might not have enough sunlight.

Mandy said...

Beautiful flowers! Those blue bird eggs are so neat!

Mandy

Harriet said...

Wonderful pictures of your birds and flowers! It always brightens my day to read your blog!

Jen said...

What a nature sanctuary you have there. Congrats on the blue bird eggs....can't wait to see the babies. :D I'm expecting too! Yippee!

I Am Woody said...

I love, love, love that color of azaleas!

Diane AZ said...

Enjoyed seeing what's happening in your yard. Interesting how different the male and female grosbeaks look. I love your flower pictures, especially the azaleas and blue bird eggs in the nest, so sweet!

Connie said...

I learn so much from blogom. Last year I had several male grossbeaks show up at my feeders. At the same time I had this huge sparrow looking bird show up. I could not identify it. This week, from your blog I learned it was a female grossbeak. Thanks Betsy.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Betsy,that was an amazingly colorful post,from the Grosbeaks to the flowers.I love Irises and who doesn't love Pansies.Such cheery faces are hard not to love.Thanks for brightening my day.
Blessings,Ruth

Femin Susan said...

beautiful shots!I liked the nest with two eggs very much. Great....iris and azaleas blooming!

Joy said...

Great pictures of the birds. I'm so impressed you know the names of all your varieties of irises and tuilips.
I did not know that about the bluebirds. One egg a day. I guess you can't blame a girl that seems like a lot of work and I think I'd spread it over 5 days too.

Joy

Becca's Dirt said...

Good morning Betsy. I was just catching up on your blog of the last 3 entries. You sure have a lot going on in your yard. Love the azalea and the pansies. So colorful. I am so jealous that you have this wonderful man to visit waterfalls with. I am praying for a good man. Your waterfall pictures are so beautiful and I am glad you took a shot of the water running down on the falls. Stunning.
Have a nice day, Becca.

Small City Scenes said...

Oh Betsy, what a wonderful yard you have. Lots of hard work I am sure. but it pays off. Not much blooming here--well I take that back---I just have to look around and see. My Magnolia is gorgeous but you can see some frost damage on the flowers. I didn't used to like Iris but now I do. I used to think they were 'old peoples' flowers and now I am an old people. Ha!!
I enjoy the birds too--such a variety over this whole country of ours. Keep us informed on the Bluebird activity. thanks. MB

Pat - Arkansas said...

Lots of wonderful things going on in your back yard, Betsy; birds, flowers, sweet little nest eggs.

I very much like the iris... gorgeous!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

You saved the best for the last!! I adore the pictof the nest and the eggs.Have a great day..m..

Deborah Godin said...

Well, it must be one of those days - you've got a grosbeak giving us the raspberries, some cranky (but charming) pansies, and I was just mooned by a siskin over at Shelley's blog http://birdinginmichigan.blogspot.com!! What's next??!!

Shelley said...

Betsy - I think your Raspberry blowing grosbeak is friends with my butt showing Siskin! LOL!!!
I love all your bird varieties and very excited for your bluebird babies! I hope you keep us posted on them!!!

Diane said...

Betsy, Your pictures are beautiful, the yellow iris is spectacular. I think the bluebird eggs in the nest is my favorite.

Clara....in TN said...

No need for you all to go on vacation....just walk out in the back yard! Beautiful flowers and birds.

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh my goodness. You have irises blooming now?! The first daffodils came out in my yard on Saturday!

I love all the birds that visit your feeders.

Leedra said...

The Honey Glazed Iris is gorgeous. Congrats on the bluebird making babies.

Leedra’s Photos For FunLeedra’s Greeting CardsPhotography By Leedra

EcoRover said...

Your dedication to blogging everyday and your connection to nature are amazing. Thank you.

Susie said...

Betsy I think that grosbeak was telling you he charges to have his picture taken!!! lol

Love that beautiful rose color azalea. It is lovely!

Janie said...

the male grosbeak has beautiful colors.
Glad to see you have bluebird eggs. It'll be fun to watch them hatch and grow.
Beautiful flowers, as always. I love azaleas.

Anonymous said...

Betsy..thank you for the most thoughtful comment on my blog post. I think that you have so many readers is because you can feel the warmth, excitement and love that you have for life and certainly you and George are such a lovely couple to follow. I read every post of your, but may not always comment. As far as the grosbeaks, I had two females eating thistle for a couple of days and then they must have moved on. It's kind of exciting never knowing who will show up for dinner...Michelle

Mary said...

That Iris is gorgeous! I get jealous every time I see what lovely gardens you have :-) That pansies are wonderful, too. Congrats on the Rosies....I haven't seen any females yet this year, but they will come.

lola said...

Love the iris. I've started some this yr. one is blooming now. "Royal Thunder", It's a beautiful purple.
Love those Blue Birds. Sure wish I could get them to nest here. Or be around even. I have never seen one here since we moved here in '91

Tootie said...

Your Spring photos are really pretty Betsy. Your yard must be beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Very pretty flowers and I love the bird eggs.

Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ said...

Oh Betsy, all your pictures are so pretty! I sure hope you get pictures of the baby bluebirds! I love those blue eggs!

Have a great Weds!

Tammy

Naturegirl said...

Betsy! Much activity in your garden!There is clear evidence that babies are due soon! Enjoy your soon to be family!!

Rose said...

I love that azalea, and I love irises. Lucky you to be able to watch a bluebird nest! We will be waiting for baby bluebird pictures!

Connie said...

How rude of the Grosbeak to stick out his tongue at you, Betsy!! I guess he didn't want his picture taken. HA! Your flowers are all so beautiful. Thank you for sharing them. I enjoyed seeing them. :)

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

Well thanks a million........now I have yard envy AND bird envy!!
You know I'm just kidding you sweet lady. Love the pics. LOVE your blog. Its' such a happy place to visit :)

Steady On
Reggie Girl