Garden Walk, Garden Talk

Bird ID – White Crowned Sparrow

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Garden Walk Garden Talk

The White Crowned Sparrow is not a bird I see very often. A small flock came to visit my ground feeding station this May.

Where usually found, the White Crowned Sparrows are seen foraging at the edges of brushy habitat, hopping along on the ground. This particular way of hopping was what drew my attention to them. They looked like a kid’s windup toy. They’re also found in the safety of shrubs or trees, and I saw them retreat to the lowest branches. Not a smart thing as this is where the city cats hang out in wait.

Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, garden | Tagged bird ID, Birds, nature, Nikon P510, Photography, photos, photos of birds using the Nikon P510, White Crowned Sparrow | 13 Comments

Why blog?

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Garden Walk Garden Talk

Honestly that is a question to ponder. Why start, why do it at all.

As rewarding as it is, it is also frustrating at times being sucked into the big vortex of blogging. Ya, having things to discuss that others have not. Being creative and quirky and hoping others find one interesting. Attend to work, family, garden, and home with gusto all the while feeding the blog.

Blogging can be grappling with difficult thoughts in full view and scrutiny of the reader, so it is a bit scary at times. I explored that in the engaging, photo-packed post Surfacing 500 Times, a post I thoroughly enjoyed writing.

You start something on a whim and find out it becomes part of who you are or who you have become. You reveal thought provoking ideas and soul searching vulnerabilities.

But for how long?

Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, garden | Tagged blogging, blogs, garden, garden bloggers, Garden Bloggers Fling, nature, Photography, photos, Snail photo, Why blog?, Why did you start blogging?, Will blogging die? | 67 Comments

Garden Glimpses Through the Seasons

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Garden Walk Garden Talk

The garden in Spring really has a pastel feel with all the lavender, pink, blues and yellows. Summer gives way to more color with splashes of red. I have photos of late Spring to show the pops of purple when the iris break and fold right into the soft colors of the lilies.

May 16, 2013

Let’s run through the Spring blooms first, then off to late Spring into Summer and watch the main bed burst with color. In case you missed the previous tours…

What you see in the main bed below is just an inkling of what is to come.

Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged boxwood are great plants, garden, garden color through every season, garden full of flowers, garden through the seasons, gardening, gardening using bulbs, Hydrangea in summer, iris bed, lily bed, nature, photos, Urban gardening | 58 Comments

Garden Glimpses Take 2

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Garden Walk Garden Talk

Here we are in the front yard. I joke about this garden because later in the year, the meadow plants take over. We have Penstemon, Shasta Daily, a variety of Asters and Monarda, Goldenrod, Butterfly Bush, Russian Sage, Phlox, White Sage, Veronica, and the list goes on and on.

The joke is because it can never be called a meadow just by its size and city location. You might know I don’t think meadows exist in little city yards, but it has supported a lot of insects through the years.

Springtime starts the time when insects return, so I like to start early with the blooming flowers. Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged Dianthus, Fall flowers, garden, gardening, Iberis, nature, pasque flower, photos, Snail photo, Spring Flowers, Tulip Maureen, Urban gardening | 65 Comments

Garden Glimpses -The Week in Dozens

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Garden Walk Garden Talk

Royal Gem Crabapple

Momentary glance one way and another for a tour around the back gardens. This week I will have glimpses of the garden in a daily dozen of images. Many plants are blooming, from lilacs to groundcovers. Perennials that are blooming are mostly in the front yard which you will see later.