What's outside of your picture window today?

I’m on vacation with family in Ocean City, NJ. There is a big, wide, flat, long (2miles) boardwalk. I’ve rented a beach cruiser bike and can ride and ride and ride- no curbs, no cars, no foot drop to contend with due to my PN. I sail along like the breeze and feel so free, no longer tethered to limping along slowly. It’s wonderful!

That sounds marvellous!

@gingerw, @johnbishop, and all...Ginger, did you try the hair clippings from the salon around the plants to keep the deer away? My friend says it works well for him and he has regular deer visits. Saves his landscaping.

So sorry about the roses. I love mine and used to enjoy several bushes. Now, just the ones I planted out front for everyone to enjoy. Knockout and double knockout roses are really good here. They sometimes bloom year round depending...my plants are doing well, I suppose. Haven't done much this year other than the inside rescue plants I'm enjoying. I'll send a quickie in a minute from the phone with a couple of pictures.

I had my huge, I mean really huge, red-headed woodpecker at the feeders eating peanuts and sunflowers, yesterday. I took gobs of pictures and nothing was worth keeping. He's not in love with the camera. Anytime I get close with something in hand, he scoots away. He's so big, I'd even love to get him in flight. Nope, not a thing. I do have a few of growing indoor plants and a mourning dove and ????maybe a finch?, help with this one, at one of my birdbaths. They're drinking, not bathing. I keep water out hanging on limbs and in the baths. It gets warm here...not like you, tho. Amazing, your weather.

Enjoy the bulbs your friend planted. I don't know that plant, so be sure to capture a shot if you can.

Good to hear from you. And, John, please protect those little fellows. I've had a couple of hits on my doors, but not so much now that I keep a light on inside all the time. Seems to work.

Hope all are well, happy and blessed. ess

Hi everyone, morning is my favorite time of day. Nothing better than going on my deck with my cup of coffee and greeting another wonderful day. Albeit hot and muggy, but still a new day.

I have a variety of birds, blue jays, cardinals, and many other larger and smaller. I don't know all their names, but am learning. Once in a while I see a hawk with a mighty wingspan! I see wild rabbits, and I have many plants there that attract monarch butterflies. Pretty soon there will be plenty of monarch butterflies. Beautiful sight indeed.

I am energized by the nature around me. This little ritual of observing and greeting the morning never gets old and it's a great way to start the day.

Best

Wow! What a great photo of your wild turkeys! I'm assuming that's what they are. And so many ofthem! Thanks for posting them.

I just read this sitting on my porch overlooking the back yard, with its tiny pond and fountain.
Like you, observing nature delights me.
Yesterday, my friend, daughters and I had a project day on the patio - my friend was delighted trying to catch photos of the swallowtail butterflies and bumblebees on the flowers. My grand-dog was watching the birds and chasing 13-striped ground squirrels, and the baby woodpeckers were complaining about us invading their yard. And late in the afternoon my daughter spied a hawk swooping down to grab a brave mole. All of this in our little suburban back yard.
This morning, I am looking at the newly dyed shirts and fabrics on the clothesline, waving in the breeze.

Have you looked up the kind of woodpecker at your feeder?
if it's huge it sounds like a pileated woodpecker. They are amazing!!

Just wondeful! It's these moments that are so meaningful and rewarding!

I had one of the woodpeckers for years and took such delight in it's tapping! I'll have to research pileated. It would be interesting to learn about the different varieties.

@ann16, @johnbishop, @gingerw, and all...Yes, it's a redheaded woodpecker. We have a pileated that is a bit larger, with the wonderful crown and sooooo beautiful. But, this fellow just gets good peanuts, peanut butter suet, woodpecker cakes of seed just for him.....he, his mate, a couple of downy woodpeckers and a smaller one, not sure...anyway, this fellow had the redhead but no crest. Our cardinals here in Florida, at least the ones at my feeders, are also larger than most I see. It may be the readiness of food from folks like me or ???? They just grow big and look more rounded than the pictures I get from folks in MN or north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

We have eagles and hawks and such, but not as prolific as you folks in the north woods. Not in the city areas where I live. Our big birds also include the cranes and egrets and herons, of course.

Just got back from Mayo Florida for a visit. I enjoy the ride to the property. It's such a lovely area between the beaches and the Southside of the city where I live. An easy drive and still has a lot of wooded areas, huge cypress trees a favorite landing place for herons and cranes and eagles, etc. I often sit in an office and look out over a lake and fountain and watch the big birds soar so gracefully across the sky to the cypress top. It's relaxing and lovely to enjoy while having a yucky doctor visit. They do a wonderful job at Mayo with adding beauty to the healing process.

Hope all are well and have a blessed day. elizabeth