wild bird chasing

I'm back to my crazy girl antics ~ running out the back door, arms flapping, trying to shoo out the starlings, grackles and blackbirds.  It makes me realize how nice winter is without them in the garden.  I've pulled all my feeders except the suet (which I'm trying a "starling stumper" on) because I refuse, refuse, refuse (exclamation point) to feed them.  When I read about the blackbirds falling out of the sky earlier this year, I was secretly hoping it would make a difference in how many came north ~ it doesn't appear so.  It will be a test of persistence & endurance that's for sure ~ but I am determined to run them out!

My camera has accompanied me on several trips ~ might as well do something productive while all the other shenanigans are going on, right?  I found my favorite spring flower of all beginning to bloom ~ primula veris (cowslip):

I could never have too many of these sweet yellow blooms.  Now that I know the secret to germination, they are becoming a lot more prolific in my garden.

Getting ever so close to opening, Fritillaria Imperialis 'Lutea:'

I thought you might like to follow the progression from bud to bloom?  It's such a stately bulb.

An impromptu trip to the greenhouse yesterday resulted in a flat full of gorgeous pansies.  My favorite (at least for the last couple years) has been the 'frizzle sizzles.'  I did not make that up!  Here's 'frizzle sizzle yellow & blue:'

Those ruffles get me every time.  However, I think they are in jeopardy of losing their most favorite ranking.   Look what's giving them the stiff competition ~ Karma series 'Blue Butterfly:'

Quite possibly the most beautiful pansy ever ~ what do you think?

I also found several more daffodils to share with you.  Narcissi 'Dreamlight' was added two years ago and makes me wonder now why more weren't added last year:

I am really digging these "small cupped" varieties lately.  'Dreamlights' cup is so tiny it's barely there!  I have my eye on several more (different colored cups) I want to remember to order this fall.

Narcissi 'Derringer' is not a small cup (it's more of a bowl cup) but still too pretty to leave out:

Finally, a salmon-pink "short trumpet" variety whose name escapes me right now:

Aaahhh.  Annoying as grackles can be, they sure can't stop the excitement of spring.  I love that there's something new in bloom almost every single day.  These are the moments we've waited all winter for, aren't they?

Comments

[Jennifer]

Hi Kathleen, I am sorry that you are having problems with birds. Your flowers are looking lovely. Pansies are a favorite of mine-such pretty faces. I also admire the daffodil with the pink trumpet.

[SprigBlog]

good luck! great pics!

[Kala]

I've never seen salmon colored daffodils before Kathleen. All of these photos are beautiful. The light shining through the pansy petals is just stunning.

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

Very nice collection of blooms. I use safflower seed, the blackbirds/starlings don't see to like it.
I do like that pretty little pink cupped daffodil. Sweet.