Certified Wildlife Habitat – The Iris and the Lily

Reasons to Smile – A walk through a garden

Birds, Certified Wildlife Habitat, Nature, Pennsylvania Wildlife

The snow that blanketed the earth is but a fleeting memory and flowers abound

Pinks – indigo – yellow

Shades of primary colors

Hellebore flower

Daffodil after the rain

Reseeded hellebores

Glory of the Snow

I am not alone as I walk, with each step I take care not to trip over another visitor to the gardens

The Eastern Garter snake I almost stepped on

Eastern Garter snake

We all rejoice in the warm southern breezes that reach our northeastern homes

Female cardinal

Purple finch

red-bellied woodpecker — Red-bellied woodpecker

Visitors to the Gardens

Certified Wildlife Habitat, Four-season garden, Gardens of Valley View, Lehigh Valley, Nature, Pennsylvania Wildlife

As much as I love the flora of a garden, the fauna is why I plant. The creatures of Gaia’s world are welcomed, no, encouraged to jump the garden-gate and enjoy the fruits of labor. Some I have planted, some they have shared. If I find there is something they like that I also cherish, I have learned to give it up and plant something we can both enjoy.

Each month someone new emerges or enters. The diversity of color, shape and purpose is mesmerizing.

JANUARY 2018 Mourning doves on Staghorn sumac — JANUARY 2018 doves on Staghorn sumac

FEBRUARY 21, 2018 Entwined garter snakes

MARCH 22, 2018 Male cardinal on Norway pine

MAY 21, 2018 Female Baltimore Oriole in Honeysuckle bush

Male Baltimore Oriole on sumac June 4, 2018

AUGUST 7, 2018 Black swallowtail butterfly

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 Blinded Sphinx moth caterpillar

SEPTEMBER 2018 Red-bellied woodpecker on sumac

OCTOBER 23, 2018 Garter snake in lower gardens

OCTOBER 23, 2018 Wolf spider on fallen tree

NOVEMBER 1, 2018 Wild turkey in oak tree

DECEMBER 19, 2018 Bluebird and Downy woodpecker on sumac

My Backyard Bird List

Birds, Certified Wildlife Habitat, Nature, Photography, Yard bird list

Flying primary colors

Sometimes hidden in plain sight

Music to awaken you in the morning or lull you to sleep

Mourning Dove 2-18-2018

Melodic – haunting – beautiful

Male cardinal 3-22-2018

Female cardinal 2-18-2018

Currently I have 43 birds I’ve photographed for my yard bird list and 4 I have yet to capture. Some photos are less than perfect but You can still identify the bird. Just go to the top of the page and click on Birds observed in the gardens of Valley View.

Does anyone else have a yard bird list?

Eastern Bluebirds 3-22-2018