Today was both sunny and warm with the daytime temperature being in the mid-80s! My kind of weather! I spent a relaxed morning, replying to blog comments and strolling around the back yard. I also placed some edging bricks around the second moringa plant. M planted a ring of irises around it and, last Friday, planted more flower seeds and a row of rainbow chard, as well! The edging bricks won't keep the garden cats away, but, I am planning to put up another fence around it, later.
In the afternoon, I practiced the piano, sewed on buttons to a cardigan I had knitted (not a new cardigan, but I had removed the old buttons for some reason and never got around to replacing them), and finished knitting the scarf I had been making.
Afterwards, I watered the garden, both back and front. It was when I was watering the back garden when I heard a bird singing and looked round to see a mockingbird perched on the calamondin tree. It then flew into the schefflera plant growing at the base of the calamondin tree, that I had just watered:
 |
| Schefflera Plant (with a hidden mockingbird) |
It was hopping from branch to branch, stretching out its wings, etc. It took me a few minutes to realize what it was doing - it was shaking the branches and taking a bath in the water that was dripping from the leaves! Once I realized that, I aimed the garden hose to the top of the calamondin tree and caused it to "rain" on the schefflera plant and the mockingbird and, oh, how that bird enjoyed its bath! For at least five minutes, I held the hose aimed at the calamondin tree and watched the mockingbird as it showered! Eventually, it flew up onto the calamondin tree and I stopped watering.
 |
| Calamondin Tree (with a very blurry mockingbird) |
Watching that mockingbird seems like so much fun. I've never seen a bird shake a branch to get the water off for a bath. Maybe because we have more rain, they can usually find a puddle here?
ReplyDeleteIt's the first time I've seen it, myself, Live and Learn. But I had so much fun watching it. I had a big smile on my face the whole time and it still makes me smile when I think about it. :)
DeleteA lovely moment with the mockingbird - I can see why it was your joyful activity for the day.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to have a bird bath and feeders in my garden. I used to get lots of visitors but now there are too many cats so I'm no longer encouraging them into the garden.
That bird was so enjoying its bath, Eileen. I, too, would like to have a bird bath, but, don't feel it's the right thing to do with the garden cats around. I don't have any feeders, either, but, the birds still find plenty of insects and seeds in the garden.
DeleteWhat fun that you were able to give the mocking bird a nice little shower, that's adorable!
ReplyDeleteIt really was a wonderful moment, Martha. That little bird was so happy! :)
DeleteHow lovely to be able to provide a pleasant long shower for your mockingbird. These interactions with wildlife are indeed joyful.
ReplyDeleteI see a few snowflakes starting to fall halfheartedly outside the window and I'm hoping they will give up! Supper tonight will be easy, leftover lamb and chickpea curry. DH will be very happy!
It really was a wonderful moment of joy, Bushlady.
DeleteOh, I hope the snow flakes don't turn into a big snow fall! It is going up to almost 90F here, before we cool down to the low 60s by the weekend. :) Yum, lamb and chickpea curry sounds wonderful. :)
Mockingbird, calamondrin tree.....these are things I've never seen. Never even heard of the tree. How lovely to have spent time watching him or her enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteCalamondin is a variety of citrus; the fruit looks like a miniature orange and is edible, but very sour. Watching the mockingbird enjoy its bath was such a joyful experience for me. It saw an opportunity and took full advantage of it! :)
DeleteI loved your mockingbird story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful moment in your day.
It really was a special moment, Debra. That little bird was so fully in the present enjoying its shower and I, too, was in the present, with nothing else on my mind except enjoying the experience. My daughter gave me a notebook, once, with a saying on the cover which stated, "Life isn't about waiting for the rain to end, it's about learning to dance in the rain". I was reminded of that saying when I watched the bird, taking full advantage of the "rain" to enjoy a bath. :)
DeleteHi Bless, I agree. The birds provide a lot of joy in the garden. They appreciate the variety of plants. Your garden sounds wonderful. I met a neighbor yesterday, and we took a long walk together. The mountains and sunshine were just beautiful! I just watched a movie on Youtube about the Hearst DAvies affair. It was fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI love watching and listening to the birds in the garden, Stephenie. I used to have a bird bath and feed them before there were garden cats in residence, but, not anymore, although they are still finding lots of things to eat in my garden, including the cats' dry food!
DeleteSounds like you enjoyed your walk, yesterday. It sounds like you are settling in very nicely in your mountain community. :)
You had hummingbirds coming closer to you while you were watering? How wonderful! I have hummingbird feeders and flowers that attract them, but I saw a hummingbird only once.
ReplyDeleteSchefflera! So, that's the name of those plants with green and yellow leaves. They are very popular here.
Yes, this one hummingbird would fly in and out of the water spray from the garden hose. :) I have several hummingbirds that visit my garden; they seem to like the flowers of the bottlebrush tree, the feijoa flowers, and the hibiscus. I just haven't been able to take a picture of one, however. My cell phone isn't fast enough.
DeleteSchefflera is also known as the umbrella plant. I have one with solid green leaves and this one with the variegated leaves. :)
One of our radio stations has a "Tweet of the day" slot every morning, which is a minute or two of quasi-mindfulness - some birdsong and brief information about it. Today's was the mockingbird and I happened to notice it in the catch-up schedule so, thinking of this post, I listened to it. Nice to tie up two "loose ends" (not quite the term I want, but anyway, a happy coincidence that I have now learned a bit about this bird!)
ReplyDeleteSometimes, those odd bits of information one gathers do come together nicely, don't they? The parts fit together to make a whole. :)
Delete