Tuesday, December 1, 2009

This and The Other





Where did November go?
It went whizzing right by me
somewhere along the way. With all of
the talk of Christmas decorations being
made or put up it got me into the mood to get at
least the outdoor decorations up today while the
weather was still fair.
A final cutting of and stowing away of the mums
to the basement was made. The window boxes were
clean out of frozen and mushy impatiens and other
flowers and decorated with pine, poinsettia, pine cones
and ribbons arrangements. The front porch with its fall
decor was replaced with the Country Christmas decorations
that are used every year. I do not decorate for Christmas as
I use to when the children were small but just add touches around
indoors. It was just more fun to go all out for it when
there were little ones about.
Meanwhile indoors.....




This white geranium that was brought indoors to
spend the winter has a few blooms opening on it.
The blooms are a lot smaller than when grown out
doors in the sun.





The African violet leaves are still looking good
but I do not see and growth coming out of them yet.
It has been over three weeks so I am hoping to see
some growth anytime now.





I am especially anxious to see the 'Wrangles
Dixie' get growing. It has pretty pink variegated
edges on the leaves.





With the cold weather the birdfeeders are seeing
a lot more activity. I saw my first Junco last week
just before we got our first touch of snow.




I am hoping the raccoons are sleeping now and will
leave the feeders alone. After two were wrecked by
them I started bringing the feeders in at dark.
Maybe it will be safe now to leave them up overnight.



Happy Gardening Everyone!



21 comments:

Cathy S. said...

Very nice Lona, african violets are slow growers, but once their roots starts to fill up the pot they will start to bloom, violets likes tight pots.

Victoria said...

Woah..mega-awesome bird shots..! Fantastic!They are so beautiful to watch...great closeups! Looks like you have mnay wonderful visitors! Wow..a Racoon guest too! Must be a busy little hot spot!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona~~ You've got very unique bird feeders. At least they're unique to me but since I'm not a huge bird person I may be revealing my ignorance.

I don't do as much Christmas decorating either but my 17 year old loves to do it so I let her. Fingers crossed for your African Violets.

Lona said...

Hi Grace, I am going to pitch the bronze colored one.The perches fold in so the bird have to be really talented to feed from it.Last winter I hot glued the perches but they have since came loose again.Not the greatest idea for a feeder.

Kiki; we have a lot of visitors since we are in the woods so to speak,I am in a quandary at how to keep all of the stray cats away from the feeders. Better be some fast birds at times.

Cathy, thanks for the tips. You know girl I need all the help I can get. I will remember to keep them in little pots if they need root bound a little to bloom.

Stephanie said...

Your new banner gave me a pleasant surprise :-) Love those icy photos. Good luck on your AVs.

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

Our bird feeders are getting lots of traffic too. So far I've seen chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, titmouse, and downey woodpeckers. I love watching them - it warms me on a cold winter day.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

What cute visitors you have at your feeders! What is the type in the second bird picture? I haven't seen that kind before. We have so many Juncos now in our yard it's unbelievable. I didn't realize they were winter birds so many places.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

I am hoping my geraniums last this winter again. I have been lucky so far.
My african violet leaves I got a year and a half ago have lots of leaves but only a couple flowered. I am still waiting on the others. I think a about 5 died. So I guess that wasn't to bad.
Good luck on the raccoons(-: They sure are hungry little critters...lol

Tootsie said...

your photos are glorious! you always have such great photos!

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Beautiful bird pictures, the one in the middle shot is just adorable. Lovely white geraniums, so delicate and snowflake-like. :) Rebecca

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

I am not ready for decorating yet...guess I better get it in gear! Love the birds, need to fill my feeders.

Balisha said...

Hi Lona,
I love your new header...so frosty and cold. Winter pictures are as pretty as summer ones to me.
Balisha

Lona said...

Stephanie: Thank you I need luck when starting from stems. Have so much trouble with them.

Ellie: I love watching them too. I person needs some diversion when winter hits ;-)

Catherine : that little beauty is a Tufted Titmouse.
They sass me when I go out to fill the feeders. I think they are telling me to hurry up, step away from the food, or alerting others to a new meal ;-)

Cindee: Oh, I hope mine does not die. I would really like to have some new flowers ;-)

Tootsie: Thanks . I hope you are feeling better.

Rebecca:Not much happening in my plant world now so any little bloom is appreciated.

Janet: Those little winged critters do keep you hopping to keep the feeders filled when its could.

Balisha: I really put the icy one up until I get a Christmas header sorted out ;-)

Heather said...

Lona, I know what you mean, November went by quickly for me, too!! Love your birdy pictures. We've had a few juncos around, and I imagine their numbers will pick up as the cold air starts to permeate the area. It's pouring down rain right now, and it's so chilly out there. Yuck! I see from your header pictures that you're ready for winter! Were those images taken during that horrible ice storm we had early this year?

lynn'sgarden said...

Yes, Lona, your bird photos are awesome! As is the new header pic...WOW!
Patience on the cuttings, as long as the leaves are still green and firm...they'll be good! ;)
Lynn

Adrienne Zwart said...

I've been bringing my feeders in, too. I haven't tried leaving them out yet because we had a couple warmer days this week. Oh, those racoons!
I love your new collage on the blog header. So festive--it makes me feel like decorating.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

What lovely photos, Lona! I wish I had more song birds hanging around. All I see are wrens and magpies.

PS: I'm in the same boat as you - can't believe it's December already. I am behind on everything... :((

Lona said...

Heather; yes that was from the horrible ice storm we have last winter.Made beautiful pictures but it was such a mess. I hope we do not see it this winter.

Lynn: Oh, good. If they start wilting I will know I am in deep dodo ;-)

Adrienne: Thank you. Everyone one the blogs were all decorating and it got me in the mood ;-) Wanted to beat the cold weather and rain too.

Kate; I would like to see magpies. I love seeing birds show up that never come around until they get really hungry in winter.

Autumn Belle said...

How I wish these lovely tweety birds come and visit me too.

Anonymous said...

Your new header is so very festive! I haven't put up any decorations yet, so I'm still in fall mode on my blog. My kids arrive for Christmas next weekend, so I'd better get busy! My roses still didn't freeze, I guess because they are up off the ground. And work is going fine. I give such good customer service that I've never had anything thrown at me! LOL I know how to placate them like the managers do.

Anonymous said...

Awesome bird photos Lona. Love the woodpecker. I don't see that one in my yard. I've been trekking outside every morning to fill my feeders and it's freezing!
I hope your African violets take root. I have no experience with them but I like to admire other peoples. :-)
Oh, your new blog header is very festive!