It was frosty cold last night. It was 30 degrees when I took these pictures. That’s pretty cold for us in No. California, at least in November. The frosted flowers were so pretty, sparkling in the sunlight this morning. They almost look like they have been sugared.
For some reason our garden doesn’t want to go to sleep yet. I have tons of flowers blooming. Our azaleas started blooming last month (several months early), I still have roses and even the impatiens are still going gangbusters although they were looking rather dispirited this morning. I think after last night they are all going to snug in for the winter.
One thing I vow to do this Winter is to keep on top of the bird feeders. I’ve been so busy that weeks go by and the feeders just hang there, empty.
I actually enjoy filling the feeders so it’s a not a chore to me. Time just manages to get away and the poor, neglected birds stop coming around as much. We rigged up this great pully system for one of the larger feeders up in one of the oak trees. Belle thinks we put the feeders up to lure birds for her to catch so we have to be clever in where we place the feeders. High enough and out of reach for the kitty but not so hard for us to refill them.
I usually just buy black sunflower seeds for the larger birds and nyjer seed for the finches. But this year I think I’ll do suet too. I did it one year but was so repulsed by it – trying to unwrap it and put it in the wire holder – I felt like I was smeared in lard from head to toe. Then someone told me to freeze it first – makes it much easier to handle.
We had to modify the finch feeder. There used to be a Japanese maple tree right next the deck. I was looking at the window and noticed that the feeder seemed to be moving up one of the branches. A squirrel had gotten ahold of it and was dragging it away to his lair! So we wired a rock to the bottom of it to make it heavier. I like how the rock looks, all green and mossy.
I have a pretty birdcage out on the deck too but I keep the door open. I dislike birds in cages – I know I’m projecting but I always think that they must feel like they are in jail. The little yellow bird in my cage could fly away if she wanted. Well, if she was real she could. I even want my faux birds to be free to come and go.