Blackberry Winter

We've been having a cold spell for the past several days.

Old-timers in the South know this as Blackberry Winter, which mainly describes a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom.

The birds are busy nesting, and visiting the feeders throughout the day.

Consuming copious amounts of their special suet and seed concoction, diligently prepared by the First Sergeant.

 

The Woodpeckers have become his new BFF's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we've had a rare and welcomed visitor to the feeders.
A Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, on his migration home to Canada.

Have a safe journey little friend.

Blackberry Winter

We've been having a cold spell the past several days.
Old-timers in the South know this as Blackberry Winter, or Dogwood Winter, which mainly describes a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom, or the dogwoods are blooming, (typically in early to mid May).

The colder temperatures, and three days of non-stop rain, have sent the birds back to the coziness of their nests.

There's nary a bird in sight.
 

 

 

 

The First Sergeant managed to clean out the pond before the rains came. Sitting on the bottom was a large frog, I'm not sure if it was Igor our amorous calling frog from last year, time will tell....

 

 

 

Blackberry Winter

We've been having a cold spell the past several days.
Old-timers in the South know this as Blackberry Winter, or Dogwood Winter, which mainly describes a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom, or the dogwoods are blooming, (typically in early to mid May).

Despite the colder temperatures, several days of rain, and plagues of cicadas, the flowers seem to be flourishing.

The First Sergeant spent the entire day, hammering and sawing, huffing and puffing.
When it was all finished he called me outside to take a look.

A new planting bed, re purposed out of the split cedar fence posts bought last summer, and now the perfect home for this years Morning Glory plants, and others.

The birds are all snuggled away in their nests

We seem to have lost Igor the frog.
Sadly, nary a sighting of him in the last three days.

I can only hope his mating calls have been returned by a lady frog, and he'll return to the pond with his new family hopping behind.

Blackberry Winter

We've been having a cold spell the past several days.
Old-timers in the South know this as Blackberry Winter, or Dogwood Winter, which mainly describes a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom, or the dogwoods are blooming, (typically in early to mid May).

Oliver likes to follow us around the garden, and play his favorite game of hide and seek.

Despite the cooler and much wetter weather, the flowers are flourishing.

Foxgloves

Climbing Purple Clematis and New Dawn Rose

Camelot Rose

Antique Iris