I just love it when these show up before spring really gets here. Yesterday, while shopping for a few things, I saw that the flower concession stand featured cut daffodils. I picked up several bunches and this morning they were all mostly open.
Last year, as I recall, the flowers lasted for several days, perhaps up to a week, before they would begin to wilt. I’m hoping these will do as well. Click on the image to enlarge.
We were out along the side of the driveway this afternoon, trimming up some of the unwanted shrubbery and a cats paw tree. I always bring my camera so I can get a before and after photo of our work, which I did, but those will be for another time.
What attracted my attention was our first wild Desert Marigold of the spring has opened up the hill a few steps from where we were working. I walked up and took the above photo of the new flower. Even though it’s only the middle of February, we have seen this and other desert wildflowers in bloom.
Here’s an excerpt and a link to the Wikipedia article on this flower:
Baileya (the desert marigolds) is a genus of plants in the aster family Asteraceae. All are native to the southwestern United States and to Mexico.
They are typically annual, though B. multiradiata may be perennial. The leaves, which may range from being entire to deeply lobed, mostly occur in a basal cluster. From this arises several flower stems, up to 18 inches (50 cm) in height, usually carrying a single yellow radiate flower each, although B. pauciradiata may have 2-3 flowers on a stem.
Desert marigolds typically have their main bloom in the spring, extending through July. Summer thunderstorms may enable a second bloom in October and even into November.
There are a bunch of hummingbirds that frequent Damsel’s feeders. I took a photo of this little male Anna’s Hummingbird sipping at the west feeder last evening. I was not aware that this variety’s range was limited to Baja California and the west coast until the 20th century when urbanization of desert areas expanded their range. Moreover, I had no idea why it was “Anna’s” hummingbird. See the following Wikipedia excerpt:
Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a medium-sized stocky hummingbird native to the west coast of North America. This bird was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli. In the early 20th century, Anna’s hummingbird bred only in northern Baja California and southern California. The transplanting of exotic ornamental plants in residential areas throughout the Pacific coast and inland deserts provided expanded nectar and nesting sites, and the species was able to expand its breeding range greatly.
This afternoon, I went out in the courtyard with the camera and telephoto lens. I occasionally have done this since obtaining the camera in December, looking for targets of opportunity.
Today, a mourning dove was perched on the courtyard wall. Oddly, the bird just sat there, not particularly startled by my appearance. It did keep an eye on me as I removed the lens cover, adjusted a couple of things on the camera and took a series of photos of the bird. It finally fluttered away after I moved to a different part of the courtyard for another shot or two.
We have seen several varieties of doves here in town, including mourning, white wing and collared doves. The mourning dove is the most prolific and for good reason according the source quoted below. Click on the image to enlarge.
From Wikipedia:
The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family (Columbidae). The bird is also called the turtle dove or the American mourning dove or rain dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina pigeon or Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds.
It is also the leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and for meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure stems from its prolific breeding: in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods a year.
The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing. The bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph).
We took the dogs to the dog park today. It was a nice day with about a 76 degree high temperature. The dogs did their usual off-the-leash thing in the over-an-acre fenced-in compound, running, sniffing and making contact with the other dogs in the park.
Beethoven (Bay Bay) has a penchant for jumping in the small tub that is in the park. Today, however, the tub was dry when he first jumped in. He got out and splashed in a nearby puddle, seeming disappointed.
I filled the tub with water and after another run around the park, he was back for more. This time he had water. He jumped in, immersed himself (except for his snout) swam a few (very short) laps and jumped out as depicted above, having satisfied his waterlust. Click on the image to enlarge.
I bought a bunch of orange and another bunch of yellow Gerbera Daisies to combine in the vase on the sofa table today. The colors are highly compatible together but look more like fall colors than winter or spring. Regardless, they are very pretty flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.
I took the short climb up to where the bird feeders are on the hill overlooking the RV drive today to replace one of the seed bells. On the way back down, I turned back to look at the flowering rosemary bushes up there and the horde of bees browsing the pale blue flowers (Blue Tuscan Rosemary). I took several shots with the Canon SL1 and managed to capture one with a bee getting in position to get the nectar from one of the flowers.
I notice that global warming has been selective this week. We’re enjoying spring-like 70° days while the upper plains and Midwest are getting a dose of more winter-like weather (it is weather, after all, and not that other insanity the media and government would have you believe).