Join in on the give away!

I was recently contacted by CSN for a giveaway on my blog.  I don't normally link to these type of giveaways but I thought it might be fun for someone to have a chance at winning a gift certificate for something for their home or garden.  CSN has over 200 online stores and they carry everything you might want for your home and garden from home decor to bird baths right up to swing sets.  If you visit their link and want to find things for your home and garden just click on the link at the top left of their page to take you to one of their other online stores.  I found some cute outdoor playhouses for kids and on their other websites there was everything from fire pits to fountains to greenhouses and nice garden furniture as well as lots of items for indoors.

The Robins think that the sod pile in our front yard is our give away to them.

This $55 gift code for CSN online stores giveaway is open to all US and Candian visitors.  I don't (and haven't) receive anything from CSN except for the fun of drawing the name of the lucky winner.

Not one bit of concern for me, they know there are more worms in here than they could ever eat.

So head on over to their website and start dreaming and fingers crossed you'll be able to win the giveaway to help make that purchase.
Good luck!  If you are interested just leave me a comment with a way for me to get a hold of you, there's nothing else you need to do.  The winner will be drawn on Friday February 25th.

King of the sod pile!

Don't forget that today is also the start of the back yard bird count!  Looks like I should have lots of Robins on that count.

House hunting already?

It seems a bit early to me, but maybe the birds know something we don't know.  Our weather has gotten chilly again, although the sun has been out most of the day, snow is still in the forecast.  That's why I was quite surprised to see the birds out house hunting in the middle of February.  I thought I had noticed a pair of Chickadees visiting a new birdhouse yesterday, but then thought maybe they were just being nosy - Chickadees are pretty curious birds.  But then they were out there again this morning.

 I hung this birdhouse last year purely as a decoration.  I never thought birds would actually try to use it.  As you can see it's right by the deck where a lot of activity happens.  I'm not sure this is the best place for them to choose.

 Normally the birdhouse behind the pond is the first to be taken by Chickadees.  Hopefully they'll decide to use that one instead.  It's much safer and less commotion to disturb the family.

 The Bewick's Wrens start numerous nests in different birdhouses and then decide which one they'll use to lay their eggs in.  One of the birds had a big beak full of dried grass while this one would rustle around and then poke it's head out every so often.

 I love when birds pop their heads out just to take a peek of their surroundings.

 Probably wondering where their partner went with all the nesting supplies.

 I think the Wrens picked the perfect spot in this quiet corner under the Cedar tree.  Lots of Hellebores blooming to give their front yard some color.

Just had to get another picture of Hellebore 'Mardi Gras Double'.  I keep hoping it'll reseed like the others have done in this area.

Anyone else seeing signs of house hunting by the birds near them?  Lets hope they aren't confused and know spring won't be far off.

February Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

It's hard to believe we're half way through February already and it's time for another bloom day post.  With all the work we've been doing in our front yard I've barely had a chance to look at anything else in the garden.  I did look back at last February's bloom day post and saw that Camellias and Daffodil Tete-a-tetes were already blooming.  Quite a few plants are behind right now.  We've had heavy rain and wind the last few days and now there is the possible chance of snow this week.  It seems as the snow is starting to melt on the East coast that it's now getting colder and wetter on the West coast.  Next week is when we hope to make lots of progress on the front yard and I sure hope the weather will cooperate, but I guess there's not a lot I can do about it.

 Hellebore 'Red Lady' blooms in a wine barrel.

 Iris reticulatas caught me by surprise even though they are right on time.

 Pulmonarias will be blooming for at least another month.  I love everything about this plant.

 Crocuses also surprised me.  I moved lots of them as I rearranged the front bed, they are in a much better spot now instead of under plants and behind trees.  These purple ones are the only ones blooming though so far.

 This poor Anemone blanda has gotten quite beat up by all the walking over/on it.

And of course Pansies are blooming all over the place.

Also blooming still are the Sarcococcas, double Hellebores, Primroses and Violas.
Join Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see what she and other gardeners around the world have blooming today or to join in with your own blooms.