While out watering the Garden Gone Wild, I couldn't help thinking how lovely the garden has become even after all the neglect it has had this year. Last year's Burpeeana Giants reseeded themselves there, and I must say are just as pretty as last year's crop that was cared for in the best ways possible. These zinnias are my forever favorites which I call the shaggy ones. Burpee says they are "an impressive mix of huge 6" flowers with quilled and ruffled petals in all the best colors."
The hummingbirds are currently drinking around one and a half gallons of sweet nectar each day. I have eleven feeders hanging which seems like the perfect number. I am sure these little hummers have a few battles over drinking rights, but for the most part they feed peacefully together. They are the best ever in that way, which makes them quite enjoyable.
The big news of the week, however, is that I saw a Painted Bunting! When taking a little drive around the farm, my daughter and I just happened to be at the right place and at the right time to get a good look at it.. It was my first sighting here on the place. Wow! What a beauty! Wikipedia says the Painted Bunting is the most beautiful bird in North America. We didn't get an actual photo, so I borrowed one from the internet. But, believe me, ours was just as pretty as this one. I hope he and the wife are raising a large family here so we will have pretty little Painted Buntings all over the place.
And, over on my other blog, Linnie Butts and Company are meeting up with the older dolls in our first "Blast From the Past." If you would like to take a look just click on the old sewing machine picture at the top of this page.
18 comments:
Hi Mary, I love zinnias and they will bring in lots of butterflies too. wow that must have been very exciting to see the painted bunting. Happy weekend and new week ahead
Those are beautiful zinnias indeed! Our painted buntings are all over (I like the bright green females too!). But, the hummingbirds are scarce
What a pretty bird! My zinnias are not blooming yet hopefully soon. WE are to cold for then to reseed so I plant every year.
Cathy
I love your Bunting! He is amazing. I'm so impressed with the amount of hummer juice you go through! I have one feeder-we usually only have two pair of hummers. But they are very territorial. I've always wanted to find a hummer nest. Hope you are doing well..
You brought back memories of my Mother's garden when I saw the zinnias - they were one of her favourites and she had them all over the vegetable garden. Probably many of them self-seeded. And that painted bunting - oh my goodness!! I've never seen one of those and they are definitely beautiful. I don't think they range as far north as here, sadly.
Zinnias are one of my very favorite flowers! Tough and beautiful always. Your garden is amazing. My mom always talked about painted buntings as she did see one - once! I don't have many hummers but the one feeder has to be replenished every 2 days. I think they come in very early and leave very late. I don't see them constantly.
I love that third picture of your garden, all those lovely colors together. And the last one too, look at him, colors all together as well.
I have never seen a Painted Bunting. I did not know about them! What an incredible sighting! You take such good care of your hummer friends! They clearly feel secure with the bounty you provide for them.
I have no trouble at all believing that the Painted Bunting is the most beautiful bird in North America!!
I like Zinnias and in a normal year I have them blooming by now. Unfortunately none grew this year. Well, one came up but it's only about 4 inches tall. It's too late to find any at the plant shop ( although I plan on going to look just in case there are any left).
Your "garden gone wild" takes my breath away. I vote you neglect it again next year LOL. Zinnia is not a flower I typically plant, but looking at yours, I believe that is going to change. That bunting is absolutely stunning in its beautiful coat of feathers. I never knew there was such a bird....so tropical looking! If I am lucky, I usually spot an indigo bunting at least once each summer. They are so beautiful...and so rarely seen....that it feels like a special blessing when I do. ~Robin~
How did you get such civilized hummingbirds? I wonder if your generosity begets generosity on their part...
Zinnias are the best! YAY for zinnias! This year, I only have little orange ones in pots, and until I saw your explosion of beauties I had not missed the tall ones. Now I am truly jealous!
Your flowers are beautiful.
Wow that is a lot of hummingbird feeders!
The colors on the painted bunting are spectacular and I agree that it is the prettiest of birds in NA.
I had never heard of a painted bunting, gorgeous! I hope you see many more in days to come. We've only had a glimpse of an indigo bunting a couple times stopping by at the feeders briefly in the spring while enroute to wherever they spend their summers.
You've reminded me about zinnias, how lovely! I remember as child being delighted that there was a flower which began with Z - it seemed so much more exotic than the more regular letters of the alphabet. I must hunt down some seeds.
You avian garden visitors are so beautiful. We do love ours, but apart from jays they are mostly black or brown or variants of those colours. At the moment we are battling a group of excitable rooks who have discovered our bird feeders, which are near the house. We wouldn't mind so much, but our lovely neighbour has a holiday let business and I don't think her guests would be too pleased by the rook babies shrieking in the trees at 6am! I go out and shoo them away from the tree tops by clapping my hands and flapping my dressing gown wildly, much to the (almost hysterical) amusement of hubby :-)
Your flowers are awesome and I love the colorful bird photo, too. Have a great summer.
Here in South Africa, the original indigenous zinnias grow wild in my garden. They are low to the ground, about 30cm, and they have sparse dark-orange petals. Sometimes I plant a seed packet of the giant colorful ones, but they seem to cross-pollinate with the wild zinnias and after a while the only ones that come up are small again.
How pretty the Painted Bunting, I would have said it's photoshopped!
HI thanks for visiting my blog, that's what I love about this little cyber world - finding other bloggers in interesting parts of the World that I could never hop on a plane to visit! so I came for a browse; what beautiful photography you have here. Your zinnia garden is pretty and I like the rusty additions for texture and contrast, you have an artists eye :) I got bitten by a tick last year on my hand - they are so nasty - I obsessively brush my new to me cat daily to avoid them as we live by woodland where they thrive. Nice to meet you - Betty
p.s. I had never seen a painted bunting, it's a beautiful thing and you captured it well.
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