THE ART OF THE GARDEN

This afternoon a sharp shinned hawk flew into the contorted mulberry tree(Morus Unryu), sitting contently on a lower branch, not moving until I roused him about 30 min latter. It was great having him so close and being able to observe him, observing the garden.
The robin babies are large, stuffed into the nest like sausage, you are no longer able to really see separation, just a pile of feathers and 4 beaks.
The Kingbirds, Phoebes and Orchard Orioles were concentrated in the scrub at the edge of the woods. Lots of activity, in particular with the Kingbirds, darting out low in the grass, retreating to low branches then back out again.

Much is happening in the garden, many trees are still sparely leafed, the spring bulbs and wild dogwoods have faded, but now the show of pèrienials begins to paint the landscape. The tree Peoney is in full bloom and the herbatious cousins following The gas plant (dictamnus Albus) can hardly wait to open and the bush salvia are pushing out the tubes of red and pink that the newly arrive hummingbird visits every morning. Antirrhinum and the extremely exuberant Centaurea Montana are already in full show needing dead heading. There is another plant that is also in full brilliant clear blue bloom. I bought it at the Target store many years ago as a house plant, when it had run its course I stuck it in the ground, it has now been divided and spread around the garden. The identity of this plant has not been determined, but it is lovely in the early spring garden. The California and red Poppies are opening, as are the Clematis and Primrose. There has been hours of work involved clearing the winter weeds from the beds, and there is much more to do to get the gardens nourished and groomed, but I wander the little pathways daily looking at the bloom and watching the plethora of various birds, feeling pretty sure it was well worth the investment. This is a place of peace and beauty, an ever changing  art installation, mostly run by nature.