backyard fun

Flowers

The peonies are from a plant in our courtyard that didn't bloom at all last year. We fertilized and water it and this year it has a lot of blooms. Plus the smell nice.
The Canna continues it's progression, always unfolding newly..

Refuge Tuesday

An overcast, bland light day but I needed to get out of the house so I went anyway..
In addition to what you see here, there were two sets of Sandhill Cranes, a number of GBH's and Pelicans flying around, Black-necked stilt and lots of snowy egrets all over. Of course ducks. And one Swainson's Hawk floated over to check me out - long ways away!
Any time at the refuge is good..

Sing to me!!!

Refuge beauty of a different kind..

Hunters..

Still hanging out..

The kids at the top right are being rowdy..

Western Grebe..

Cormorant enjoying a snack..

Black-crowned Night Heron

Teasing with color

We planted a Canna Lily like the one last year that had such gorgeous colors and now it looks like we struck gold again..

Photo walk at the Hogle Zoo..

Randy set up a photo walk at the zoo this morning and the animals were most(ly) cooperative. He knows his way around and what the animals are so it was a real treat to just relax and follow his lead. Thanks Randy..

Here's some shots from the morning - a mixture but a lot of different cats.
Enjoy!

The king surveying his kingdom..

Elephant ears

Gorgeous bird.

Harbor seal performing for food..

Face to face with the big girl!

Looks cute, but deadly.

My what big fingernails you have..

Red Pamda - a new exhibit..

 Leopard..

Bobcat..

 Lynx

Burrowing owl..

And the tortoise!

Visiting Tooele valley..

We spent time in Tooele Valley today, first checking out our old house and yard. Most plants are looking very good - some not so good. Overall pretty good. It's a lot of work to keep it up.
Then on to TVN - Tooele Valley Nursery - owned and run by Wade and Regina Andersen.  Great folks with a lot of wonderful plants.  They sell off everything at the end of each year so all their plants are this year plants, no leftovers from last year.
Some flower photos, photo of young ravens in the nest in the billboard, and a Western Kingbird sitting on the wire. Good to visit there and see Wade and Regina..

One More....

The Iris(h) are coming!

Our iris' are working hard to bloom - this upcoming hotter weather should help that. Of the ones that bloomed, the beauty is astounding!  Here's some looks at them..

Backyard birds are interesting here in Holladay....

First Uinta trip..

Molly and I spent much of the day wandering through the woods and beaver ponds around Mill Hollow in the Uintas. The road stopped me at about 9200 feet - I decided that the Highlander should not be a truck!!
It is early in the mountains, with the wispy green of the first aspen leaves coming out on the trees around 8000 feet. Above that pretty much needs another week or so to get going.
No animals to be seen - and not much food for them anyway. Hoped I'd see a moose but maybe next time. The closest we got was the 'look out for bears' sign!

Here's a bunch of photos from today - flowers and water and new growth and just the high environment in the early spring. Wet and Wild...

Starting with Sandhill cranes in the fields around Kamas..

Water everywhere

A snow lover..

I've not seen these before - probably never noticed them..

Where there is water there is Molly...

Mill Hollow - still icy and bearing the tracks of enthusiastic snowmobilers...

The cycle of life continues..

Pussywillows...

Drabs of color in an otherwise barren landscape..

New life feeds on old..

Ready Dad?......