May in My Garden - Band-tailed Pigeon

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Band-tailed pigeons have discovered the tidbits of grain and corn that my messy chickens leave all over their yard. There were eight of them in the chicken pen this morning getting breakfast.  A rather cool way to keep the mess down, I think.  Band-tails live in our area, but I've not seen near as many as have been here this spring. The word gets out when there's free food. I like their company. They have a soft coo, much like doves, which is very relaxing to listen to.
I took this photo with my new Canon Rebel XSi, using a 55-250 mm telephoto lens, from about 200 feet away. Not bad for a first shot.



Garden Notes:Tomatoes and peppers are finally in the ground in the greenhouse. Today the sun is shining and it's actually warm.

Happy Gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

A Peony for Family Time - A Celebration of Passages

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Taken at Casa Banana. Saturday, April 22, 2010

May Annie soon recover from her labors;

May the Alwyn bask in the afterglow of her birthday celebration all year long;

May Jackson rest comfortably and peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

May in My Garden - Magenta Clematis Whose Name I Forget

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The name of this little vine with the huge blooms has long been forgotten.  Tags get lost in our tangle of underbrush and no matter that I think I'll always remember the names,

what I always do is forget them.  An online search brought me to this one, which sounds familiar.

Clematis are easy to grow and reward us year after year with beautiful jewel-like blooms.

Do you have clematis blooming in your garden?

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Spring in my Garden - It's May Day and the Wisteria has Begun to Bloom

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O Frabjous Day!  Callooh!  Callay! - Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

I am aware that in many parts of the U.S. the wisteria has already been there and done that.  Mine is just beginning.  So I'm celebrating May Day with these photos, taken yesterday.  There are just a few blossoms open now.  In a week the entire plant should be covered in deliciously scented, double amethyst blossoms.  I'd like the rain to slow down now; give my wisteria a break.  Thanks.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Veggie Starts

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I have a glass-topped round table on the back deck which sits near a garden bench.  The other day I bought some vegetable starts for the garden and left them on the little round table, waiting for planting this weekend.

Wouldn't you know that the golden light of a sunset would cast this combination of shadows on the house. And that I would be there to capture it.

It's time for Shadow Shot Sunday!  Head on over to Hey Harriet and check 'em out.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Sky Watch Friday - April 30, 2010

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Playing around with my camera this evening garnered me some pretty cool sky shots.

Sky Watch Friday is the place to see fabulous sky shots from around the world.

Take a peek.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Spring Walks - There Goes Peter Cottontail ...

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Yikes!!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

April in the Garden - When the Deep Pink Rhododendron Blooms ...

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... it's usually a sign that spring is well and truly established along the north coast.  But that doesn't seem to be the case this year.  The day I took this photo was the only sunny day to be had.  Mostly it's been rainy, windy and cold.  I'm only complaining a little bit as I'm just tired of being cold.  Mostly I'm logging the weather - in my own way.

I see by the many gardeners I follow that there really is some delightful spring weather happening in other parts of the world, and I'm thankful for that.

Happy Gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

The World Upside Down in a Drop of Water

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My world anyway ...

Hanging from the metal railing of the gate on the horse corral.  Sometimes I take photos just because.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

April in the Garden - Sparaxis

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Many years ago when we first moved to the cool and foggy north coast and I hadn't a clue what to plant, being from the hot, dry Sacramento Valley, my neighbor gave me some Sparaxis bulbs and said just scatter them; they'll multiply and come up year after year.

She was so right, and for a number of years, until I got the hang of gardening in a foreign climate, they were the first flowers to bloom in my garden in the spring.  Even now I watch for them and rejoice in their multi-colored petals and funny faces.

Happy Gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.