Birds and bees and more

Finally we have a string of warm, sunny days in the forecast and it’s time to start planting vegetables! Mauricio and friend were here on Tuesday to the garden ready for planting. I asked them to leave the spring carpet of grasses and wildflowers and turn the soil in the boxes, adding compost. 

the planter box was full of mushrooms and mycorrhizal fungi

pancake sized mushrooms

Walking around the yard I was struck by Mother Nature’s spring palette, which had changed from the delicate pinks to bold complements. . .

the reds and greens

the yellows and violets

This morning I spent a while nosing up into the rhododendrons with a large assortment of flying insects, most notably very large bumblebees. And yes I’m dying to paint them, but what a treat to follow their acrobatics for a few minutes.

But my art offering for today (painted from Lisa Genuit’s photo) was the bird most spotted last Monday with the Gals Go Birding group at Hawk’s Prairie Recharge Ponds, the Yellow Rumped Warbler. Although this little bird has some lovely yellow epaulets and cap, the rump part is seen only when they fly and seldom then, because they are absolutely the flittiest birds. The air was filled with their song but it took quite a while til I was able to spot a stationary one.

This beautiful eco-park is designed to filter and recharge our water!

Also home to the Fawn Lily in their ghost-like garb with delicately painted patterns on the leaves. They were the consolation when at first I couldn’t seem to get a bird sighting. Another bloom to paint. I’m way behind now!