Late sunflowers planted by the birds

The sunflowers that the birds planted near the bird feeder a few weeks ago are already blooming! I am so glad the frost has held off long enough to have at least some of them bloom.

 

Making Pinecone Bird Feeders

I gathered some pinecones and decided to make some bird feeders today. I tied string to the pinecones, then spread them with peanut butter, then rolled them in birdseed.

They look nice hung from the porch roof. At first, I had them hanging too low and the squirrels got to them, but I’ve raised them up and am hoping the birds find them soon.

Transplanting Teeny, Tiny Seedlings

Today I gathered my courage and transplanted some of the sprouts from the Pinks I planted in my favorite Giant Teacup planter last week. I used a toothpick to tease them out of the pot and plant them into individual plastic cups. To make the cups easier to move around I cut a rectangle from a cereal box to use as a quickie tray.

I’ve never transplanted such young seedlings before so we’ll see how well they do.  If all is well in a couple of days, I’m going to do the same thing for the Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan), Foxglove, and Hollyhock sprouts that have come up.

Planting Seeds

A few days ago I was given potting soil, so I planted seeds in every can and pot I could find. :)


I planted Hollyhocks, Pinks, Foxglove, Lavender, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Guara 'The Bride', Daisies, and Black-eyed Susans. Already the Pinks and Black-eyed Susans have sprouted! My seeds are all 5 or more years old so I'm amazed they are sprouting so well.

Living in the High Desert

I moved to Colorado Springs last month. I now own my little 1969 mobile home with a fantastic front porch.

At last I can garden again! I spent the first weeks cleaning out the existing beds and trimming back overgrown rose bushes. It has been so much fun.

The flowers by the steps are Soapwort, and every evening they attract funny, little creatures called Hummingbird Moths. They look like hummingbirds but are smaller and have antenneas (however you spell that!)

No one has tended the flower beds for a really long time, but wildflowers have moved in and are rather pretty.

(This is one flower bed before I did any work on it.)