Visual Escapes and Daily Inspirations: Share Yours

We had baby sparrows outside our kitchen window. I saw a blue jay trying to get in their house. I opened the curtain and frightened him away. I looked it up on the computer and saw a video of blue jays stealing and eating the baby birds. Oh, it makes me sick even though I know God planned it this way. I always loved them. Our neighbor's beautiful black and white cat was in our yard checking out our birds: he was ready to pounce on one until I opened the window. We have a wooden fence around our yard but animals can get in if they try. We have two shih-tzus--that's the reason for our fence.

@sueinmn I knew there were a few varieties but didn't know the difference. I did find a sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) that I am considering buying some seeds on Prairie Moon Nursery website (https://www.prairiemoon.com/helianthus-grosseserratus-saw-tooth-sunflower-prairie-moon-nursery.html). The flowers are small and it's more like a tall grass plant which may be nice as a border along the edge of my wooded area. I do like the large sunflowers though and am planning on getting some of those. I wasn't sure if they would reseed themselves.

@johnbishop Sawtooth sunflower needs full 8 hrs + sun or the stems may lean... I have not seen whether the plants can support birds feeding on them. Here is the cup plant link at the same nursery https://www.prairiemoon.com/silphium-perfoliatum-cup-plant-prairie-moon-nursery.html I love the leaves, and the birds love to feast on the seeds. The left over canes after the plants dry are sturdy enough to use as kindling.
Both of these will plants spread as far as you let them - not for small, neatly manicured garden spaces, but wonderful on a fenceline or edge of wild space. My friend just mows her cup plants if they spring up outside the allotted bed. I aggressively lop off the extras at the ground. And as natives, once established they don't need much minding, extra water, fertilized, seem pest free...
Getting off my garden soapbox now and going out to lounge by the pond...
Sue

Happy Friday everyone! Thought I would share a collage of 4 new photos and one of my older favorite robin photos

I saw several turkey buzzards during morning walk. Would not make a pretty photo!

Except for the border around it, my "Seger pile" is finished. Named after the Bob Seger song "Like a Rock", and the first few lines. ["Stood there boldly, Sweatin' in the sun, Felt like a million"] 9' diameter circle, about 64 sq feet, all rocks hauled by hand from the corners of our property by yours truly. Smallest rock, a couple of ounces; largest rock, about 50 pounds. Last three cartloads of rocks laid out this morning at 6:30am before the heat hits.

@gingerw I love it. I am on the hunt for some new rocks, need to take someone along to haul them for me.
Sue

Except for the border around it, my "Seger pile" is finished. Named after the Bob Seger song "Like a Rock", and the first few lines. ["Stood there boldly, Sweatin' in the sun, Felt like a million"] 9' diameter circle, about 64 sq feet, all rocks hauled by hand from the corners of our property by yours truly. Smallest rock, a couple of ounces; largest rock, about 50 pounds. Last three cartloads of rocks laid out this morning at 6:30am before the heat hits.