Spotted a Downy at the suet feeder today. ( No, unfortunately not Robert Downy Jr.) He didn't stay long even though he could ft very comfortably through the cage bars like the juncos do and could sit and eat at his leisure. For a moment I couldn't figure out if he was a Downy woodpecker or a Hairy woodpecker as they are so close in markings and colouring. Then I remembered "DD". "Downy" is "Diminutive" and so, therefore much smaller than the Hairy. That can also be tricky to figure out if you don't have the two birds side-by-side to compare sizes. Am I right? I figure though, that if he can fit easy as kiss-the-back-of-my-hand (to quote Jack Aubrey) into the feeder cage, then it must be the Downy.

The Steller's Jays are very clever you know. They now come to the fig tree and look into the art room. They can clearly see me and wait patiently for me to go into the kitchen and get their peanuts. (Yeah, patiently, without screeching... amazing.) They then follow with a short flutter to the patio and await their handout.

Snow is slowly melting around the neighbourhood under the relentless drizzle of rain. Further up the hill, one can see snowfall fresh on the slopes.

The Spotted Towhee is one of my favourite backyard
birds. There is always one shuffling about under the lilac
trees. You can find them in the woods too, not just in
gardens, but really, it's like having a loyal puppy
scrabbling about the tulips. They have an entertaining way
of searching for food, which consists of them doing a
little two foot hop shuffle. Hop forward and shuffle back.
It turns up the leaves and undergrowth to expose insects
and so forth. If you watch crows, they tend to use their
bills to flip leaves over or to turn over clods of dirt.
The Spotted Towhee uses both feet instead. They can make a
hell-of-a-noise in the quiet woods as you can imagine a
bear shuffling slowly about but no, it's just the Towhee
with his crazy, red staring eyes.

I don't get many House Finches at my feeder
currently, only about six or so. Rarely do I get a Purple
House Finch. I have only seen one in the fall and one again
last month. Apparently they are somewhat more shy than the
other birds and tend not to compete at the feeders. I had
always wondered what they looked like but I sure figured it
out in a hurry because their colouring can only be
described as alizarin crimson.

First lawn mowing of the new lawn.

Planted: 6 banana potatoes
             Baby Mesculun Lettuce
             Radishes "Cherry Belle"
             Raspberry Canes
             Peas "Lincoln Homesteader"

Noticed female bees had eaten through their cocoons. Hooray!

Am: +4 cloudy
PM: +11 sunny!

Okay we filled up the raised garden beds. We had them made up by a friend who has the tools and the know-how. Yes, that's right I can't knock two pieces of wood together without injuring myself, or passersby. We decided to plant the following ( after much deliberation and re-doing of the garden blueprint).

Red Onions
Walla Walla Onions
Bunching Green Onions
Chives
Spinach
Garlic
Arugula
Cilantro

Still need to get potatoes, peas and the raspberry canes in.

Well here I am at the new place and I have a huge garden. I have two apple trees and a small plum tree. The wooden support has five grape plants beneath it. To the left of the pic, which you can't see, is the fig tree and don't you just love my giant compost bin?

These old pavers flank someone's drive in the back alley. I couldn't help but notice the brilliant moss. Our mild winters treat moss very well here. The moisture and cool temperatures make the moss seem to glow.

Ah ha. I reckon these fellows, growing up the side of someone's fence are called "British Soldier Lichen". I only noticed it this time because the red tops jumped out at me.