Another tree...........another new family!

When we first moved out here........many years ago......

I noticed......what I thought to be.....a baby hoot owl in the tree one night.

I commented on this to the lady who bought eggs from me and 

she informed me that they were not baby hoots..........

instead they were small burrowing owls.......that never get

big.....they stay tiny! Since then, I see them quite often.

In my last post, I posted about the baby rabbit family who temporarily took up 

residence in the back yard tree.........

now the front yard oak tree has a new family.........

3 small burrowing owls.  I have noticed them in the bird bath during 

the day and thought it was odd to see them at such an early part of day.

Today ........early as can be.........they were all together in the

tree......keeping an eye on me. 

They were very patient......letting me get a little

close to take photos........

These kinds of things always fill  me with awe

and makes me feel blessed to be able to 

have seen it!  How about you?

What kinds of birds do  you have in  your trees?

I would love to hear!

Home Sweet Home..........Can Be Any Place.........

I have often posted about the large mesquite tree in the backyard of our home.........

It grows a few feet away from the patio and a few

feet in front of my greenhouse.

on the worst winter days, it looks bony and frail when the hard wind

and snow blows..........

and elegant and lovely in the 

quiet of heavy snow and ice. 

In the summer, it's long winding arms stretch out across almost all of the back 

portion of the yard. 

Last year, I planted a young wisteria in a pot in hopes that it

will soon grow up the tree and give this tree lovely purple blossoms

in the spring. 

As I stepped up to the wisteria , to water it...........

I noticed this mound of dry grass.......

which I did not place in there..............

I cautiously and carefully pulled it away, 

and discovered this nest of 4 baby rabbits,

tucked snuggly in a hole which the dried grass covered. 

Why on earth a mother rabbit picked this out for her

home sweet home, is beyond my reasoning. 

The baby rabbits remained in the large planter for almost a week,

then one day I went out to check on them

and they were gone.

She moved them, I suppose.

I am now able to return to watering the wisteria, in good time

since the temperature here has reached to 102 on some days.

All of my plants are trying to hang on in the heat wave

including these new plants.  

A dear friend shipped me cuttings from her garden..........

all the way from Tennessee .........

they arrived, carefully wrapped in a box.........

still moist.........and fresh and green.

Seven Sisters Rose cuttings, Bee Balm, Dutch Iris, and Vinca 

all traveled so far!

I have since transplanted them, 

however, I am not sure they are so happy with 

this new hot environment they have been thrust into.

I hope to show photos ........if they do well.

So tell me.......what is making a "home sweet home" in your back yard?

Birds, ...rabbits.......some other creature?

I would love to hear!