Only a few more hollyhock buds to open before we say goodbye for this season. Since hollyhocks are biannual, this one should come back next year.
I’m almost done with my painting – a few more tweaks, then deciding on the background color. It will be done today. I had a nice session at the easel yesterday afternoon.
Today is a gorgeous day! It’s a sunny, coolish morning with flowers blooming everywhere. Don is going to go out and mow the corral area while I’m using his laptop to write my post. I may do some weed whacking or not. We’ll see! Certainly some weed pulling is in order.
Update on mama robin: We’ve been pretty sure she’s been feeding babies for a few days now. Yesterday afternoon, I happened to be in the bathroom and took a peek at the nest. Perfect timing, as I saw her feeding and I saw open mouths/beaks. It all happened quickly, so I didn’t have time to count them, but there are a least two babies in that nest.
She works so hard. I have not seen or heard papa at all, so she’s doing all of this on her own. In order to test this theory (and I’ve done this a couple of times) I walked outside under the tree where the nest is. Within seconds I heard warning cheeps, but only from one bird who was up in the trees watching my every move. I slowly made my way back to the house and the robin moved from branch to branch making sure I was gone. I turned the corner, but I took a peek in that direction. Still on alert. After quietly going back in the kitchen and walking directly to the window, I saw the bird on another branch, still on alert. Eventually, it flew to the nest and that’s how I know it was mama. Just to make sure, I tracked her movements as she flew to the ground to get worms for the babies. It’s always mama. I don’t know where papa is, whether something happened to him, whether he’s watching but wants nothing to do with feeding. But imagine how exhausting is for mama to do EVERYTHING. And she is.
I alternate between watching everything and then worrying about everything and then thinking I shouldn’t watch because I worry about everything. It’s always this way with me.
But I’m glad to have the opportunity to watch these little miracles up close.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
Gosh, that hollyhock is so pretty! Glad the robins are doing well. I bet the father takes his turn when you aren’t looking!
Nope. He doesn’t. I spend a lot of time observing the nest. There is only one parent feeding the babies.
Thanks, Robin.
Stay safe.
Your holly hocks are georgous! Perhaps a series of flower paintings when you are done with vases?
So, you paint the vase first and then the background after…I would have thought just the opposite.
We are in clean up mode here. We have lots of power washing to do. The caterpillar poop stained everything it landed on.
This has been a summer I don’t want to repeat. Yesterday I sat outside on the deck for the first time in weeks. It was heaven.
Stay safe
I can’t make a decision on background color until I see the colors of the vase and how they turned out.
So glad you could relax on the deck, Marilyn. You deserve it!
Stay safe.
Go Mama Robin at Mockingbird Hill Cottage!
Check the Audubon website for info re Robins.
Apparently both parents feed the young, though the female does more.
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-robin
Love the photo of the hollyhocks.
Have a safe & pleasant remainder of the week & weekend!
Amy, I know all that. I have several bird books and this is probably our 6th or 7th experience with nesting robins. The fact that both robins feed the babies is why I know only mama is here. Usually, after one feeds the babies and takes off to search for more food, the other parent swoops in with more food. That isn’t happening. Thanks.
Stay safe.
Claudia — beautiful hollyhocks — really an old fashioned plant but so lovely. around here, we see both parents feeding babies so mr must have had an unfortunate accident but it is good mrs takes good care of the offspring — she must be very tired by now. stay safe/healthy
Yes, we always see both parents feeding them. That’s why I know inky mama is doing it. I think she must be very tired.
Stay safe, Linda.
I got curious about the role of the male robin, so I did some research. Males do help female robins in both nest building and the feedings. Evidently feedings occur 100 to 150 times per day depending on how many chicks were born. If she’s doing it alone…she must be exhausted! (I hope the Mr. is just napping when you are looking…lol.)
Your hollyhock is beautiful. Enjoy your day! ;)
He’s not napping. He’s just not here. Sad.
Stay safe, Donnamae!
Glad your weather has improved! Luv-luv-luv the beautiful hollyhock.
Thank you!
Stay safe, Vicki.
beautiful flowers.
beautiful mrs. robin and all she’s doing.
am sure your latest painting is beautiful, too. looking forward to seeing it when you want to share.
kind of usual here … it’s very dry and hot here, also hazy from the western wildfires (so i feel crabby and sad), also first day with new boss at work (nerve-wracking) … but i get to see members of my family tonight when delivering their groceries (so very happy about that) and tomorrow is friday (happy about that, too).
hope you all have a nice night and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
Hope the new boss is a good fit, Kathy.
Stay safe!
A single mama robin — and it sounds like she’s doing a great job of it! I remember when I had a nest of them in a wreath I’d left up a little too long (and longer, once they moved it). To see them eat — its sort of miraculous. Big smiles.
We also had a nest in a wreath!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I love the Hollyhock! So pretty. How wonderful to have such an up close view of the robin and her nest.
It’s great, Linda.
Stay safe.