Spring!

Guess who I found hiding in my grass today?


I first noticed him (or her LOL) when I saw an adult American Robin yanking on a REALLY BIG WORM. The robin would grab onto the worm and jump, trying to get this monster worm out of the ground. It took several jumps before he got the whole worm. Then he fed it to this little guy. So of course, I had to go out and investigate (after waiting a while...)!

He was so very patient to let me get pictures of him! He didn't even blink!

I decided while I was out roaming the yard, I might as well get a few pictures of the few flowers LOL

First, the plum trees, which are EVERYWHERE. We have at least 4 different types of plums growing in our yard (they were here when we bought the house, and they have SPREAD). Fortunately, the kids love to eat them. Well, not the little red ones, they're too bitter LOL

While photographing the plums, I noticed some more little birdie friends. These are Chipping Sparrows. I haven't seen them in my yard for years. So nice of them to come visit! You can tell when they're around, because they sound like a cheap cordless phone LOL

Then I noticed this little guy! I've never seen a House Wren in my yard! Isn't he cute? So tiny!

Next, on to the light purple lilacs...

How did you get there? He was much too close to the very FULL irrigation ditch, so I chased him into the bushes.

Is this a honeysuckle? I'm not sure. But apparently I have at least 2 of these bushes in my yard LOL

These are the sweetest little purple flowers. I have no idea what they are, but they grow in big swathes.

Most of the forsythia blossoms were blown off in the big windstorm we had the other night. But there are a few lingering...

The quince bush, my favorite flowers in our yard. I wish it could bloom all year! Last year I ended up with a LOT of quince fruit, but I never did figure out how to use them, so the kids have been using them as substitute balls this spring. Hummingbirds and orioles LOVE this bush. And I love watching them!

The neighbors have some beautiful tulips in the woody strip between our houses. Can't you smell the fresh rain on those mint flowers?

There is a grassy strip between the woody area and our driveway. In the early spring it is FULL of grape hyacinths. It's so beautiful that people who are driving by will stop to admire them. But by now, most of the hyacinths are done blooming.

Daddy robin is checking up on baby...

The neighbor's tree. Isn't it pretty? It's a favorite perching spot for the robins.

Now for my dark purple lilac. I cut a bunch of these for my house today, and I'll be taking them for Memorial Day on Monday. Spring is the scent of lilacs.

I'm going to admit a deep, dark secret now. Dandelions are one of my most favorite flowers ever! Who couldn't love a flower that blooms no matter what, no matter where, and that you can pick as many as you want and never run out? And they're such a happy color!

This is the other reason I love dandelions... Wish flowers! Limitless numbers of wishes! This is what wish flowers look like when it rains, kind of spikey LOL

Well, that's a little of my yard! See you next time!