It think this little sparrow has mistaken my bonsai tree for real food.
From the category archives:
Nature
It’s migration season right now in Minnesota. Is it any wonder that water fowl love breeding here, what with all the lakes we have in the state? So far this last week, I have seen various species of ducks, geese, and cranes. Below are two that have visited our pond just in the last few days.
Hooded Merganser
Wood Duck
After having a snow storm blast through here all day, I went outside and took some photos of the fresh snow, before anyone else stepped through it.
One of my favorite things to do in winter is watch the different types of birds that visit the feeder. You can get a good idea of when a storm is on the way because the birds go into a feeding frenzy. But be warned, once you start feeding the birds, you just can’t find it in your heart to stop. Of course, when the squirrels find you, well, then you have a whole new fight on your hands.
There are many different parks and places along the Mississippi River that you can sit back, enjoy the view, and just watch the river flow by. This small boardwalk is on Nicollet Island, just across the river from downtown Minneapolis and is a great place to eat lunch on a sunny afternoon.
…is picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve for Halloween.
The last two days we have had 85 and 87 degree days. I feel like I should be back in Florida! When it isn’t hot, it has been raining at least once a day for the last week, which isn’t great because many of us want the leaves to change so we can see some color. So far, the yellows have come out, and are now turning to a rusty gold. Reds are on their way, but may not fully make it if the rain and wind keep going.
Queen Anne’s LaceEveryone knows this wildflower as it grows heavily in prairies, along fields, and on the side of roads. According to Wikipedia, ” Wild carrot was introduced and naturalised in North America, where it is often known as “Queen Anne‘s lace”. It is so called because the flower resembles lace; the red flower in the center represents a blood droplet where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace. The function of the tiny red flower, coloured by anthocyanin, is to attract insects”. You just have to love Wikipedia!
While viewing various landscapes of area homes in Prior Lake this weekend for the Pond and Landscape Tour, I ran into a couple who sprinkled their landscape with art they produce on site. Called Artscape Lighting, they design beautiful floral sculptures which house lighting for ponds, walking paths, fences, etc. The one pictured above is a fountain into the swimming pond they built. Check out their website for more designs. They have developed a great way to camouflage lighting and make the garden more appealing!
