Month: April 2025

Epimediums in Dry Shade

| Flower Roberts

Epimediums are one of my easy-care favorites for spring. I have my collection right beside the paver perimeter of the pebble patio, so their complex blooms can be noticed.


These tough little plants have heart-shaped leaves and dainty blooms on wiry stems.
I was not home to remove old growth earlier in the spring, but all three seem undisturbed by the neglect.

White Epimedium


White is the smallest and a slow-grower. Both yellow and orange spread more quickly with bigger, brighter leaves.

Yellow Epimedium

I call these Fairy Flowers because they have perfect size and form for fairy gardens.

FLOW

Pest with a Nest

| Flower Roberts

I blew off the entrance bridge this morning. As I walked back across the porch, I noticed fresh grass on the mat. This has happened before. Last time it was a Phoebe.

Poem about that here.

The Phoebes and I are No Longer Friends


I thought I had corrected the issue with a tight ring of hardware cloth which covers the top of the lamp and extends up to almost touch the ceiling.


I have been outdown by a tiny bird. This is not unusual here. It seems that tiny creatures are smarter than I am quite often.

I will wait to see which of my little friends has chosen to set up house on my porch. A Titmouse just scolded me. Is it she? Nope. She is in a house in the carport.

I had my Merlin App listen for possible suspects. See the screenshot below. Only a few are small enough.

Merlin App list of birds recorded.

I waited as patiently as an impatient person can, but never saw the nester. The nest must be removed. It is not only a mess-maker, it is also a fire hazard.

Somebody id. this nest.

Don’t hate on me bird people. I have enough problems without adding housefire to the list. Remember, I rescue mice, spiders and snakes.

FLOW

The New Mountain Mailbox

| Flower Roberts

A lot has happened in the first 8 days of my  April Writing Odyssey. My reseach was going great. I needed more books, so I needed a mailbox.
My only requirement for it was a flamingo flag. I was pleased that such a thing existed. My family helped me attach it securely to the uninteresting flag it came with and put it up in line with all the other mailboxes for the neighborhood.

Mountain Mailboxes
FLAMINGO FLAG


Why a flamingo? Because of Daddy of course. While he was dying, he said if there were jobs in heaven, he would like to help the birds. He paused. We were expecting him to say helping the bluebirds. Instead he said, “Maybe the flamingos. I think they may need help.”


I thought his dream house needed a Flamingo Flag.

FLOW