OT: House-hunting birds/ was: Re: something to be grateful for--Diane-Marti-Dee-Jeanne

[Guest guest]

>

> I am so itching for spring - someone on one of my birding lists

> mentioned

> seeing a Robin around Madison but it's kind of early - but who

> knows, one of

> these days this cold weather has to break - keeping my fingers

> crossed. But

> in the meantime am enjoying all the birds and critters at the feeders

> outside - have to find joy in something.

I live in Northern Virginia and the birds came back last Monday. I

heard a lot of chirping and saw a lot of birds house-hunting. I sure

as heck bet they're sorry tonight that they did! 33 degrees F and

raining, which means black ice and an inch of ice on everything by

morning! I had to ice skate down the driveway tonight to put the

recycling out. I saw robins, titmice, nuthatches, and blue jays,

along with the cardinals who stay all year, but who are now house-

hunting. Two mourning-doves were duking it out on a windowsill over

a svelte and very coy female mourning dove.

Oh, I saw several flights of geese tonight, and a huge flock on a

field outside the window of my mom's nursing home. Either these are

geese from Canada who think that this is the tropics, or lazy non-

migratory geese who just hang out in the Chesapeake/land/VA area

all year.

Z

[Guest guest]

Teri, did you mean Madison, WI in your post? If so, I'm in WI also. The other

day I heard a chick-a-dee singing it's usual spring mating call. And I have

been browsing the garden areas in the stores, checking seeds I could start,

reading Birds and Blooms..........anything to divert my attention from this

awful winter. My flares are having flares. Judy in WI

Zimmy wrote:

>

> I am so itching for spring - someone on one of my birding lists

> mentioned

> seeing a Robin around Madison but it's kind of early - but who

> knows, one of

> these days this cold weather has to break - keeping my fingers

> crossed. But

> in the meantime am enjoying all the birds and critters at the feeders

> outside - have to find joy in something.

I live in Northern Virginia and the birds came back last Monday. I

heard a lot of chirping and saw a lot of birds house-hunting. I sure

as heck bet they're sorry tonight that they did! 33 degrees F and

raining, which means black ice and an inch of ice on everything by

morning! I had to ice skate down the driveway tonight to put the

recycling out. I saw robins, titmice, nuthatches, and blue jays,

along with the cardinals who stay all year, but who are now house-

hunting. Two mourning-doves were duking it out on a windowsill over

a svelte and very coy female mourning dove.

Oh, I saw several flights of geese tonight, and a huge flock on a

field outside the window of my mom's nursing home. Either these are

geese from Canada who think that this is the tropics, or lazy non-

migratory geese who just hang out in the Chesapeake/land/VA area

all year.

Z

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy - I'm in central Wisconsin between the Dells and the Rapids. I've

been doing the same - looking through plant catalogues and online plant

catalogues - trying to make some garden plans although I am toning it down

this year. Normally besides lots of perennial beds, containers, and annual

beds we always have a vegetable garden. However, I've been finding out it's

getting way to hard to do all that the garden needs - so we're cutting out

the vege garden this year. Plenty of farm stands around me to buy from.

But I will always have my perennial beds, annuals and containers - usually

though I have to have help from my hubby to work them. I've been thinking

about getting one of those garden stools that help you with weeding,

planting, etc. Kneeling, bending over, and trying to get up are no longer

options for me.

I can't wait to get to my favorite garden center which is located in

Montello. We plan on purchasing some bushes and small trees this year too -

which of course, I will mainly do the supervision ;-) and hubby will do the

labor. I used to start seeds every year, but my lovely fibro has cut that

down too. So I'm settling for purchasing plants this year. I love Birds

and Blooms. Have recently subscribed to Backyard Living too - great

magazine and they have a website. Gardening is definitely one of the things

that gives me joy and helps take my mind off the pain (unless of course, I

over do it). I agree on the winter - way too much this year and now they

are calling for another storm for us tonight and tomorrow for up to 8

inches.

Where are you located in WI? I think Jeanne is around Madison if I'm not

mistaken.

Teri (central Wisconsin)

Re: OT: House-hunting birds/ was: Re: something to be

grateful for--Diane-Marti-Dee-Jeanne

Teri, did you mean Madison, WI in your post? If so, I'm in WI also. The

other day I heard a chick-a-dee singing it's usual spring mating call. And I

have been browsing the garden areas in the stores, checking seeds I could

start, reading Birds and Blooms..........anything to divert my attention

from this awful winter. My flares are having flares. Judy in WI

[Guest guest]

Hi Teri, Just a short note here, have to try and get things done. We were just

in Montello this past sat. My dh has an aunt that lives on white lake just

outside of montello. We looked at a rental property there, but will take a

pass. Needed way too much work. We live in kewaskum, it's about 7 mi n of west

bend. I love gardening so much too, automaticlly cut back because of buying a

condo in 2005. Our other yard was way too much!!!! With 25 mature trees. Your

lucky your dh will help, mine will do nothing for me. My brother and I, he

lives next door, put in a berm with all perrenials between our backyard area.

It really pretty, put took alot of work.

I love the Birds and Blooms~~~I can spend so much time just looking at the

pics. Shhhh, I even have cut out pics and framed them. Don't tell anyone

their from a magazine.

Stay warm, we are only suppose to get 3-4 " from this next system. Heard you

will get more.

Judy in SE WI

Teri Wallner wrote:

Hi Judy - I'm in central Wisconsin between the Dells and the Rapids. I've

been doing the same - looking through plant catalogues and online plant

catalogues - trying to make some garden plans although I am toning it down

this year. Normally besides lots of perennial beds, containers, and annual

beds we always have a vegetable garden. However, I've been finding out it's

getting way to hard to do all that the garden needs - so we're cutting out

the vege garden this year. Plenty of farm stands around me to buy from.

But I will always have my perennial beds, annuals and containers - usually

though I have to have help from my hubby to work them. I've been thinking

about getting one of those garden stools that help you with weeding,

planting, etc. Kneeling, bending over, and trying to get up are no longer

options for me.

I can't wait to get to my favorite garden center which is located in

Montello. We plan on purchasing some bushes and small trees this year too -

which of course, I will mainly do the supervision ;-) and hubby will do the

labor. I used to start seeds every year, but my lovely fibro has cut that

down too. So I'm settling for purchasing plants this year. I love Birds

and Blooms. Have recently subscribed to Backyard Living too - great

magazine and they have a website. Gardening is definitely one of the things

that gives me joy and helps take my mind off the pain (unless of course, I

over do it). I agree on the winter - way too much this year and now they

are calling for another storm for us tonight and tomorrow for up to 8

inches.

Where are you located in WI? I think Jeanne is around Madison if I'm not

mistaken.

Teri (central Wisconsin)

Re: OT: House-hunting birds/ was: Re: something to be

grateful for--Diane-Marti-Dee-Jeanne

Teri, did you mean Madison, WI in your post? If so, I'm in WI also. The

other day I heard a chick-a-dee singing it's usual spring mating call. And I

have been browsing the garden areas in the stores, checking seeds I could

start, reading Birds and Blooms..........anything to divert my attention

from this awful winter. My flares are having flares. Judy in WI