Dark-eyed Juncos' Nest Building Troubles

Early spring in my backyard is punctuated by the alarm chips of a pair of Dark-eye Juncos nesting in my pergola.  I even keep my backyard messy to provide materials for their nest building.  I enjoy watching the birds build their nest.  

A Dark-eyed Junco calling out alarm chips to me last spring.

Last summer, we moved our pergola and chopped back the Akebia vine that encased it.  

Their attempts are certainly ambitious with an old hardy fuchsia stem.  I watched them work together to wrench it out of the raised bed.  But will it stay in place?

Hail surrounds a newly emerging hosta

Primula sieboidii 'Lacy Lady'

So far, the Dark-eyed Juncos have tried building a nest in three spots and windy rain/hail storms have blow it out. I caught My Pirate picking up the nest and putting it back in place. Part of their nest landed on my primula.  I don't know if the final corner of the pergola will protect the nest from the elements.  

Should I intervene and install a box on the final corner?  Or should I let them move on to a safer spot? I welcome your suggestions.  

Winter Walk-Off 2015

I enjoy reading the participants of A Tidewater Gardener's yearly Winter Walk-Off meme.  Les encourages us to "rise from the couch, cast off that musty Afghan, grab a camera, and get out of the house to show the rest of us what their part of the planet looks like."  

This year I decided to join in for the first time.  I threw my blanket aside, nudged Mr. Barnaby off the couch, and we headed to Pacific Park.  Pacific Park is a beautiful fifty-sixty acre park, two miles from my house.  We regularly visit the off leash dog park to support Barnaby's social life.  I also have a plot in the community garden and help plan and teach a series of Master Gardener workshops on natural gardening in the Natural Garden Area.

Barnaby just can't get enough love from Jamie.

You remember Jamie don't you?  I showed you a picture of her last summer.

Poor Jamie!

Let's see if this shot jogs your memory.  

Squatting down besides Barnaby is dangerous because he will sit on your lap and down you'll go.  Jamie almost fell again during our walk, but she caught herself.  Nice catch, Jamie.

Tyrion, Barnaby's best friend, chased him around the park playing rabid rabbit.  

Barnaby danced a little jig to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Tyrion's tattling on Barnaby digging in the park.  A big no-no…Barnaby!

Barnaby leaning against our friend, Thomas.

You know Barnaby loves you, when he leans his 175 pounds on you.

Now let's go take a look at the Natural Garden.

The Natural Gardens demonstrate eight different garden styles to help inspire local gardeners.

Bolts on the sign

Pear blossoms

The Dog Friendly Garden has been a source of inspiration for our backyard.  

This plant is definitely an example of wrong plant in the wrong place. It needs to be moved to the back of the garden.

Compost happens.

blueberry bush

Three moms enjoying an afternoon walk with their babies animatedly chatting about parking regulations.  I can't make this stuff up.

When I returned home, I noticed the pink snow of cherry petals agains my neighbors curb.   

Thank you for joining me on my walk!  Please make sure to visit A Tidewater Garden.  

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: March 2015

This afternoon, the winds are roaring outside with gusts up to 45 mph, Douglas Fir cones are dropping on our metal pergola roof like artillery, and our lights are flickering on and off.  It seems like a strange time to talk about the blooms in my garden, but let's do this.  

The neighbors' cherry tree blossoms are snowing petals in our garden.  I love those blooms!

The star magnolia continues to bloom its heart out.  I never tire of taking pictures of the blooms.

The variegated daphne is still pumping out fragrant flowers.

Can you name this beauty?  Yes, it's a dandelion.  I let them bloom for the bees in the early spring.  Barnaby keeps nibbling the withering flowers off.  We have a good system going for us.

Indian Plum, Osmaronia cerasiformis

The Indian Plum continues to bloom.

Evergreen Huckleberry--sorry for the blurry image but you get the idea!

The Evergreen Huckleberries are blooming their tiny blooms that the hummingbirds love to sip.

Primula sieboidii 'Lacy Lady'

My friend, Anna, gave me three Primula sieboidii 'Lacy Lady' at the last plant exchange.  They are a woodland treasure from Xera. Thanks, Anna! 

Japanese Coltsfoot, Petasites japonicus

The kraken have reemerged!  The Japanese Coltsfoot is blooming, safely tucked inside its new stock tank.  My Pirate is thrilled!  He loves this plant.

Spike Winter Hazel, Corylopsis spicata

The Spike Winter Hazel continues to bloom.  Barnaby started pruning the palm tree when I took this shot.  He's such a helper.

Please stop by May Dreams Gardens to see the rest of the bloom day offerings.  Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to you!

