Garden Guest: Merlin Falcon



 The north side of our front yard is a certified National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat. Really! We have a certificate! It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit. I'm beginning a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests.

 

This week's guest is causing some controversy around our home.  It is a Merlin Falcon.  When we first noticed them in our yard, they were catching mice from our wood pile as the mice would go under the bird feeders to gather seeds.  While beautiful, the falcon is now using my bird feeders as a buffet table.  I am not pleased about that, but Handsome Husband says he is a bird, too.
 

 These photos were taken thru my kitchen and dining room windows.  They are sort of fuzzy.

 

He is standing over a European Starling that was eaten on the spot.  I know, right?

My husband finds this guest fascinating, but I kind of want to tell him to 'Beat It'!  

 

Yes, that's my seque into Tuesday Tunes.  What song is running thru your mind today?  Well, grab it and link it over at Holli's Hoots and Hollers or Outside the Frame !

Michael Jackson, Beat It

 

Suddenly, I want to dance to 'Thriller'.  Does anyone (besides me) remember when the Thriller video first came on MTV?

 

;-)  -Marci

 



Red Buckeye

Habitat gardening is important to us.  The north side of our front yard is a certified National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  We are always looking for ways to add native plants.

 

Buckeyes are native throughout much of the United States, depending on which variety is chosen.

 

While there are several types that grow well in Arkansas, we love the Red Buckeye.  This small tree is stunning in Spring!  We've had ours for about four years.  It was purchased from Mary Ann King of Pine Ridge Gardens when it wasn't much more than a twig.

 

You can see from the time stamp, this photo was taken May 2nd.

 

  

According to Mary Ann (and, trust me, she knows her native plants)

Buckeyes are in the family Hippocastanaceae. Valued for their early spring flowers, they are an outstanding source of nectar for early migrating hummingbirds. While in nature, buckeyes are usually understory trees, with some extra moisture the first several years, they do quite well in full sun. 



 

They are even pretty when we have a late snow! 

 

 

A favorite memory from childhood was visiting my uncle at the VA hospital in Fayetteville.  There was a buckeye tree on the grounds and we would walk down to it with him.  When we could find them, we would each place a buckeye seed in our pocket. The buckeye seeds are supposed to be 'good luck' if you carry one with you!

 

Here's what else Mary Ann King of Pine Ridge Gardens has to say about the Red Buckeye. 

 

Aesculus pavia, Red buckeye

 

Arkansas Native

 

  Shade to sun Zones 4-9

 The first red buckeye I saw was so outstanding I had to get a closer look. It was grown as a shrub, perhaps cut back every year or so, and was about 3 feet tall. It seemed every branch ended in a mass of red flowers. This can be grown as a shrub or small tree. Native to Arkansas & much of the U.S. with the largest recorded specimen being in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. 

 

(Just so you know, I was not paid for this post.  Mary Ann is my favorite source of information about native plants.) 

 

When planning your garden, look for ways to incorporate as many natives as possible!  Buckeye trees are a wonderful option!

 

;-) -Marci

Herbs: A Place to Begin... Smoothies

Being part of our county's Master Gardener Speakers Guild is a lot of fun. My program is titled "Herbs: A Place to Begin". It is for anyone who might be curious about growing herbs or is just beginning to use them. I give simple advice for ways to incorporate tasty herbs into your every day life. After such a sweet reception to my presentation, I will be adding regular posts about herbs.

Watch for the ones titled "A Place to Begin".

Summer will be here soon!  My warm weather breakfast of choice is smoothies.  It is absolutely amazing how a couple sprigs of just about any herb will change the flavor of a smoothie!  You may have already seen my recipe for Strawberry Basil .  If not, just click HERE.



Have you tried the green smoothies?  There are about, oh, a bazillion or so recipes all over the internet about green smoothies.  Basically, you are adding a cup or two of either spinach, kale or lettuce to the blender along with fruit and milk.  When I first saw these recipes, I thought, "Blech", but the greens aren't all that noticeable and you get a healthy breakfast that is approximately the size of Connecticut.  I like big breakfasts!

So, here is what you do.  Take your favorite smoothie recipe.  Throw the ingredients in the blender just the way you normally do, but toss in three sprigs of herb that are about two inches long.  It doesn't take much herb to change the flavor. 

Which herbs? 

We've already talked about basil with strawberries.  Basil is nice with any berry.  I like lemon balm (a member of the mint family) with ANY fruit.  Well, going a little broader on that thought, I like any mint with any fruit.  A small amount of fresh grated ginger root is tasty with tropical fruits like oranges, pineapple and mango, or even not-so-tropical apples. 

Have you noticed my Ginger Orange Fruit Salad Recipe?  Check it out! 



I'd love to hear what you like in your smoothies!  Do you have a 'go to' website for recipes?  Which herbs do you like with which fruit?

Summer is coming!  Get out that blender and experiment with adding herbs to your smoothies.

I hope this post gives you...  A Place to Begin!

;-)  -Marci
 
 

Batch o' Bows

Don't you love making bows for little girls?  Me, too!  Check out my latest ones.

  

 My favorite way to make bows is big, honkin' Ruffley Flowers because mommys can wear them as corsages! 

Click HERE for my tutorial.

;-)  -Marci

Garden Guests: Robins

 The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I'm beginning a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

Baby Robins always make us smile.

And so do their mommas!  God's creations are absolutely amazing!

I love this song by Jaci Velazquez.  You're My God.

The beginning lyrics are:  'A new day was beginning.  All the birds were singing.  The sun was shining up in the sky.  Sometimes the world around me is so awesome it astounds me.  It leaves me feeling mystified.'

Yeah.  That's how I feel today!

Enough about me!  What makes you smile?  Is there a song that describes how you are feeling today?  Well, grab it and link it over at Holli's Hoots and Hollers for Tunes on Tuesday!

Yep!  I'll see ya there! 

;-)  -Marci

A Walk Through My Garden

Let's walk through the garden.  My sweet friend, Danni, of Silo Hill Farm has asked me to label the photos from Yesterday's Post.  Here ya go, Danni!

This medium pink, fragrant, rugosa rose is Therese Bugnet.

Here is Therese again with native yellow trumpet honeysuckle (lonicera) and native crossvine (bignonia) in the background.  

The name of this peony is Buckeye Belle.  When she first opens, the petals are almost black, then fade in the sunshine to magnificent shades of red.

Snowball bush (viburnum) with salvia.

  

Amsonia flanked by purple spider wort.

Viburnum against the stop sign.

 Three colors of million bells (calibrachoa) in a hanging basket.

Red Buckeye (aesculus pavia).  I've actually written an entire post about it.  Coming soon!

Iris, but I don't know which hybrid.

This peony is Coral Charm.  A stunning color, but not fragrant at all.

Have a lovely day!

;-)  -Marci

Garden Photos in May

Let's walk through the garden.

 

What a pretty day!

 

 

 

 

  

 These photos were all taken May 11th.

 

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 

;-)  -Marci