White Daffodils with Pink Trumpet

 

Sign of spring. These white daffodils with pink trumpet were planted three years ago. Every-year they are more in number.

 

A “regular” daffodil blooming in the backyard. Few leaves on the trees in the background show signs of life. More birds have started singing in the garden now. A mocking bird often visits and mimics them.

Nothern Mocking Bird

Very common sight in the garden and in the neighborhood. Sings very well at dusk on summer evenings. Link to the Cornell Ornithology Lab here.

Nothern Mockingbird is called "Nightingale of America".

Crocos Flowers

First bloom of crocos flowers even before the arrival of spring. Stigmas of crocos flowers

(i'm not sure if this species or some other) are dried and used as Saffron.

Yellow Rumped Warbler

This yellow rumped warbler has been a resident of our backyard. Often seen on Pine tree, from where it flies to catch insects mid-air. Other days I have seen it looking for something on the ground amidst grass.

Cornell Ornithology Lab link here.

Birds in Fall

Chestnut Backed Chickadee

Male House Finch

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Dark Eyed Junco

Leaves have thinned. It was great standing under a tree and being able to watch (and take pictures of) birds. Some of them were curious and would look back at me for a while, giving me an opportunity to take their picture. Since there is not much food for the birds, I start putting grains in the bird feeder around thanksgiving for the birds which stay back here during the winter. Some of them come to feed. Others find the patio a good place to rest and shelter themselves from the rain.

Chrysanthemum

The mums are in the bloom. We got these 3 years ago in the fall. I divide them in the spring and keep trimming them to avoid them from being leggy.

Last year, the winter rain destroyed the flowers. So, this year they are under a tree.
The nasturtium is still blooming orange flowers in the background and has climbed up the tree.

The mums make good cut flowers as they last for very long in the flower pots.
The slugs don't like to hang around these plants.

New Lawn

Here are a few pictures of new lawn.