Our Tour of LIttle Prince of Oregon Nursery

Little Prince succulent sign                                   shot taken by My Pirate

Last Sunday, My Pirate and I spent a thrilling afternoon touring and shopping at the Little Prince of Oregon Nursery in Aurora, Oregon.  We met up with 11 local garden bloggers for a tour organized by Tamara of Chickadee Gardens and Mark Leichty, the Business Development Manager of LPO.  We're still giddy from the day of traipsing through the 160,000 square feet of greenhouses!  

Mark Leichty, Business Development Manager at Little Prince of Oregon Nursery

Our charming host, Mark Leichty, greeted us with a royal spread of snacks and punch.  He handed out complimentary LPO caps (I love mine!) and gave us a brief introduction to the nursery.  

Then he set us loose in the 50 greenhouses.  Yes, you heard me correctly, 50 greenhouses!  

Patricia rocking her new Little Prince Nursery cap and Tillandsia xerographica!

We started in the tillandsia greenhouse.  Patricia of Plant Lust fame picked out this huge Tillandsia xerographica. Great choice! 

The tillandsias were stored on large metal racks like this one.  It must make them easier to water.

When we arrived at the Little Prince of Oregon Nursery, I slid a list of Barnaby proof ground covers into My Pirate's hand and asked him to find them while I took pictures.  My list included Lamium aureum, Oxallis oregana, Sedum rupestre 'Angelina', Cardamine trifolia, and Rubus pentalobus.  But, he got distracted.  We both did.

My (sweet) Pirate went looking for a box of plants that I left behind.  The day was the warmest so far this season and all the greenhouse doors were open with the fans running.

Arenaria balearica, Corsican Sandwort

Little Prince of Oregon Nursery is known for their ground covers, succulents, perennials, grasses, ferns and rare and unusual plants.  And they offer a great variety of plants, there are currently 838 different kinds of plants listed on their website.

Trying to pick out plants for my garden was simply overwhelming.  I wanted to try everything.

Oxallis adenophylla, Silver Shamrock

Several of the greenhouses were filled with huge swaths of succulents.  Never before have I felt so frustrated with the lack of full sun in my garden.  Even My Pirate was muttering about it.

Garden writer, Amy Campion, stopped to review her plant selections.  Amy just bought a new home and is starting with a blank slate.  Keep shopping!  

The fern room was my favorite greenhouse.  I wanted to buy 3 of everything or set up a cot in there.

Woodwardia unigemmata, Jeweled Chain Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora, Autumn Fern

My friend, Jenni of Rainy Day Gardener, purchased her first agaves for her new 'hot' patio.  I can't wait to see how it turns out!  I confess to having a case of agave envy.

Agave gentryi 'Jaws'

Agave 'Royal Spine'

Agave schidigera

Agave lophantha 'Splendida'

Agave 'Splendida' almost made it home with me.  It's the agave that got away!

My purchases (left-right) Fuchsia 'Arcadia Lady', Fuchsia Endstone, Tricyrtis formosan a 'Samurai'

Here's what we brought home with us.  I bought two hardy fuchsias--Arcadia Lady and Endstone to brighten up my back yard.  Hardy fuchsias are Barnaby proof!  And I was seduced by the variegated toad lily, Tricyritis formosan a 'Samurai', so I bought 3.  

my purchases (left-right) Rubus pentalobus, Pachysandra terminalis, Woodwardia unigemmata, Oxallis oregano

We also picked up some tough ground covers to edge our new pergola area.  We bought Rubus pentalobus, Pachysandra terminalis, Woodwardia unigemmata, and Oxalis oregana.  I'm happy with our purchases.  But, oh, I can't wait to buy more plants from Little Prince of Oregon Nursery.  You can find their plants at New Seasons Markets and Fred Meyers.  

Fuchsia 'Enstone'

We had a wonderful time shopping with our fellow garden blogger friends.  Thanks to Mark and Tamara for organizing our lovely day.  

Tricyrtis formosan a 'Samurai', a toad lily with gold variegated foliage

Along Came A Spider

You know that you live in the suburbs when cars slow down so that the people inside can pose with their best duck face for your camera. And kids walking by stop and make faces at you.  And I aim my camera and smile at them like I took their picture. To be polite.  Because, all I'm really trying to do is take a cool shot of a crab spider hunting on my star magnolia.

A hunting crab spider

I'm fascinated by the spiders and other beneficial insects in my garden.  Last summer, we taught a lesson on spiders to a group of students at the Hazel Dell School and Community Garden.  After the lesson, the students built spiders out of 2 green grapes on a toothpick, celery was used for the legs, and the kids pressed 8 sunflower seeds to represent eyes into the first body segment.  They were a really cute project and snack.  I'd never before heard kids exclaim, "I'm hungry, can I eat my spider now?"  

let me take a look at you

The crab spider stands poised with its front legs up and pounces on any unsuspecting insect that comes its way.  It isn't picky.  And it doesn't scare easily.  It merely looked at me like a big dinner.

Unless it's actually posing with its version of a duck face.  I can't tell.  Can you?