The clematis is blooming like crazy.
The wild roses, dreaded brambles at any other time of the year, are in bloom all over the property; clouds of white everywhere.
They’re so delicate! And they have a lovely scent. My favorites are the tiny, tiny pink buds. Right now I love them. In a few weeks, we’ll be enemies again.
And the peonies. What can I say?
I walk down to their position near the road more than a few times a day to inhale that heavenly scent. I don’t know of a more luscious flower than a peony. (Purely my opinion, of course!)
The days are getting warmer around here. We seem to have turned a corner.
Two quick animal/avian stories:
Last night, I was looking out the window of the kitchen door and saw one of our young bunnies munching on some grass. He was fairly close to both the house and the big garden bed. Suddenly, his head moved to the right and he took off and ran through the secret garden. I yanked open the door and saw some bigger animal run under my car. When I walked outside, the animal took off toward the shed. It was one of my neighbor’s cats – the bane of my existence. He paused at the shed, and I shook my fist at him and told him to “Get out of here!”
That bunny knew the cat was a threat. I remember thinking – before I knew what animal was lurking under my car – that it would be hard to believe it was a groundhog because I’ve seen both creatures co-exist peacefully in the yard. Groundhogs have no interest in bunnies.
But a large cat? A definite threat.
Then, this morning, we were sitting out on the porch for our second cup of coffee and I saw two large hawks flying high, followed by a smaller bird. The hawks veered to the left, one of them disappearing, the other landing in a tree. Immediately, a constant warning call sounded, with non-stop urgent chirps. I told Don that that was a distress call he was hearing. Soon the distress call was taken up by another bird as well. You could hear calls coming from both sides of the road. On and on it went until, after about five minutes, the hawk erupted from the tree, followed closely by a red-winged blackbird who chased him away.
The chirping stopped. All was peaceful.
Don was amazed.
It was better than anything on television.
Happy Thursday.
I live in a slightly more urban area than you seem to and we have had bunnies in our yards lately. We have crows who visit our birdbaths. I love crows, they are very intelligent and I have seen them be so polite to other birds and squirrels.
We had some very noisy crows today. They were in the trees in our woods. I don’t know what they were talking about but it must have been exciting!
They are super intelligent & very fascinating BUT have traumatized our kids (so by extension, us) when they went for the robin eggs :(
Oh, the hawks!! The other birds and the squirrels go immediately onto high alert when they are around. Last week I watched an orange cat meandering down the alley, and the blackbirds, robins, and wrens were dive-bombing it as it took a stroll. They do make up quite an alliance when necessary!! And why do people let their cats outside? So much danger out there!!
We are having a nice dry and warm period of weather. Rather amazing!! Our peonies are still just budding. Have a good Thursday!
My neighbors took in some strays years ago and since the strays had been outside cats, they kept that up. But their current cats were adopted and I wish they would stop letting them wander. It makes me angry. Yes – dangerous for them, and even more dangerous for the birds and small animals around here!
That drives me crazy too! Maybe you can give them the “gift” of lovely cat collars which just happen to have bells on them hehheh (grrr)
Maybe I could leave it on their doorstep?
I bet they’d figure out it was me.
Glad the weather is improving on your side of the pond! Speaking of cats, the Trumps have been in town on a State visit and Larry the cat who lives at 10 Downing Street managed to create havoc briefly by trying to get into Trump’s armour-plated limousine and then decided to sit underneath it so it couldn’t be driven away! Hilarious! Larry can often be seen when the Prime Minister is doing a photo shoot, nonchalantly sitting outside on the window ledge.
Happy Thursday
That is so funny! I love it! Perhaps Larry is representing all of us?
Lovely shots of the peony, Claudia. My one flower was just about to open when torrential rains pummeled it down… :( I love watching nature. Not enough of that in my backyard….the occasional squirrel, some mourning doves, hummingbirds, crows, woodpeckers. There are hawks, and turkey vultures, but closer to the hills that are not built up and kept as regional parkland. And since I live on an island, I love watching the pelicans and gulls play on the breezes over the bridge that ties the island part of my town to the mainland part. You know they’re playing because they aren’t flying anywhere, just swooping and gliding on the air currents, then flying back to catch another “wave”.
So beautiful to watch! Thanks, Wendy.
Oh…we have our share of predators here, too. But…stray cats or small dogs don’t stand a chance around here with the coyotes and hawks. So…why do homeowners let them out to roam in the first place? We have plenty of squirrels and chipmunks around here…but they will scurry off when there’s a hawk flying about. No bunnies though….they are virtually non-existent around here…sigh. While they were destructive to my gardens…I do miss seeing the little critters.
The peonies around here haven’t opened yet…we are still in waiting. Enjoy your day! ;)
I don’t understand why they do that. Why have a pet?
The bunnies here are perfectly happy chomping on the grass. Seldom see damage in the garden. Yes, occasionally, but not very often. Maybe because we have so many wildflowers and lots of grass and varieties of grass?
i agree with you about the natural world being “better than anything on television” … except i don’t want to see or think about the predator parts!
there’s a related and interesting cover story in the may 2019 issue of “outside” magazine about the healing power of nature. it stresses being outside (whether in a forest, by moving water, at a park …) on a consistent basis and how doctors are beginning to prescribe spending time outdoors to help people fight depression, anxiety, weight gain, etc. i believe it. based on my own experience, i feel much better during and after i’ve spent time outside!
anyway, thanks for stepping in to help the bunnies.
hope you are feeling completely rested and mended by now!
kathy in iowa
Me either. I can’t watch that kind of thing!
I am not rested. I’m very tired from the allergies. But, on the whole, I’m feeling better. Thanks, Kathy.
I love how they warn each other in the animal world!! I hear my birds do the same thing.
It’s so amazing! xo
Wonderful posting! You need to wear Mother Nature outfits when you are out and about. I am thinking a floor length crazy quilt vest over your jeans and t-shirts. Just a thought. LOL.
And flowers in my hair. xo
The peony photos are lovely. Belated comments: I love the pillows on the front porch glider. And the new green couch.
Thank you so much, Lynda!
such gorgeous pictures Claudia! not enough words to adequately describe!
I want to like cats. I truly do. but they HUNT. they can be well fed and have a nice home and they’re still out there hunting. I suppose it’s simply their nature. but I saw one once with a baby bunny in its mouth. it was the sound the bunny made that has stayed with me all these years.
I’m the same way. I can’t deal with their hunting. Just can’t.
The drama of real life! I hate to see bunnies threatened. And that is why Ms. Lizzie will only see the outdoors on a leash! (And she’s not all that good with that one.) Those blackbirds are feisty. Last year I saw one take on Harry the Heron, who (although he was in the middle of a narrow part of the pond) must have been too close to the nest. It was quite dramatic!
Your blooms are dazzling. And you are right about the peony fragrance. Alas, the ants prevent me from bringing them inside…
I’m always able to brush the ants off but I rarely bring them inside. I only do it when they’re drooping to the ground after a big rain.