A Visitor - Lazuli Bunting

The bird feeder has been pretty busy this spring.  This Lazuli Bunting was spotted twice in May.

This bunting is a North American song bird named for the bright blue that is similar to lapis lazuli, a gemstone.  The male carries the blue while the female has much more brown and grey.

One Last Look at Winter

About 2 weeks ago, around May 18, we experienced one last day of winter.  The evening temperatures dipped down to 24 degrees and there were forecasts of precipitation.  When we woke, the songbirds and doves were making us aware of the change.

We warmed up some sugar water and filled the feeder with seeds.  As the sun rose out of the East, the flock was filling up for the day ahead.

This area of the western U.S. is home to a variety of songbirds.  It is also a fly way from north to south (and vice-versa) due to the Great Salt Lake.  Even though these are not clearest photos, you can enjoy the bright yellow and orange that some birds bring to our garden.  Here are photos of the Western Tanager and Bullock's Oriole.

I wish my grape vine had been as resilient at these beautiful birds.

May Flowers & Bees

Today we walked about 6 miles up in the mountains.  At the 8000 ft. level and higher there was still snow but at about 6000 level, snow was gone and early flowers were in bloom.  We came upon a wild apple tree that was loaded with blooms and bees.

The bumblebee is right in the middle enjoying these apple blossoms.

As we moved up the path, we saw numerous flowers displaying various shades of yellow and blue.

Early yellow.

Light blue with mix of green.

We came upon the start of a new beaver dam.  Lots of energy in cutting down 2 and 3 inch aspen to dam the stream in 3 places.  We watched a dam progress last year with constant cameos from the builder.  It will be interesting to see what happens with this one since this stream disappears after the snow has finished melting.

A lovely walk with the promise of many more to come this summer!  Regardless of how many times I hear the buzz of the bees, I always find it welcoming.

Spring - Where Did It Go?

Spring is always filled with surprises.  One day it is bright and sunny with birds filling the air with song.  The next day is a quick reminder of the winter that just past.  These flowers experienced that yesterday.

 

As quick as the snow blew in, the storm moved on to share moisture and cold weather with other plants.  These tulips and daffodils will enjoy a sunny Monday.

Spring in the North

It was a cold, snowy winter in many parts of the U.S.  I had enough on Dec. 27 but there was still January and February to contend with before I could really say good buy to winter.  By early March the snow was gone and I had the flowerbeds prepared for the early joy of croci, tulips, and daffodils.  I was not disappointed with the early blooms.

Tulips are starting to bloom but are being greeted with a wet, heavy snow this evening.  Since the temperature pops back to 50 degrees tomorrow, I should soon post photos of purple, yellow, and red tulips.

Spring in the Desert

The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful place to spend a Spring day after a wet winter.  Cactus and wild flowers are blooming with an array of colors that will last until early May.  Here's just a sample from my March trip.

Brittlebush

This is a lily but still looking for exact type

Mallow

There are loads of blooms to come soon on this hedgehog.

 The cactus should be in full bloom on my next trip.

The Bees Are Busy

Yes, the bees are in full buzz with all the flowers and trees in bloom.  Pollen may not always be our friend but the bees love it.  Here's a recent photo captured on a hike in the Wasatch Mountains.

Check out the pollen on his head.

 It is amazing to listen to a team of bees as they find food.  Last weekend, we came upon a large group of spruce that were filled with all types of bees enjoying this treat.  Just amazing!