It's such a pretty world today....

Contemplating shadows in our back yard the other day, I took a photo of the shadows of the raised flower bed creating shadows on the lawn. I've had the upright bird feeders [4 on wrought iron] for about a year now. I'm trying a different approach since the only birds that show up 99% of the time are sparrows and white winged doves. I am hoping that with this addition on top of the wrought iron will attract different birds in our backyard. A birder that has blogged wonderful photos of birds from time to time, last week she had a great idea that I followed. She bought a splatter screen at the Dollar Store, an inexpensive grapevine wreath at Walmart and added to her creation different and colorful things birds like. Rebecca's was made to hang from a tree ---using twine for the hanger and a pine cone hanging from the top down to the center, covered with suet. Before I go to all the trouble [besides I didn't have enough jute to make it a hanging feeder...lol], I thought I'd use crafting wire to stabilize it on top of what already exists in our yard. I added a block of suet [crumbled], peanuts, and a mixture of millet, sunflower, corn and other seeds into the splatter screen. Along the grapevine, I added a quartered orange, some berry branches, and peanut butter snack crackers. Now, if I don't get a bigger variety of birds, I am almost positive I might attract squirrels, flies, and perhaps a rat. LOL Hey, maybe even a opossum. Who knows? We'll see.

While working on wiring the new bird wreath feeder, I happened to see this pink hibiscus blooming and its own petals created shadows. Of course, pink is one of my favorite colors of hibiscus, I had to pull the cellphone out of my pocket and snap the image to share as a shadow shot. And when I was done, I couldn't resist touching the velvety, soft petals. There is something about their texture I like....like smooth, young and unblemished skin.

Walking afterward, at a local park that is nearby, within minutes of our home, there were not too many active birds so late in the afternoon. I managed to spot a Snowy Egret that had just flown in and perched on a tree limb that was jutting out of the water ---in the shade. The heat of the day was even a bit too much for me [mid 80s], so I empathized with seeking a bit of relief by the cool water and shading my feathers!! It didn't remain there for very long as another bird flew within inches of its perch...a tri-colored heron. Scenes like this seem so tranquil, I feel good about being outdoors and enjoying the great winter weather.

connecting to:
Shadow Shot Sunday