End of the Month View, March 2017

Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and End of the Month View

Wildflowers

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 30, 2017

Wild Violets are growing near my kitchen door. And if you look closely, you will see a small butterfly on the right side of the photo.

Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica are appearing all over the lawn...

...and so are the Dandelions!

Flowers

I was afraid that mid-month freezing temperatures would damage the Clematis buds, but they are hardier than I thought!

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' aka Easter Rose

I recently bought Petunias in hanging baskets to attract Hummingbirds.

Vegetables

My Onions, planted in large tubs, were damaged by the hail on Monday afternoon. But it is just the tops. I am sure the onions, safely below the soil, are fine. (Those wiggly-looking things are buds blown off of Pine trees).

Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

I am happy to report that my insect control guy, Catch 'Em And Eat 'Em, is on the job!
(That is an old car tire finding a second life as a flower bed).

And birds - let's not forget our fine feathered friends! Our gardens would be much too quiet without birdsongs.

I hope you have a wonderful week-end!

To see what is happening in other gardens at the End of the Month: Click Here!

For more Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more Camera Critters: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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SWF: Hail, March 31, 2017

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 27, 2017

From the safety of our carport, I watched a strong hailstorm Monday afternoon. Our dark grey driveway was quickly becoming white!

Marble-sized hail

All that white in the front yard almost looks like Spring wildflowers blooming, but no, it is ice!
The temperature was about 70°F (21°C) so it melted quickly.

Have a wonderful week-end!

For weather-related photos from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Good Fences: Bluebird, March 30, 2017

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, March 16, 2017

Simply beautiful: an Eastern Bluebird on a post and barb wire fence

Spring is here!

Have a beautiful day!

For more fence photos, visit Good Fences Around The World: Click Here!

On Saturday, please visit Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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American Robin, March 29, 2017

Booneville, Mississippi, USA, February 17, 2017

American Robins, Turdus migratorius, are welcomed as the first sign of Spring in many parts of the United States and Canada. They sing a series of notes, rising and falling in pitch: cheer-up, cheerily, cheer-up, cheerily. They eat insects, earthworms, snails, and fruit.

Shiloh, Tennessee, USA, March 9, 2017

At 9-11 inches (23-28cm) they are about twice the size of European Robins. Even though they are both called Robins, they are not closely related.

Hope you are having a great week!

For more bird photos, visit Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Butterfly Shadow, March 27, 2017

Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Monday 2, and Through My Lens

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 9, 2017

Butterfly on my front porch

Have a wonderful week!

For more shadow photos, visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2: Click Here!

For more macro photos, visit Macro Monday 2: Click Here!

For a variety of interesting photos, visit Through My Lens: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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The Barn Collective, March 26, 2017

The Barn Collective

McNairy County, Tennessee, USA, March 6, 2017

I almost did not see this barn set back in the woods behind the fence.

My dear husband turned our car around and drove by it slowly so I could get photos.

Have a blessed day!

For more barn photos, visit Tom for The Barn Collective: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Mourning Dove, March 25, 2017

Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, January 14, 2017

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura.
I almost forgot I had these Dove photos. I had computer problems that lasted most of February. Finally, I gave it up as a lost cause and got another computer. Thankfully, the computer guy was able to copy my photos from the dead computer to an external hard drive. And here they are - my Dove photos!

The pear trees have budded and bloomed since I made these photos in January.

Have a wonderful week-end!

For more Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more Camera Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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SWF: Cardinals, March 23-24, 2017

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 18, 2017

This male Cardinal really shines against the beautiful blue skies we have had this week.

And here is the female Cardinal.
Perhaps they are mates; they were close together in the same tree.

I hope you have a beautiful week-end!

To see weather-related photos from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Red-Headed Woodpecker, March 22, 2017

Booneville, Mississippi, USA, February 17, 2017

Red-headed Woodpeckers, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, can be found in the eastern half of the United States and in southeastern Canada. They eat nuts, seeds, fruit, and insects (sometimes catching them in the air). Nests are built in cavities of dead or dying trees, but if a natural cavity is not available they can use their strong bills to dig out a nesting place. Habitat loss is reducing their numbers, but they are not yet listed as threatened.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

For more bird photos, visit Stewart for Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Wednesday Around The World: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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The Barn Collective, March 19, 2017

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 12, 2017

Looking out my kitchen window at sunrise last Sunday, I could hardly believe what I saw on our barn roof...

A light dusting of snow!

Of course, it melted when the sun was fully up.

I am seeing a lot of Eastern Bluebirds this Spring, so I am including a photo of one here for your enjoyment.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, February 19, 2017

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Have a blessed day!

For more barn photos, visit Tom for The Barn Collective: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Through My Lens: Click Here!

