FEMALE CARDINAL, MOURNING DOVE, A CAROLINA WREN AND A PLANTER

Today I am showcasing the female Cardinal.  Even though she is not as showy as the distinctive red-feathered male, she is just as beautiful with her muted colors. I took these photos of her in one of the trees in our garden.

The Cardinal is the official state bird of seven states. These are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. 

They are numerous in the Southeast, and it has been extending its range northward for decades.  We can see it now on winter days as far north as southeastern Canada.  You will rarely see it west of the Great Plains but it is quite common in the desert Southwest.

Here she is after flying down to sit on the deck rail, with a cropped version from above.  We are lucky enough to see both male and female almost every day throughout the year.

Females sing mainly in spring before the start of nesting, and those nests are usually well hidden in dense shrubs, vines, or low trees. She is the one who builds them, using twigs, weeds, grass, bark strips, leaves and rootlets, lined with fine grass or hair.

Another bird I enjoy is the Mourning Dove.  There was a family of six visiting this morning.  I love to hear them cooing in the early light as I wake up, and I often call them my early alarm.  Their call and their silhouette are very easy to recognize.  Its species name is macroura, from Greek meaning "long tail."  It is among the few birds that can drink using suction.  Other birds drink water by filling their bill with the liquid, then tilting their heads back relying on gravity.  

This is a Carolina Wren.  These photos aren't the sharpest as I took them through glass and a screen.  It is another regular visitor to our garden.

A male and female Carolina Wren will form a bond at any time of the year, and will then stay together for the rest of their lives. They like to make nests in unusual places, and if you have them near your home, you might find a nest in your mailbox, flowerpots, even in your shoes and pockets if they have access.  If you wanted to encourage them, you can set up a nesting box 3 to 6 ft. off the ground.  The box can also help to provide shelter during cold or extreme weather conditions, so if you install one, leave it up throughout the winter. 

Next I am sharing one of the planters we bought in the early summer.  We purchased two and both pots are dark green with the same plants.  The flowers growing above all the other plants, the ones with the red bell-like petals, are Honeysuckle fuchsia, more info below.  I'm going to have to start pruning as everything has grown amazingly well.  The planters are hard to move and are far too heavy for me.  We do have a dolly in the garage that will help with that.  I saw a hummingbird fly near them one day, a fleeting moment and haven't seen it since.   

I was concerned that the squirrels might take a liking to them, and I would find everything strewn all over the deck, but so far, they have left them alone.  A rare win with those little rascals.

I just looked outside from staring at my computer screen, and said to Gregg, "Look at all those doves?  There must be over a dozen of them."  Well, turned out what I was seeing was double vision.  My eyes took a moment to adjust from screen to deck rail.  Husband had a puzzled look as he looked out there, and when I told him we both had a bit of a laugh.  And a mental note it's time to get my eyeglass subscription updated!

Now for the Honeysuckle Fuchsia, also known as a Firecracker Fuchsia, with a botanical name of Fuchsia triphylla.  It prefers full to partial shade, though it can tolerate more sunshine if the temperature is mild.  They are mostly grown as an annual in the U.S.  It is super easy to take care of and resists almost all pests and disease. 

And that’s all for today.