Butterflies and Birds

I just did some weeding.  Weeds are so easy to pull after a good rainstorm.  So Skipper and I strolled and pulled, and laid the pulled weeds on the ground where we will mow them into pieces to fertilize the earth.  As we strolled, the birds were chirping and singing and butterflies and bees abounded.  A hummingbird went to the red caps on the ladder we use to access the roof when needed.  Quickly he/she realized this was not an edible red plant and sped off to find the begonias, passionate in their redness, and attractive to this hummingbird.  Starlings are often here in droves and sometimes in little numbers only...such as three or four at a time.  This wee visit of Starlings is the order of today's afternoon.  An early rising owl could be heard hooting from high in a tree.  A woodpecker tapped a tree and then tried to peck the gutter.  Bad move...went back to the tree.  We have had yellow birds, bluebirds, bluejays, orioles, robins, a white bird with a ring around its neck (can't remember the color of the ring feathers but this was a very friendly bird.)  Had a peacock on the roof one time, to the delight of our grandchildren.  We missed it as we were in Virginia visiting Uncle Tom.  There are birds that have music in their sounds, as well as the crows that "caw" and the buzzards and hawks that cruise the skies.  Robins come early.  Canadian Geese fly over late in the season.  Often I am mesmerized by how much the birds on this mountain sound like the birds on our boat when we are at the coast.  When here, bird sounds make me think of the coast; when at the coast, I am sure bird sounds will have me thinking of here.

Not to be outdone by the birds, butterflies abound - and the white ones we find love to flit and drink from any purplish-colored plants.  The multicolored butterflies seem to enjoy any flower.  The bees tend to mass around flowing shrubs on a regular basis, but do not sting.  Good.

And Praying Mantis have taken up residence in our front yard gardens for several years now.  Ruth Woodard, our dear neighbor, told us they are a protected species.  We now go out of our way to provide them the best care we can, even when they clamp down upon our fingers ready to fight!  Did you know that mantis molt?  We just learned this recently when we found a molted skin.  Ruth showed us their winter eggs and we are careful not to disturb them ever.  Each Mantis is a mighty warrior who looks us straight in the eyes...and we yield!

Nature is a blessing here at Fairwinds.  Protect the plantlife and the wildlife. Be lifted in spirit by their sweet sounds.

PS:  See the webpage that has the story of this praying mantis picture:
http://collabowiki.wikispaces.com/Cool+Science+Pics!