Thursday, May 08, 2014

Flowers in the Backyard!

Now that I've got your attention ... there really aren't any flowers blooming in my backyard yet.  I think the only way I'm going to see any blooms this year is if I knit them myself :[  And that's just what I've done!  I have a book 100 Knitted and Crocheted Flowers that I purchased last year.  I hadn't made any of the flowers in the book, but there are quite a few really fancy ones I've been wanting to try.  Check out this link for some gorgeous photos of flowers made from the book.
 
For the last couple of nights I've been playing around a bit with the yarn and this book, and came up with these:

I really only made two.  The one in the bottom photo on the left is from a pattern in the book (which I knit up first), and the one on the right is one I made the pattern up myself.  They were fun to knit, although a bit fussy, and there are a lot of ends to weave in at the end.  I think I'll give the smaller one to a little girl I know and will pin it on her coat!  The large flower measures about 3" across.
 
Even though there aren't any flowers out there yet, and the temperatures are all over the map lately, we've been having a nice selection of birds migrating through.  We're directly in the flight path of many birds as we live fairly close to a large marsh area along Lake Ontario.  I see some nice birds during the spring, but then I'm left with the rather common birds for the rest of summer. 
 
Last night I spied this beautiful Brown Thrasher (below) in my yard as we ate supper.  My family endured my photo snapping session while they ate, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch this guy on 'film'.  Isn't he gorgeous!  I love his markings, and the very beautiful fox red of his back.  His golden eyes have a very intense look about them.  I first saw one of these where I grew up below the Niagara Escarpment, and I had to look him up in our bird book to identify him.  I remember feeling quite proud of myself for figuring out what he was.  I think this beauty was tired from a long day of travelling as he wasn't very interested in food, just standing and looking about him.

Brown Thrasher
 
There have been a few pretty sparrows flitting through too.  I saw a chipping sparrow last night (didn't get a photo), and he is so sweet and delicate compared to the chubby house sparrows that usually take over the neighbourhood.  The White-Throated Sparrow has been hopping through the grass regularly, and I was able to get a few shots of him (below).  Also the goldfinches are back, and the male birds have molted their winter olive green feathers and have nice bright yellow again. 
 
Did you know that goldfinches are attracted to the colour yellow (like themselves)?  If you put a bright yellow bird feeder full of niger seeds (or thistle seeds) in your yard, you will get the goldfinches coming to your yard very quickly.  I didn't quite believe this years ago, and I tried it when I lived in Burlington.  I hadn't seen even one goldfinch in our yard.  I put the seeds in the yellow feeder, hung it up, and within an hour there were about six goldfinches flitting back and forth to the feeder!  They are such bright, gentle birds, and I like the little trilling song they sing, especially as they fly.  Where I grew up there were many birds around in our woods and fields.  I used to watch them flying, and began to identify the birds by the way they flew, each with their own particularly flight style.  Goldfinches always fly up in a sweep and then down again, and as they fly up they sing, and when the reach the top of their upward motion, they stop singing.  So their little tweets are quite noticeable because of the break in song when they reach that top spot.  OK, I had a lot of time on my hands as a child ;) 

American Goldfinch, White-Throated Sparrow

This morning I opened the back door to let the dog out, and I could hear a robin singing very loudly in a tree nearby.  Robins have such a loud, clear song, and it always reminds me of early mornings in the summertime when I lived with my parents.  We slept with our windows open, and I worked at a golf course in the summer and had to be at work by 6:00 a.m.  I always remember the robins waking me up closer to 5:00 a.m. with their loud singing, and although it sounded beautiful, I was dragged from sleep much earlier than I wanted!  I'm referring to American Robins (below), of course, we don't have the tiny English Robins here.

Clockwise from Top L:  American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Chipmunk, House Sparrow

No sooner did I fill up the bird bath with fresh water yesterday evening, than a little house sparrow jumped right in and had a nice splashy soak!  Birds just look like they enjoy getting a bath so much :)  A little chipmunk has arrived at my home too.  These little guys are adorable, but they worry me a bit ... I try to watch where he runs to as I don't want him creeping into my house somewhere.  The thrasher in the top right photo (above) wasn't too bothered with the rubber snake I put there.  It was supposed to be a deterrent for Resident Rabbit, but it seems to have little effect on rabbits or birds. 
 
Well hopefully I'll soon have some flower blooms to share with you all.  The bleeding hearts are the tallest shoots right now, but no hearts.  I'm hoping that by next week I'll have something out there.  I want to join up with Fishtail Cottage's Garden Party, which I noticed Tracie has started up now.  Have a look over there if you're in need of some inspiration for things to do with your gardens.  I just loved this party last year.  So many amazing things people share!
 
Thanks for stopping by everyone!  I hope your springtime weather is perfect and you're enjoying the smells & beautiful flowers of spring :)
 
Wendy
 
White-Throated Sparrow

 

23 comments:

  1. Such beautiful photos Wendy and what lovely birds. The Brown Thrasher is so pretty. We have a resident English robin in our garden. He always comes out when I'm digging hoping I'll turn up something tasty. Your knitted flowers are lovely.

