When your garden is finished I hope it will be more beautiful that you anticipated, require less care than you expected, and have cost only a little more than you had planned.
- Thomas D. Church

My glass bird bath

A few weeks before Christmas I had mentioned to Mr C, that I had seen some lovely glass birdbaths at our local hardware store, but hesitated to buy one so near Christmas. Imagine my delight when I opened my Christmas gift to discover this lovely bird bath.

Mr C decided that the stand, which is sold separately, was not very substantial, so we will build our own, in fact I have a very sturdy metal plant pot stand which may be just the thing to hold the bird bath.

I love that the birds on the bath are goldfinch, which are abundant around our garden during the summer months.

Christmas cartoon

Today's cartoon is by Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen.
Cam Cardow / Cagle Cartoons

Gnarly Poinsettia

The conversation went like this: Me, "the poinsettias are lovely this year, I especially like this one, as it is different from the others. As I walked out of the greenhouse towards one of my favorite assistants in the garden area of the hardware store.

shop assistant, "yes it is different" he said with a smile

Me, "I always did like things a little out of the ordinary" holding up the poinsettia with the different shaped bracts.

Shop assistant "Gnarly!" he said with a chuckle.

I took quite a few photos trying to capture the true color, which is more of a burgundy, but gave up trying as red seems to be a difficult color to photograph.

The saga of the brown rabbits and one little black bunny

The little black bunny which has decided to adopt us, is now very friendly. I am able to give it's nose or back a couple of rubs before it moves away, and as soon as the front door opens, it comes hopping up to see if we have any treats for it.

I saw black bunny sitting on top of one of my flowerpots through the laundry window, but he/she was quickly chased off the pot, and the pot moved to a different location. It looked so cute I couldn't be upset.

The brown rabbits barely tolerate the little back one, so I usually feed them in different locations.

"Please let me have some of that kale, it looks very tasty"

Welcome to our house

This year Autumn has been exciting around the bird feeders, as we have had some new visitors stop by.

I was surprised and excited to see a small flock of evening grosbeaks land in a tree a short distance from the feeder, then a few at a time would fly down to feed.

They don't seem to be very nervous about me being pressed up against the kitchen window, a few feet away, taking their pictures.

The Grosbeak and Housefinch had a few words about who should be at the feeder. Neither one stood down and they both eventually settled to eat at the same time.

The males are very handsome with their bright yellow feathers.

It is a busy time at the feeding station during the coldest days.

Hellebores will soon be blooming

I have had a busy week and haven't really been in the mood for a whole lot of blogging. I know I am not the only blogger who sometimes feels it is a chore to get any blogging done.

Wandered around the yard today, and found a few of my Hellebores are in bud.

Primroses are such hardy little plants and keep on blooming in the coldest of weather.

One lonely little primrose on a slug chewed plant.