The summer was very dry in this part of the southeast corner of Tennessee. Most of Tennessee was in drought, and really, large parts of the south had severe drought this summer. Here, milk is over $5 a gallon because of the drought and this area is still in drought.
I’m not complaining. I watered the garden and I took care of the birds that like sunflower seeds. I enjoyed doing those things and seeing my husband watching a squirrel that was walking backwards while dragging a sunflower head made all the trouble of watering the plants to keep them alive, almost worth it. On the lighter side of enjoying nature, we had an unusual abundance of butterflies this year on the zinnias.
Below are three images of things that I see almost daily in my backyard.
Chickadees are such cute little birds. Another cute little bird is the brown-headed nuthatch. Several frequented the bird feeder this summer and after I set the hummingbird feeder up, they drank from the ant moat that is atop the hummingbird feeder. The feeder was hung on a shepard’s hook and the brown-headed nuthatch would slide down the hook and turn upside down to drink from the ant moat.
Donna Young
Michielle says
Donna,
I’m sorry you are still in drought, if I could I would send you some rain, we had enough to share for awhile there. Hope it ends soon.
Tressa says
My little guy loves the chickadees. I can not keep them fed here. I fill the feeders and they will be empty the next day. We call them our little piggies.
Sorry you are having such a drought. I hope that you get some rain soon. Milk is $4 a gallon here. It is painful.
Elaine says
Donna,
I just love seeing and reading about your garden.
Glad that you did get some rain, we’ve got it too.
Sheri says
We’ve had an abundance of butterflies, as well, and I didn’t know the dry conditions were favorable for butterflies. All things for good!
What is the large green insect on your zinnia?
Donna Young says
Sheri that is a big spider. I wish I had a better camera so you could see it better. The spider had hold of a bee. The bee is about the size of a honey bee.
And you had lots of butterflies too? I wonder if it was the dryness. I thought it might have been because butterfly friendly flower beds were slim pickings this year.
Elaine thank you. I didn’t know that or I could have posted tons more pictures. I have many that I never posted. 🙂
Tressa there must be lots of chickadees up your way. It’s hard to tell how many visit my feeder, not many, perhaps half a dozen more or less? They are cute little piggies. 🙂
Michielle I am happy to report that we had a nice rain couple of days and nights ago. Some of our grass turned green with anticipation. 🙂
ginger says
Yes Donna….I second what Elaine said. I really enjoy seeing your garden pictures. I will say I am partial to the scanned and microscope pictures the most though. I love the sunflower picture. I think that is my favorite.
Sharon says
Donna,
I love the pictures! We’ve had tons of hummingbirds this summer in NW Georgia, because of the drought I guess. I can’t keep the feeder filled. Yesterday we paid $5.99 for milk, but it was Mayfield, which is always a little higher. 😉
Donna Young says
I buy Mayfield Milk too. 🙂
Donna Young says
🙂 Ginger, thanks, I ought to do more of the up close pictures before cold weather sets in. I like those kind best too.