EMPTY NEST SYNDROME

After finding the hidden quail nest, I made sure they were comfortable with plenty shade and water.
 Several times a day I would check to make sure the eggs were alright. Two weeks later after checking  the nest, I found that  all the eggs had hatched and the babies were nowhere in sight!

I was sure something had eaten the mother after seeing all the feathers left in the nest. All the eggs looked like the tops were evenly cut off. I searched all afternoon for the babies never losing hope that they were close by.
Lolly Bee stayed with me never making a sound.

 I kept my camera on and ready to capture the perfect shot! When I  checked the nest once more-  I was startled to see

 they were back!!!

 

Little stripped babies, all ten of them. They didn't make a peep-just looked at me. They were so cute!  I just wanted to scoop them all up and pet them.....of course I didn't!

 On the 2nd day the father showed up walking on the block wall calling for them to leave. She marched out of the nest with all the babies in a row behind her. The perfect photo and the camera would not come on!!nothing!!-the battery was dead! &;X;#@$%#@ and a few F's ! By the time I got back outside with the camera phone on and ready they were gone!  All the waiting and time spent worried about them , they just up and leave! Just like that! Not even a look back! But I am so grateful that I did get a few shots of them in their nests. Hoping they will choose to come back next year and give me another chance.....

BLOOMING IN THE GARDEN

  Each year after the wild flower bed is cleared of the California and Shirley poppies, the struggling cosmos come to full bloom within a few days. They are already over 4 feet tall!

  The coreopsis have also enjoyed the room to grow and the full sun they recieve after the clear-out!
Hollyhocks have a few buds left on the tops. They don't look very good with the bottom flowers spent.

 

The orange jubilee that was cut to the ground after a freeze this past winter, is about 4 ft tall and has just started to bloom. I couldn't get  the root out, and when it started growing again, I didn't have the heart to cut it back. It's so fast growing, messy and I just need it to be gone! Oh well, I'll put  up with it another few months.

                                              Red and pink hibiscas blooming in time for Turr Tull who just came out from hibernating. The spring had been cooler and longer this year, and he was able to sleep awhile longer-unlike me never getting enough shut eye!

My two bower vines  have started to bloom -they will bloom untill late fall.

Blue plumbego is still a very light color. I'm not sure when they will turn the darker blue that I love.

 

Red bird of paradise will bloom till early winter- a winner for our hot, hot summers! I am dreading the next few months of hot, but the GOOD NEWS for the summer are visits from Grand daughter-great Grand kids and Grandson home on leave!!! PARTY TIME!!!!!!!!  

 

 

Beautiful evening walk...

a startled quail flew off her well hidden nest. As soon as I caught my breath I found the nest with
10 eggs!  I can't wait for them to hatch! They hatch in 17-23 days and I'm not sure

THE LAST BOUQUET

Straight across,with binoculars you could see my backyard filled with flowers. Until today.....

 The last bouquet picked, seeds were gathered ....

 spring is over!

Arizona Spring

I had the last post almost ready to publish...bam! pictures post -words were gone without me touching a thing. I'm somewhat afraid to compose my blog..... no telling what might show up and you find out about me! LOL --Will try again.....

 This morning's sunrise.

Lolly Bee never barks at any birds that come to the back yard..occasionally she will bark at a dog walking by, but she is not a yapper or snapper! Not sure how she would react to the bobcats that have been roaming the neighborhood! Game and fish told me not to worry-they said they don't bother people and they do a great job keeping the mice and rabbit population down, the only thing to worry about is if you have a small dog, like a chihuahua...
--HELLO that's why I'm calling!-- their advise--- just don't let her out of your sight!  She is not allowed outside without me!  More quail  have been on  the view fence-guess they are were more afraid of Lolly than the bobcats!!

 

 

Texas Olive tree - No fruit-just beautiful clusters of flowers blooming all spring and summer.

 

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 Nasturtium -I always plant pots of nasturtium around the yard..this year a few plants grew in my flower beds and have overtaken large areas. While the pots are looking scraggly, the in ground plants are fast growing,beautiful healthy plants.

Lupine-only had two come up in my heavily planted wildflower bed. Someday I will force myself not to over plant or at least thin some.

Loving the view's from the swing!

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 Shirley Poppies-popping up all over!

 

 My favorite-Sweet Pea! 

Lolly watching every move I make in the garden-she loves the swing as much as I do!!!!

Back Again

 

Spring has sprung! My flowers and vegetable garden is looking mighty fine! The cauliflower and broccoli have done well despite the little green worms.

 

A seat for the weary traveler on the way to the top of the mountain. Not sure how someone carried this rabbit bench to the top. I did try it out--felt good!

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Just published several blog posts from drafts that I wrote months ago--better than just deleting them after they've been sitting there for half a year or more.

If I can get back to posting more regularly after my long blog hiatus, I'll tell you about my trip to NC and to Disneyland to watch Granddaughter and dance team compete.