Moon Pillar

Moon Pillar
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

The other day, we were out and about after the full moon had risen. It was a beautiful moon- but most astonishingly, it had a shaft of light above and below it- rather than the usual corona.
I asked my weather expert (yes he is 10, but he is really into this LOL) and he tells me it is called a "Moon Pillar".
I was not able to draw it on site or take photos (we were never stopped in a place where it was visible :( ), but I had my memory- and I used it (and my watercolour pencils) to record it when I got home :)

First Signs of Spring

The weekend just gone by, was finally warm enough to get some yard work done. Usually we've been able to do this work during January- on the one or two warm weekends then, or earlier in February. This year it was almost March, and I was beginning to despair of ever being able to get the garden beds ready in time. I am still not sure they will be ready, but it wont be because *I* didn't try!
I took the opportunity the following day, to record my hard work with some new watercolour pencils. I am not absolutely familiar with them yet, but I shall enjoy learning to use them ;)

First I drew the garden beds I had so lovingly prepared. They are 4' by 4' square beds. Eventually I hope to have a taller and thinner frame so I can nail my grids to them, because yes, I am planning on another square foot garden :)
The beds were originally 4' by 4' squares, then I merged them into two long beds. Now I have taken them back to 4' x 4' squares because I just liked them that way, and my husband said it was a more useful shape :) We'll see!
That right hand square on the lower right is one I am planning to use for salad stuff- it gets shady in the summer allowing me to keep the produce going longer.

I have yet to make the back bed into the two 4' by 4' squares. I am hoping to get to that this coming weekend :)

March begins a very vibrant time of year in the Virginia garden. We can already see hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses and irises popping up- and in a few weeks they will be blooming. Right now, the maple trees are the main thing blooming. You can see a haze of red buds surrounding the limbs of the trees- and one might be able to imagine them to be like cherry blossom. They aren't of course, but in a way they are just as beautiful. For when you see them, you know spring is not too far behind!

The birds are beginning to pair up, and birdsong has been very familiar in the garden the last few days. In fact, I heard one particular bird that sounded a whole lot like my daughter- screaming! I have yet to see whether it is a natural call of a jay or something, or a mockingbird, mocking a certain someone who screams a little too often...

Pine Warbler

Anniversary Pine Warbler
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

This is not a certain identification of the bird by any means- but this bird and the previous one are new visitors to our feeder. This one actually comes every winter, and was initially mistaken for a goldfinch because of it's bright yellow colouration.
we eventually figured out that it was not a goldfinch changing it's feathers, but something else- and it was at the suggestion of someone else that I think it is a warbler. I keep mis-calling it a 'siskin' but checking it in my book it most definitely is NOT!

Myrtle Warbler (Feeder bird #3)

Myrtle Warbler (Feeder bird #3)
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

Or at least that is what I have tentatively identified it as. It and the pine warbler are not regular visitors to the feeder under usual circumstances, but what with the snow recently, these two are seen somewhat regularly!

Cardinal

Cardinal
Originally uploaded by Spinneretta

I am planning a series of pictures of birds at our feeder in the snow... this is the second bird- the cardinal was below the feeder.
I have seen quite a few new birds with our recent snows. Two warblers (a Pine Warbler and a Myrtle Warbler) are not common feeder visitors at all!!
I have plans to draw them too :)

Birding... and Gardening

The birds have been attacking the feeder today... probably because it has been pouring with rain. I drew a quick sketch of a downy woodpecker, who had come to our suet block to feed. She was quite confrontational earlier, seeing off a cardinal on the black sunflower seed feeder. I was surprised, until now, I had only ever seen the downies on the suet!


In the meantime, I have been garden dreaming. I have plans for my garden this year...I want to provide myself with the vegetables I use. Unfortunately I have no idea HOW to do this ;) I eat most vegetables. So does DD, while DH and DS prefer beans and corn. And potatoes. I have the secret weapon though... John Jeavon's intensive garden plan. I have yet to use the double dig method, and I own that the thought of it terrifies me! But I really want to accomplish this!

The Bird Feeder

This weekend, I took the advice of some friends and went out to purchase some different bird seed… I picked up a mesh sock of nyjer seed and some Harvest bird seed mix. I also got a small, new tube feeder to put the latter in!

I was amazed, the birds quickly found the feeder… and quickly decimated the food supply! I have to refill the feeder once a day at present!
This morning, the feeder (which I filled yesterday) had a bunch of seed.

A couple of hours later, the thing was almost empty! You can see it towards the top of the picture ;) (see the goldfinches munching on the nyjer?)

This is certainly successful, I am wondering what to get next… I think I will get a bird bath :)

And yes, I am still having garden dreams…

Garden Planning

I was astonished to discover that there just don't seem to be many gardeners in my area.
Trawling the blogs led to a couple, but our unique circumstances of being in the Upper South, with disadvantages of both the Southern hot summers and the sub-zero temperatures of the Northern winters, seem to just make gardening something people around here in Central Virginia, NOT want to do!
Well I for one will not quit! I grew up in gardening country (yes the English still love to garden, and most will at least have one or two veggies hidden in their flowers), and I really, really want a vegetable garden.
I picked up a new book to help me The Southern Kitchen Garden, but disturbingly, it seems to think that the 'South' ends at North Carolina!

HELLO... Virginia is Southern too! Oh well, the information is sound.

I enjoyed reading the seed catalogs, planning my garden for the year!


And I journalled my choices of vegetable if not the varieties!

Later I will update you on my new bird feeder... it's great!

Birding: Nature Journal Entry #2

I sat by our 'bird window' today, and drew the birds. We set our feeder up here, almost a year ago, and I have not regretted it since.

The birds were busy today… all the regular cast of characters were there, including the relatively new addition of the red-bellied Nuthatch. They only started coming a few months ago!

Today at the feeder:

White throated Sparrows, both the tan variety and normal,
Juncos
Downy Woodpecker (female)
Cardinals (male and female)
Flickers
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Mourning Doves
White Breasted Nuthatch
Red breasted Nuthatch

Some of these were ON the feeder, some below it eating the spilled food.
I also observed some other birds in the back yard, including a Rufus Sided Towhee.