Monkey Flower

Blooming now -- small lilac-purple flowers at the very edge of the pond.  Some native plants around the pond, like these, are not noticeable until you get close.  Monkey Flower Mimulus ringens.  The name comes from the Latin diminutive of mimus meaning "a mimic" or little monkey.  The flowers are like tiny snapdragons, less than one inch long.  Bumblebees are important native pollinators for this species.  Monkey Flower is a native plant, naturalized along the pond's margin. 

I noticed an unfamiliar growth on my rhubarb. Turns out, the rhubarb is BLOOMING. New to me, but evidently common on plants that have been in the ground a while, as mine have. They came from my Dad's back yard, and have been producing delicious stalks for five years. Obviously, something I will use as a subject to create some art.  And the kids devised new ways to use the giant rhubarb leaves.

hunting cat at the brush pile

This neighborhood cat, often seen scouting the edge of our woods, sat for a long time this afternoon staring at the holes in the snow beneath the bird seed feeder where the red squirrels come out from their tunnels under the brush pile. The cat finally stalked off, disappointed at the lack of activity. Soon after, a squirrel popped his head out to give the "all clear" . . .

. . . and later, another squirrel returned after enjoying seeds below the feeder.

pumpkin lunch

The leftover pumpkins, split in halves, make a good lunch for the cardinals and bluejays. They seem able to share for a change.

peanut log

A gift! This log, with carefully drilled holes to hold nuts and positioned at the edge of our woods, is a new treat for the birds.

bird tracks: snow angel

Near sunset.


We admired the bird tracks
in the snow zig-zagging
beneath the feeder.


I wonder what maneuver
made the wings on this
snow angel?

elated chickadee

We put up a new "tray" feeder on a pole near the "barn" seed dispenser and suet cages.

The chickadees seem to love the new offerings!

frosty

Heavy frost on the grass this morning . . . this gray squirrel sat on a snag tree in the sun with toes around the branch, eyes not fully open, tail up wrapped along his back extending to his ears. Cozy.

peanuts

Peanuts (unsalted, in the shell) are a nice treat for many of the birds that gather into the winter guild here in the wild woods. The chickadees, ever curious, help themselves first whenever we put more peanuts out on the bark tray.

bird bathing

The birds love the "bubbler" that continuously moves water in the crockery bowl that serves as one of our bird watering sites. This week the American Robins (Turdus migratorius) have been lining up and sometimes are rudely impatient as they take turns in the bowl. When this bird finished the vigorous part of her bath, she spent several minutes just relaxing in the water with her bottom on the bubbler.