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  2. Your flowers are so pretty! I have that book too and I really love it. There are some beautiful ideas in it. I loved reading all this information about the birds, thank you for sharing. I learned a lot from you today.

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  3. That sparrow is beautiful...I've never seen one like it. And I love your knitted flowers...I don't knit very well but I crochet a little. I think I'll look for some patterns online! It's too hot to do anything today! Hugs, Diane

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  4. Hi Wendy,The knitted flowers are beautiful, love the colour combinations.Will you be making something out of them? And, the birds pictures are so wonderful.

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  5. Your flowers are so pretty Wendy, I have that book too and like you haven't done much out of it, I need to be in the mood for small and fiddly projects but they are worth the effort in the end. That thrasher bird is beautiful, I haven't even heard of it. You have some lovely wildlife passing through thank you for sharing it with us. :)

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  6. OOh birdyful post Wendy! You are so patient taking all those fab photos! I had to laugh as my family have to do the same....wait while I get the camera at whatever time the opportunity arises!
    Thrasher sounds a great name and what fab markings!
    Love your flowers too
    So great to see all your green grass!
    Ali x

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  7. Such a lovely post Wendy, thank you; your little knitted flowers are very pretty - fiddly yes - I only do them on rare occasions these days; and I loved seeing and hearing about your lovely birds - each gorgeous in its own way! Thank you! Your garden will bloom and it will bring such delight when it does, and I look forward to enjoying your lovely pics! Take care, love, Joy xo

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  8. What sweet little flowers you have created! How charming! The birds are very charming, too! Lovely captures. xo Karen

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  9. Hi Wendy, wow your knitted flowers came out beautiful! I love the photos of the birds and chipmunk! Thanks for the info on the birds! I do hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!
    Julie

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  10. Love love love bird pics...love love love bird pics!
    Jane x

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  11. Now I'll have to put up a yellow bird feeder and see if the finches will come. I just hung up a hummingbird feeder over a week ago and I haven't seen a hummer yet. It is a feeder that is attractive to me, but maybe not so much the hummingbirds. All of the birds are wonderful - a sure sign of spring! I hope your flowers get going soon - garden parties are fun! Your knitted flowers are a good substitute for now.

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  12. some beautiful photos Wendy! I put my first birdfeeder up last June, and now have five! I love watching them, they bring so much enjoyment! I've not seen a brown thrasher before. the goldfinches are lots of fun, I didn't know that about their singing; I will have to watch for that. Have a lovely weekend!

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  13. Oh I love your violets Wendy! My garden is full of spring flowers at the moment ... it was dull, grey and bare and then in a moment everything seemed to just erupt, so it won't be long until yours does too. I'm so glad that the snow has finally disappeared and that the birds are venturing out. Is the Thrasher related to a Thrush? I love your pictures xxx

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  14. Oh Wendy- you always take to loveliest of photos! Look at all those visitors... And those crocheted flowers, so friggin' cute! I can imagine them as perfect little brooches on my vintage cardi's! Infact wouldn't they make cute boutonnieres at a crafty, homemade wedding?

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  15. I want that book it has been on my list for the last few weeks & is on my intended next book purchase. Have you seen the bug one they do to? that will be joining it. Your flowers are just lovely, very pretty & I love seeing the different birds you have there. Have a good weekend.

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  16. Wendy, your little knitted flowers are lovely though fiddly I wouldn't like so much. And the birds, awesome photos. I love bird watching. We are actually in a migratory path, too, but most of the birds or out in the desert or near the water, though sometimes I do catch a glimpse of a new one passing through. Some pretty yellow ones at the walking path last week but didn't have my big camera to get a close up. They are way too fast for my little iPhone camera. Have a fabulous Friday. Tammy

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  17. You are so clever knitting yourself beautiful springtime flowers! There are no flowers here either, though the ribbons of green are growing. Your wildlife photos are gorgeous!

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  18. beautiful bird photos... yellow attracts goldfinches...?. i love them...

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  19. Your violets are beautiful Wendy! You are so clever making things up yourself, it is so satisfying when you do that isn't it. Love all of your bird pictures too, it is great to see all the different breeds that you get to see. I hope that your flowers are out soon and the bleeding hearts are hearting all over the place! xx

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  20. No, my comment vanished!! Oh well, great flowers, great birds, hope the flowers flower soon - you know Wendy! xx

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  21. Love your pretty yardbirds and the knitted flowers are so cute! Great shots!
    Wishing you a HAPPY Mother's day and week ahead!

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  22. Pretty flowers, and beautiful birds ... looks like spring to me :)

    I've been collecting wild flowers but although I'm hearing lots of bird song I'm not actually seeing many wild birds. I guess they're all busy nesting here.

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  23. Gorgeous photos! I can sit and watch birds for hours. Tonight we were watching a sweet little pair of birds collecting berries from one of our trees. And the flowers are so sweet!!

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment, it's nice to know when you've stopped by! :)

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