Still waiting.

I waited and waited for some birds to show up yesterday, I guess it was too windy.  The only birds around were the chickadees that have a nest in the birdhouse behind the pond.  They are so fast going in and out I didn't even try to take pictures of them.  Maybe they know I have a zoom now, and are playing hard to get.  Instead I took a walk around the backyard and path area to see if anything new was blooming.  I think I may have some new flowers for May Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th.  

Of course I found another Columbine in bloom, still quite a few with buds including the big yellow one that always blooms later than the rest.

A walk down the path towards the pond.  The bare area against the fence will be filled with a large lavatera and other perennials.  I'm hoping lavatera 'Barnsley' will make a return, but just in case I planted a new one close to it.  The fence will be replaced sometime this summer, it's very old!

This is a new clematis 'South Cross' growing up the shepherd's hook with the hummingbird feeder that you can see in the previous picture.  'South Cross' is supposed to be attractive to hummingbirds.  I'll find a spot for a clematis to grow up on just about anything!

Over the weekend my husband took the girls to look for tadpoles.  They were so excited that they found some in a marshy area just down the street from our house.  We set up a bowl for a temporary house for them.  When I looked at them I realized they weren't frog tadpoles.  Look at these feathery gills and little feet.  Can you guess what it is?  This is something my sister and I used to find growing up.  We actually grew up in a house just 2 blocks from where I live now.

It's a baby newt!  We looked up some information on them and what they eat.  We have some big rocks at the bottom of the bowl that they rest on. Hopefully when these guys are bigger they can move into the pond.

I changed some things on my blog.  Please let me know if it's difficult to read or see any of the elements.