Tuesday, July 21, 2009

New Bird in Town and Changes


Alright Robin and all you bird watchers get
out the bird books because I have a new bird
that has been visiting this week and I do not know
what it is or if it is male or female.
I was so excited to get close enough to get a picture
of it at the birdbath that the quality of the pictures
are not very good, but I hope your can see it good
enough to help identify it.
There was also a new kind of yellow bird , maybe
a warbler of some kind, in the woods yesterday
while taking my tour around the yard. I went running
with the camera, as fast as an old fat woman can that is,
but I missed the shot and only got a blurry blob.







It is a very pretty light gray with a black head and
long black tail feathers on top. Under the tail the
feathers are a rusty orange color. It is a very pretty
bird .





Change one:
On my flower check I really looked at this mess
and have to do something about it. Talk about
clashing colors. I am not going to keep this orange
colored geranium over winter. Nothing I have goes
with it. Most of my flowers run in the pinks, purples
and blue shades. I know I have to move the
lantana, hot pink and neon orange clash.
The geranium is called bright eyes and it lives up to
the name.






Change Two:
The Brandywine tomatoes are getting so big
and I see a few in the middle that are starting
to turn. I cannot wait for some home grown
flavored tomatoes. This is the first year I
have tried Branywine and it is not the best
type for container gardening. The bushes were
almost six feet high and still growing so I had to
pinch the tops out to stop them from getting any
taller. They had out grown the wire cages and the
stakes. If they taste good I may try them again but
they will have to be put in a garden bed.


This post will have to end here because Photobucket
is doing maintenance so I cannot get into the pictures.
I know someone will help me with the new bird in town.


Happy Gardening Everyone!




18 comments:

Linda/patchwork said...

Hi, Lona,
I checked out my Audubon field guide, and I think your new bird visitor is a 'Gray Catbird'. It's described as 'slender, long-tailed dark gray bird with black cap and rusty undertail' Sounds just like your description.
He's a beauty. Unfortunately, they don't show up down here in Texas.
Great post, by the way.
~~Linda @ Patchwork Garden

Adrienne Zwart said...

Hi, Lona. I think that is a grey catbird. I had to laugh about the warbler photo part of the story. The same thing happened to me when I was walking in the woods last week. I stood still and should have a very nice photo to show for it, but couldn't get the camera to adjust for the low light. But I saved that blurry blob photo anyway, because it proves I saw something new. (Even if I have no idea what kind of warbler it was.)

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I don't know what type of bird it is, but really is pretty!
I'm growing Brandywine this year too, and they really do get huge. The one I gave my mom has taken over her roses. The tomatoes are supposed to be delicious though.

Dirt Princess said...

I don't know what that bird is...but I am going to say that it is a female?!?!?!? I only say that because 99% of the time male birds are more showy and prettier

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Hi Lona! That is a Catbird! I have a couple of them around. They are big singers. They sit high in the tree when they are singing.... "Singing in the Catbird Seat".

Anonymous said...

Hi,
The bird could be a gray catbird

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I can't help with the bird id, but I identify with your excitement in seeing a new bird, and catching it with your camera. I have been into orange flowers the last couple of years, and have not found them to clash with anything so far. Yours don't look clashy to me, from looking at the photo, either.

Bernideen said...

Don't have a clue about your bird but your tomatoes are coming along nicely!

Heather said...

I don't know what the bird is but the brandywine tomatoes look great! Good luck IDing the pretty bird!

lynn'sgarden said...

Lona, unfortunately, the help won't come from me to id this little bird..she is cute, though! Okay, I REALLY like that orange geranium! Can't you just let it stand by itself so it doesn't clash? Hope that Brandywine will taste as good as it looks!

Lona said...

Hi All! I knew you all would help ID the bird. But Gray Catbird. I had to shake my head on the name. That would have been the last name I would have considered for a bird. Janet the explanation of being in the Catbird seat though makes sense. Linda, I still think it was someones bad humor to call a bird after something that these stray cats around her would love to eat.

Lynn, I do believe I will move the orange geraniums to a spot back toward a shady edged bed. They should definitely
brighten up the area.

Adrienne, I do believe we need to rethink this bird obsession.At my age it could be dangerous to my health or at least my backside. ;-)

Catherine, this tomatoes vines get huge I had no idea!

Bernideen and Heather, I had to pitch one of the tomatoes this morning. Rotten on the bottom. Hope no more get that way. This silly weather may be the cause.

Sue, it is probably just me since I am not fond of the color orange. I think it is a 70's thing :-) I can't stand olive green either.

Princess, I know girl, it is just not fair.It seems it is that way for humans too. Women get old and wrinkly and the men age gracefully and look better :-) What is that saying, "it's a mans world". Now I will have all the guys mad at me.

Hey, hello Jennifer! Always glad to hear from new gardeners visiting the blog.

Balisha said...

Catbird...listen closely and you may hear a slight mewing sound...thus the name.
Balisha

Anonymous said...

I looked and looked at my Ohio bird book, and looked right past the gray catbird! I'm glad someone ID'd it for you. I want to try Brandywine tomatoes next year because everyone says they are so delicious.

Jan said...

Hey girl! It's a catbird! We have them here, too. They make a chirp that resembles a cat's meow. I wonder why they have come your way if you've never seen them before? I think they're fairly common, but when ya see a new one it's always exciting;-)

OMG-your flowers are to die for. You have a point about the orange and olive green! I remember my mom had an orange shag carpet in our family room (!) and green oven, fridge & dishwasher (if we had one-I actually think we didn't have one...)

But...I love your mixed colors! I think the orange looks lovely amongst the pinks! I'm a pink/purple/blue girl myself--but a splash of yellow here, and a dot of orange there--I think it adds a nice touch!!

Tootsie said...

no clue on the bird...but your flowers are very pretty! I don't care who clashes with who..if I like the color...they go together! I love orange geraniums...they are my favorites...they are so bright!
your gardens are beautiful friend! thanks for the sweet comment today!

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

Lovely bird. Lucky you to snap a few.

The tomatoes are bulging out and beginning to behave like pumpkins!!.. healthy looking indeed.
~ bangchik

MILLIE said...

When I saw that bird I thought Hey that's a catbird. I can see you all agree! Catbirds like to eat my blueberries--but they have a personality. Just thought I would stop by and say "Hi" again. I have to check in once in awhile and see what beautiful photos you've taken while I've been gone.

GartenGrl said...

Lovely garden! I like those rainbow knockouts...pretty salmon color is nice with some fountain grass...
GartenGrl at
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