BIRDLAND

There’s a fascinating hierarchy in our neighborhood’s feathered world. If we had hawks roosting in the trees the crows wouldn’t give them any peace. In turn, the scrub jays torment the crows. The starlings (and the squirrels) scold the jays while the swallows dive bomb just about everybody in range. When it comes to the swallows, I’m not sure if it’s harassment or “let’s just see how close I can get without losing any feathers,” because I think I got dive bombed this morning while I was bending over contemplating a stubborn weed. “Something” buzzed over me; it was too loud to be a hummer and there was a flock of swallows dancing overhead.

Earlier, as I was chasing the last strawberry on a plant, I stood up and found myself eyeball to feather ball with a hummer. It “chpp, chpp’d” at me a couple of times and zipped off. I last saw it harassing a swallow near the neighbor’s porch. I wonder if hummers have a version of neener, neener, neener. Obviously, wingless humans are at the bottom of the pecking order. LOL

FREEDOM TO DEPRESS

" 'We wanted them to ask the questions we wanted to answer, so that they would report the news the way we want it to be reported.' Sharon Angle, Nevada Republican senate hopeful who has avoided reporters, discussing media strategy with Fox News." As reported on the Perspectives page of this weeks Newsweek magazine.

Last I heard the candidate, running against Harry Reid, has managed to blow an eleven point lead since the primary. God(dess) keep up the good work. That attitude alone is enough to disqualify her for any elected office down to and including dog catcher.

SUMMER FLOWERS

I suddenly remembered the macro feature on the digital camera. So naturally I had to go out and .........


The stargazer lilies are in full bloom.

And the pink rose by the driveway. The buffet loving deer haven't gotten these yet. Actually it was more of a problem in the early spring than it is now.

The black eyed susans are up. The true definition of "yellow."

A blossom from the little rose that could. This bush was three little leaf stems at ground level and a really good root ball this spring. It was in a pot on the porch and got its feet too wet. It's very happy sharing the flower bed with some geraniums.