What's outside of your picture window today?

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Nov 25, 2020

As we get ready for the real winter to show up and COVID-19 still playing a major part in our lives I like to spend moments of my day de-stressing about what's going on in the world today. All I have to do is look out the window and observe some of natures beautiful creatures, how they interact and ponder how small it makes my troubles seem. Sometimes I may even get the opportunity to take a photo or two. How about you? Anything going on outside of your window(s) that you want to share?

For those members that have the ability to size your photos before you upload them to the discussion, may I suggest using the following sizes:
– 500 x 335 pixels (landscape)
– 210 x 210 pixels (square)

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Baby it's cold outside!

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@johnbishop
The poor little shivering thing.
I hope you fed him.
Cold here in Calif too, 50°.
I hope I don’t get hypothermia on my walk.
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@johnbishop
The poor little shivering thing.
I hope you fed him.
Cold here in Calif too, 50°.
I hope I don’t get hypothermia on my walk.
Jake

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@johnbishop, @jakedduck1, and all...Hello, boys So sorry for the cold weather you've had this spring. We even had a cold spell last week. It dropped into the 50s during the day and the 40s at night. That was a late chill for us in northern Florida. I don't know how you handle the heavy snow and cold. I'd not do well...

Well, I've been in hibernation for several months dealing with tough times with my son and my own health. Last year was the worst of my life. Totally...the worst. I didn't think we'd make it, but God is good and led us to people who know how to really help with the underlying problems. I've been hibernating since October last year, dealing with each crisis as it hit and fighting for survival for us both. No exaggeration, those were tough times. But, God is good...We've found specialists to diagnose, identify, treat, and lead us tiny steps forward to better days. We're getting guidance, real help.

I'm still resting a lot, but not in deep hibernation like a mama bear with her cub! There are flowers blooming in my garden, and lovely plants inside my home. Lilies, pansies, violets, and my little rescued survivors from the garden center are all full of joy and beauty.

I cleaned and filled all my birdfeeders last week. This week I've seen my woodpeckers, cardinals, finch, sparrows, chickadees, gobs of happy tree rats, and other visitors back for a visit. I'm so happy to see them all! I do love those wild birds. I even chat with them. Yes, I'm definitely losing it, but that's just fine with me. They are my friends. I call them when I go out to fill feeders, I hear them sending out their calls to come and get it. Funny. I love that.

Hope all are well and will soon have the wonderful new growth we're enjoying down this way. I'll take some pics and send them your way. I'm actually surprised I just had my 76th birthday in February...didn't think I'd see that one. Great surprise and I'm looking forward to more. Why not see the 80s????? I've accepted rest and quiet as my friends, finally. What a difference in life that makes...acceptance and reveling in each day, each little step.
Blessings to all...elizabeth

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Happy Birthday!
76, that's the spirit!

Elizabeth is a beautiful name. You'll always have it.

And you will always have HOPE:
Happiness in
Ordinary
Persons and
Events.

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15 Years ago we retired and bought a newly built smaller (2 bedroom, 1 floor) home in Arizona. I was able to direct the landscaping (in AZ few people plant grass which was new to me). I'm a Master Gardener from MN and ordered a shrub to be planted out every window of the home. Years later every day I marvel at the different shrubs and the landscape beyond and am content to start my chores of the day.

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@jackiepenaolcom

15 Years ago we retired and bought a newly built smaller (2 bedroom, 1 floor) home in Arizona. I was able to direct the landscaping (in AZ few people plant grass which was new to me). I'm a Master Gardener from MN and ordered a shrub to be planted out every window of the home. Years later every day I marvel at the different shrubs and the landscape beyond and am content to start my chores of the day.

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Welcome @jackiepenaolcom, We have several Master Gardener's here on Connect including @sueinmn. One of my gardener friends gave me a Empress Wu giant hosta last year that I'm hoping will take off soon. He even made me a small sign to plant with it so would remember the name 🙂

What are some of your favorite shrubs?

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I was a Minnesota Master Gardener over 25 years and logged over 90 varieties of Hostas planted in my yard, but after moving to AZ to sort of retire I found a different variety of plants to learn of and enjoy, Hostas do not do well in AZ climate.
My yard is of stones - no grass. I love the new to me AZ plants. Also, to consider for me is my age (86) and health prohibit that prohibit my personal planting in AZ climate.
What I can do is study what will grow well in the areas I have using the sun, shade, and other weather factors to maintain my yard which is all a garden.

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March 29, 2023
The rabbits are back! My patio has been “decorated” by them over the last few nights. I like seeing them during the day hopping about all the while eating all the plants.
Unfortunately, I have been witness to a coyote hunting them down in my yard too. But not today.
Today the desert sun is glorious and the sky blue!

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@johnbishop

Welcome @jackiepenaolcom, We have several Master Gardener's here on Connect including @sueinmn. One of my gardener friends gave me a Empress Wu giant hosta last year that I'm hoping will take off soon. He even made me a small sign to plant with it so would remember the name 🙂

What are some of your favorite shrubs?

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@johnbishop
Bougainvillea if it’s left to grow naturally. The flowers are very pretty.
Mexican Poppy flowers. They are a ground cover and appear in February/March.

I live in the desert southwest…

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@jackiepenaolcom

I was a Minnesota Master Gardener over 25 years and logged over 90 varieties of Hostas planted in my yard, but after moving to AZ to sort of retire I found a different variety of plants to learn of and enjoy, Hostas do not do well in AZ climate.
My yard is of stones - no grass. I love the new to me AZ plants. Also, to consider for me is my age (86) and health prohibit that prohibit my personal planting in AZ climate.
What I can do is study what will grow well in the areas I have using the sun, shade, and other weather factors to maintain my yard which is all a garden.

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I moved to Arizona from Michigan and miss my hostas too! I am not a Master Gardener, but I like learning more about the plants I plant here. Last year I bought a bunch of drought tolerant plants and most of them not only survived, but thrived. One little plant disappeared soon after I planted it. I was very surprised to see it come back this spring. Here is the picture of my back-from-the-dead plant.

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