Owlbert

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Allow me to introduce you to Owlbert (whooo? ...  you heard me), whose recent presence in my vegetable garden has effectively, and surprisingly, kept the marauding quail at bay.

He doesn't speak, nor does he move his head, but sits there quietly with, I'm guessing, a menacing enough stare with those big yellow eyes, to put the fear of Predator into the tiny hearts of those destructive quail.

I'm happy.  The quail?  Maybe not so much.  Although they do have full run of the rest of the property.  Just not this small piece.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

It's Mother's Day - Celebrate the Mothers in Your Life

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To my sisters, daughters-in-law, good friends and all the mothers and future mothers who have touched my life,

especially my own -

Happy Mother's Day.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Columbine in Shade

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Hiding in the shade.  Much like me.

Visit Floral Friday Fotos for more flower shots.

©Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

May Day 2012

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And a lovely May 1st it is.  I'm beginning to recover from a very nasty respiratory flu

and spent most of the morning in my garden snapping photos; a good sign that I'm feeling better.

Happy May Day!

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Duo of Daffodil Buds

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My mother called them daffy-down-dillys.

Funny how I think of her at the oddest times.

I'm working on a vegetable garden update; hopefully by the weekend.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

First Day of Spring: Tiger Eye Viola

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Tiny but mighty, Viola Tiger Eye is a sweetly scented, diminutive plant that perfumes the gateway to my vegetable garden.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Signs of Spring: Swallows - An Early Arrival

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The swallows are back. And once again they are earlier than last year, and the year before, and the year before...

I've been scanning the sky the past few days - earlier than I usually do - but I had a feeling.

Last night was balmy and clear and we woke up to a 50-degree, frost-free morning and I knew they'd show up today.  And so they did.  I say 'they', but really I saw just the one. But one means more are somewhere close by and for me that's enough to proclaim:

Spring has officially arrived at Raven Ridge Gardens.

What signs of spring do you watch for?

More posts about swallow activity:
Happy Spring! The Swallows are Back!
The Swallows Are Back - Spring Has Arrived!
The Swallows Have Arrived!
Summer in my Garden - Baby Swallows
Baby Swallows Almost Ready to Fly

 

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

The New 101 From the Old 101

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The new (well, it's a few years old now, but I'd not walked to this vantage point before) US 101 bridge (one of many) spanning the Eel River, taken from the now-closed portion of the old 101. Just like the title says.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Signs of Spring: Mini Iris

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These mini iris always surprise me when they pop up from their winter sleep

and burst into joyous bloom.

The bold purple flowers sit on 4-inch stems and fairly roar that spring is coming.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Signs of Spring: Camellias

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 The Camellia shrub just east of the house had shot up to such a height that it was blocking our morning sun. So, even though I loved all those pink blooms each late winter/early spring, I whacked it back a month ago to a light-allowing 5-feet.

I thought it wouldn't bloom at all this year.  I was so wrong.

Yet another sign of spring in my garden.

What signs of spring are in yours?

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.