Zone 4 Early Summer Garden and Body Surfing Goldfish, Mom and Baby Blue Jay

Yesterday from the kitchen window I got to see a baby blue jay in a  birdbath. Quickly I grabbed my camera, opened the window a bit and used the zoom to capture this picture. Minutes later the mom fed the baby and quickly they flew off. Look closely and you will see the baby with its mouth open.

We made this birdbath by taking a plastic birdbath and plastering the bottom, the backside with leftover cement. I like to step into it and clean off the bottoms of my garden shoes. I keep the water clean for the birds and to keep the mosquitoes from multiplying. I wonder how many of us gardeners have had the West Nile Virus. I got it. It came on like a horrible headache with a high fever. I was sick in bed for about 3 days. Then I was fine, except for a bit of dizziness. Much later I had a blood test and it showed positive. So, I have antibodies to it and should be immune to it. But, I am still careful with avoiding mosquitoes!

Coreopsis grandiflora grows about 8” tall in the front hot borders. The Pink Primrose oenothera speciosa interweaves throughout  the front garden. When it is done blooming, I just yank out the flowers and stems. The roots live on to grow the next season.

I love the colorful yarrows. So easy care.

Red, white and yellow is my theme for my window box. In late July the hummingbirds come by and stay but a bit. I have trumpet vines and red flowers in hopes that they will stay bit and take nourishment on their way to warmer regions.

The first of the lillies

May Night Salvias grow and reseed freely throughout the front garden. Last week only one water lilly was blooming. Yesterday we had 4. Notice the new leaves and the hail shredded leaves. The fish have a new game. They like to body surf over the bubblers. Especially the shorter bubbler. You can just tell they are having fun and enjoying their pond.  I hand feed the fish. When they see me they come to my feet. I wiggle my finger in the water and they come to me, sometimes giving me a “fishy kisses”.
It’s hard to catch the fish in surfing action!

The front garden is blooming. Soon it will be time to do some serious deadheading. Kneeling in the soil with the scent of chocolate mint and roses mixed with lavender, dianthus and mock oranges makes it a reward and blessing that only a gardener knows.