It's Monday

Look what we got in the mail early this morning! The post office called and said they had peeps for us. Actually they are going to Steve's house when they get bigger, but for now they will be camping out in a brooder in our basement. 16 little adorable balls of fluff. The girls will be so excited when they get home from school today.

Mrs. Cardinal calling for her mate..

Here are a couple shots of my greenhouse. It has lots of beautiful Orchids in bloom right now. Last year we had lots of flats of pumpkin seeds growing, but they will do just as well when planted in the ground.
A weather alert says we will get a freeze tonight! Not looking forward to it, because many of our trees and flowers are in bud.
Have a great day all.

Thursday

This is the time of the year for Mums, and we have a gorgeous Amish greenhouse not too far from home. This is the scene as you drive off the main highway down the beautiful road toward their really cool log home and 5 greenhouses. 

Just this summer they added this gazebo with lots of cool flowers, and a bench for resting.

Their house is log, and amazing for Amish.
Of course I got some Mums, and I'll post some pictures when they are all in bloom.

We stopped on Chautauqua Lake for lunch, and these cute ducks are big time beggars, and I saw one youngster. I thought they should all be grown by now. This one must be from a late hatch.

We were on the road a good share of the day, picking up more new chickens to add to my flock. I'm getting more egg orders than I can supply, so it's time to get more girls, and I got some real beauties.
Have a good rest of the week.

My greenhouse

Even though we have had some sun the past few days, the temperature out side has been bitter cold, and with that wind whipping around every corner, we haven't ventured out to take many pictures. The same gang at the feeders too, so nothing there to photograph either.
Yesterday I took all the plants out of the greenhouse, washed all the windows, vacuumed all the cobwebs, and swept the floor.. I even gave the plants a bath, and trimmed away the dead leaves.We heat with wood in the winter, and you can't believe how dirty those windows were and that will keep lots of good light from reaching the plants.
The following pictures show the Orchids that are blooming right now. Some of these flowers will keep for months, but then again they might not bloom again for another year. The little pitcher pump you see in this first picture has running water coming from the spout adding to the humidity.

This, That, and the Other

We stopped at a beautiful Amish greenhouse yesterday afternoon. This is the view you see as you drive down the entrance. There is a gorgeous log home, barns, and a big pond. In the winter they process deer meat. They have 6 greenhouses with everything you could ever want. I know it's early, but I bought 3 Patio tomatoes, a hanging Tom Thumb tomato for my greenhouse, and a hanging Lobelia. When the weather settles down we'll go back. I would have taken lots of pictures, but didn't think I should. Out back of the log home, is this cool bird feeder. I think we could fashion something similar from an old childs swing set. I'll be looking into this.

This is the other picture I got of the Fox. He stayed for a minute, and then some birds began chasing him. Boy can he run. I think he also lost what he had caught. White crowned Sparrow and a House Finch in our back yard.

Grey Catbird down on our Creek trail. They have a nest nearby, but I haven't found it yet.

I'm still watching that big nest up the road. Today there was a bird sitting near the nest. I can't get closer, but I still think it's a Red-tailed Hawk.

The Rose breasted Grosbeak has been here every day. Can you see me now?

No sign of the Mrs. yet.

Mrs. Baltimore Oriole will stop by the hummer feeder for a taste.

Up hill and down dale.

and yet another victim of the heavy winter snows.

I'll post some of my recent wildflower shots tomorrow.