A MONARCH VISITS THE YARD

 I was so excited as I had never seen a Monarch in the time since I have lived  here in the mountains.  I had only ever seen them at Lake Arrowhead and that was closer to autumn.  

I happened to plant this particular "blood" plant (can't remember the official name just the nickname) and was sitting outside yesterday when this butterfly came by.  It stayed around the plant for quite a while.  I took a lot of photos but will just post a few.  I kind of like the ones where it was flying.  The last photo I believe is a Cloudless Sulphur butterfly.

So how's your summer going?  Any fun things or  out of the ordinary things you have seen  - ...  weather okay in your area?

OUT AND ABOUT TO VARIOUS NURSERIES THIS SPRING

 There is a garden center in Rim Forest called "The Corral".  They have beautiful things inside their shop and a really nice nursery area to walk through.  These are a few photos from there.  

A few days ago we visited another garden/nursery center in Cedar Glen and I was shocked by how much they had added since I first saw their opening a few years back.  I'll post those at another time.

THE FERALS PROVIDED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT

 And now that they have grown up and moved away I have my back deck to myself again.  I still can enjoy them through my photos.  I learned so much about cats in the five years ferals chose our property to hang out at.  

While living here they always had food, love, shelter from the snow in winter and lots of attention.  Many people that live in our area also fed the cats and we all enjoyed them around because they kept rodents away.  

There is only one grey cat that shows up out in the front driveway to eat the leftovers that Beanie (our indoor cat) doesn't eat so I put it out for him.  He never comes farther than the driveway.  I don't mind males around I just don't want females bringing their babies here anymore.

I have taken so many photos since 2016 when the cat occupation began  - everything from newborn kittens, to toddler kittens, teenagers and adults.  I actually am glad I had the opportunity to get to know their ways.

The bottom two photos are of my indoor cat who now I have trained to stay on the back deck and enjoy being outside.  I can't let her run around free because we keep her strictly indoors and keep her nails trimmed.  She wouldn't be able to defend herself if she got out.

(these cats pictured are just from the last batch of kittens in summer last year.)  

LILIAC BLOOM AND BUTTERFLY

 Visiting lilacs - She is a beautiful  "Common swallowtail" if my identification is correction.  She is a swallowtail for sure but there are different kinds.  Soon the "Painted Ladies" and the "California Sisters" will show up.  Sounds like I'm describing an afternoon tea party.  

I'm hoping a blogger friend, "Magyar" shows up and leaves a beautiful haiku on the page - and if you do Magyar - thanks so much.

  From MAGYAR a haiku.  Thank you!!

 flutterbye 

this stop to sniff a thought 

natures smile

I MISS PHOTOGRAPHING BACKYARD BIRDS

 I need to get the yard set up again so it's easier to capture them landing and eating/drinking.  Going to get a new bird bath this weekend for the yard.

JUST A FEW THOUGHTS

 First off - i definitely miss this cute bird.  We use to have an atrium in the middle of the L-shaped back of the house with kitchen on one side and master bedroom on the other.  The atrium was in the middle and I would let her fly free because actually, she couldn't fly.  She had never been able to fly since our son's girlfriend brought her to live with them and their new baby while they lived with us.  They moved out eventually and I kept the bird. 

  They got her from a bird farm and I really didn't know the bird's history but all i knew is she never could fly.  I don't know and don't think it was because she had her wings clipped but then I didn't know enough about birds to even question if that was the case.  And..come to think of it ..if the wings are clipped do they grow to full length again or do their ever grow out.  To me it looks like she has wings that can fly.  

I would have various things sitting around on tables or shelves and I would set her in different places so she could enjoy different views.

The other thing that came to mind today is one of my favorite places will be opening their gates to drive up the mountain to Keller Peak which we will do soon.  The gates are usually closed in winter as the road doesn't get plowed when it snows.  I believe it's sometime around memorial da when it opens up again.  But if we didn't want to drive we could park down at the bottom of a trail and hike up to the area but I'm not liking that idea - it would be a long  uphill hike.

This is one of the seasonal  lakes that are in the area up there.

I SAW THIS PARROT AT THE COUNTY FAIR A FEW YEARS BACK

He's kind of cute perched there with his fruit.

WESTERN BLUEBIRD

There weren't many birds out at the area we were at up in Big Bear yesterday.  Stanfield Marsh where I like to take bird photos is going through a dry spell and no water is in the marsh.  We are a couple thousand feet lower than they are in altitude and this year we got more snow than they did.  Our lake is looking great so I'm thankful that all the snow we got and I griped about helped fill our lake more.

Flash of blue and orange

Bluebird flying swiftly by

Vision sees beauty

SOME GEESE AT THE LAKE

 I'm enjoying this time of year - weather is beautiful and it feels good getting out.  The surrounding area around Hesperia lake looks pretty dry -  This lake is in the high desert.  

FIRST CHANCE I GET

 I'm going to visit the Bird Farm.  I always enjoy going there.    It's a few cities down the mountain from me - about a 40 minute drive but well worth the time.  Until I can go again I'll just post some older photos I'm not sure i ever posted.