And on Tuesday, please visit Our World Tuesday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Cows and Ducks, March 18, 2017

Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

Hardin County, Tennessee, USA, March 6, 2017

My question is, "How did that cow get up on the hay trailer?"

I'd Rather B Birdin'
Ring-necked Ducks

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, February 19, 2017

It has been suggested that Ring-necked Ducks should be called Ring-billed Ducks as the white ring on the bill is much more visible than the chestnut neck ring. The black and white birds are the males; the brown ones are females.

Have a great week-end!

For more Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more Camera Critters: Click Here!

For I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day March 2017

Northeast Mississippi, USA zone 7

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 14, 2017

My Hellebores are full of blooms. The colors of the older blooms are faded; the newer blooms are still pink.

These Daffodil blooms are small, but there are lots of them, two or more blooms on each stem.

Most of the larger Daffodils have finished blooming. I have just a few of these still in bloom.

Snowflakes, Leucojum, grown from bulbs, are in the Amaryllis family.

Easter Rose Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' is a native of Japan, China, and Korea.

I fear for my double white Clematis that is forming buds. Our temperatures are predicted to drop to 24F (-4C) overnight. If these buds are frozen, hopefully new buds will form.

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

To see gardens around the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Junco, March 14-15, 2017

ABC Wednesday and Wild Bird Wednesday
J is for Junco hyemalis - Dark-eyed Junco, a North American migratory bird

Shiloh, Tennessee, USA, March 9, 2017

Juncos are grey sparrows with white underparts. They spend the Winter in the southern United States, and go to the northern United States and Canada to breed in the Summer. Here in the southeastern United States they are commonly called 'Snow Birds' for their habit of arriving at the beginning of Winter and leaving in the Spring.

Dark-eyed Juncos, Slate-colored Juncos, Oregon Juncos, and White-winged Juncos were once considered separate species because of differences in coloration, but they are now classified as the same species because they interbreed where their ranges overlap. You may see them on the ground foraging for seeds, beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and ants. You can attract them to your backyard feeders by offering millet seeds.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

For more on the letter J, visit ABC Wednesday: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Mural and Wildflower, March 13, 2017

Monday Mural and Macro Monday 2

Monday Mural

'Produce' - Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, March 3, 2017

I found this mural on the side of a delivery truck at one of the Kroger grocery stores in Tupelo.

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Macro Monday 2

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 9, 2017

This tiny wildflower is Claytonia virginica 'Spring Beauty'

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 12, 2017

And when I say 'tiny' I do mean tiny!

Have a wonderful week!

For more murals, visit Monday Mural: Click Here!

For more macro photos, visit Macro Monday 2: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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The Barn Collective, March 12, 2017

The Barn Collective

Marshall County, Mississippi, USA, February 19, 2017

See the dogs? I thought they were real at first, but no, they are very life-like statues.

Have a blessed day!

For more barn photos, visit Tom for The Barn Collective: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Critters: Raccoon, March 11, 2017

Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 4, 2017

Raccoon caught 'red-handed' robbing the bird feeder in broad daylight!

Have a wonderful week-end!

For more Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more Camera Critters: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Sky Watch Friday, March 10, 2017

Sky Watch Friday and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, March 6, 2017

The sun was trying to break through the clouds when we were at Pickwick Lake on Monday. (The background structure is the highway bridge over Pickwick Dam).

The Mallards were taking advantage of the small window of sunshine to preen their feathers.

And a Great Blue Heron was surveying his domain from a nesting platform.

Have a wonderful week-end!

For weather-related photos from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

And on Saturday, visit Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Bald Eagles, March 8, 2017

Wild Bird Wednesday, Wednesday Around The World, and Good Fences

Shiloh, Tennessee, USA, March 6, 2017

Skies were threatening rain when we went to Shiloh National Military Park last Monday. Each year a pair of Bald Eagles nest in this tall pine tree near the Tennessee River. They began nesting late in January this year. I hope that in a month or two I will be able get photos of the young eaglets. A fence keeps people from getting too close.

At first I could see only a head above the side of the nest. Then I walked around to the other side of the tree for a better view.

Magnificent birds! So handsome! You can see just a glimpse of the other Eagle sitting on the nest. The parent birds take turns on the nest while the other one brings food (a fish from the river). I do not know which one is which.

Bald Eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, are misnamed; their Latin name, leucocephalus, means white-headed. They are fish eaters, and can grab fish from the water with their strong talons. Sometimes they steal fish from smaller birds such as Ospreys. They are the national bird of the United States, protected by law, and can be seen over much of North America.

And for Good Fences Around The World:

Eagle Nesting Area. Closed to all entry.

Have a wonderful day!

For more bird photos, visit Stewart for Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Wednesday Around The World: Click Here!

For more fence photos, visit Good Fences Around The World: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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