July 18, 2008
The optimist calls them wildflowers, the cynic, weeds. Here are some wildflowers that grow in my backyard and front yard, too, (much to the disdain of certain neighbors.) There's Pokeweed, or inkberry, which the larger birds will feed on. Bittersweet Nightshade, the small purple flowering vine. There's Chicory and Thistle which the small birds will feed on later in the season. Also Winter Berry, the butterflies benefit from the flowers in summer and the birds use their berries as a valuable source of high energy food in winter. There's Daisy Fleabane those are the little flowering daisies everywhere. Also, Pennsylvania Smartweed - low to the ground with green leaves and purple flowers. Lady's Thumb - the stuff that looks like smart weed only darker & smaller. And a sunflower even bloomed next to the bird feeders this week. It was hidden under the ragweed that was just removed and somehow escaped its many potential predators, from bunnies to ground hogs, raccoons, deer and more.Backyard tip of the week: Keep an eye on any fruit or nut producing plants, shrubs and trees in your yard this time of year. Many unique species of bird will feed only on natural foods like these and don't visit bird feeders. You may spot a cool bird that you didn't even know was in your yard. Try this while unwinding after a tough day, you're sure to love it.
Backyard sightings for last week: Including northern cardinals, American robins, northern flickers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, bluebirds and catbirds. Chipping sparrows, white-crowned sparrows, Carolina wrens, house wrens, eastern goldfinches, house finches. Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, a ruby-throated hummingbird. The tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, blue-jays, American crows, three or four grey squirrels, a red squirrel, a mostly white skunk, some bunnies, and a doe. Also, European starlings, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, mourning doves, chipmunks, butterflies, and a yard full of fireflies!
Cool sighting of the week: A couple... The butterfly bushes are now in bloom. The white flowers are the heartier between the two, but the purple flowers have a fragrance like that of a rich, sweet wine and are so intense, they may leave one feeling drunk with pleasure. The rasberry bushes have begun producing berries this week and the bluebird was seen nightly, grabbing dessert on its way to the bluebird house for the evening. It was very cool!
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