Missy and Mister Duck Update

 

Since the last update on MissyMister 6 days ago, Missy and Mister our resident Mottled Ducks, disappeared for 48 hours and I thought she was somewhere sitting on eggs, since she appeared to be in broody setting mode, the day before, spending 5 hours hiding in the grass the day before they vanishes.

On June 16, they appeared and have now been HOME for 48 hours. The above photos taken yesterday, June 17, she spent most of the day in that tall grass. Mister came and went. There is nothing in the grass but grass and duck. She is in setting mode but has no eggs. Fine with me, the ducklings would not survive, because they are favorites of raccoons and we have three in the yard next door, sometimes in our yard.

I have said before, I don't feed them, we have plenty growing for them to eat. But unable to leave the yard, I feared they would not have enough and this morning, on our walk, I saw many weeds next door that they love. 

I picked the seeds off the grass that has gone to seed, they love it, and put a few stalks and one flower in a bowl, you can see it in the first photo today.

I was over joyed when Missy was first at the seed dish, and Mister quickly followed. They would pick a seed, dip in the water pan, go back for another and each ate 4 times. per the internet, it says to remove the pan after 15 minutes from the time they stop eating. I place all the ones I cut in a glass jar with lid, and we will see how this goes.. Yesterday they disappeared and I found them behind the rain barrel eating the tips off my aloe plant, almost all the tips are gone. 

The flowers are safe, they are Indian Blanket wild flowers.

Lest you think I think of nothing but ducks, 😏😏😃 Update on the Humans and Canine, is the same old same old which is a good thing. 

Florida Snow

Its been 3 months since the hurricane chaos and for the past month our yard and almost every yard in our neighborhood is covered in what I call Florida Snow. Early AM walks with Beau, is a breathtaking view.

Our snow is a tiny, star shaped flower, Ricardia brasiliensis, 

Richardia brasiliensis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the English common names tropical Mexican clover.

These white or light pink flowers attract butterflies and bees with their nectar. Topical Mexican clovers are used in treatment of diabetes. Propagation is from seeds or stem cuttings.  

 

I was shocked to learn that this can be bought and is often used as a ground cover  It's a low-growing plant that's drought-tolerant, blooms year-round, and attracts many pollinators. Butterflies and Bees love it.  We got ours for FREE. It doesn't need to be cut, but when we cut the grass, it looks like grass and comes right back up as beautiful flowers. Its always been here but never like it is now.

Thank you Milton for the spreading of our Mexican Clover also known as Florida Snow.

Joining Rosy and Sunny for Nature Friday at Living the LLB Life

Stump Report on Nature Friday

 

Above is The Stump, after Milton and the tree that came down.

Below is a photo from this week,  9 weeks later

The rocks were hidden under all the debris, I cleared it and planted ferns, and weeds and flowers from other parts of our yard.

Above is Moss Rose, you saw it growing in the ground, in the front yard behind the stump they removed. It was 1/3 the size it is now when I transplanted it 5 weeks ago. I had no idea how moss rose can spread so quickly.

These are weeds that are growing every where right now. We are still in drought, and they are drought resistant and wow do they grow with ever other day I water them with the hose

three types of weeds transplanted when 6 inch size, now 12 to 16 inches tall. I dug them up from the other side of the yard.

What's along the fence around the stump. Rememeber the dead and dying hibiscus?

Changed by a few weeks of watering. and check out the new growth

Before the storm, I rescued these 4 palms from the curb of a house that threw them out. They have been waiting to be planted. Soon I will transplant a long the fence.

Side yard, still a work in progress.

Notice behind the trees, Nature is doing her thing, all it needs is water

Joining Rosy on Nature Friday at LLB https://llbinourbackyard.blogspot.com/

Lemon Grass for FREE

 

While Bob put pool supplies in the basket at Home Depot, I wandered around taking pictures of plants and found a flat that had maybe 50 of these Lemon Plants. My first viewing of this plant.

 Horrified at the price, I did not take a photo and had to borrow this from their website.

As we drove in the driveway, I pulled in the garage and hopped out and ran to the front yard with my

cellphone. As I stepped inside the house, Bob said what were you doing?

I poked my phone and said look, look at this

So, what? he says, I almost cut it down yesterday, but the weed whacker quit.

I said in my soft gentle voice, DON"T CUT IT DOWN. It's LEMON GRASS.

We got a present from the birds...

I am thankful the weed thingy quit, because he has cut it down several times and I always fuss, because I like it around the stump. He says it's just weeds, I say I like weeds.

Now I have PROOF it is not weeds.

I showed bob the price of the big one and the price of this little 4 inch pot at Walmart

At first, I thought we could dig up 3 big ones and sell them in our front yard, but on 2nd thoughts, if I make 10 of these smaller ones, at $13.99 that is more than 2 big ones at $59.99

Lemon grass flowers, it is a mosquito, flies and ants repellant, it is toxic to dogs, but ours is in the front yard, not where Beau goes. It's attractive if you take care of it. 

THERE IS ALWAYS a fly in every ointment. 😉😉😉

I am thankful I found proof these are not JUST WEEDS, and that Bob did not cut them down for the 3rd time and 

I am thankful for our gift from the birds, and can join Brians Home Thankful Thursday

PS I do realize the lemon grass needs to have weeds pulled from around it, but waiting to see if anyone volunteers to come do it.

I HAD SEVERAL POSTS ON AUTOPOST, IF I DON'T COMMENT ON YOUR BLOGS, IT MEANS HURRICANE HELENE HAS PUT OUT THE POWER OR WORSE. 

Thankful Thursday n Weeds

 

For the past few months I have been buried in weeds up to my neck. I am still not yet ready to discuss these weeds on my blog. I just want you to know how much your visits and comments and emails mean to me and to say I am thankful you are all here each day.

 the above creation in PicMonkey s one of the ways I cope with WEEDS. Play time in my creative mind.

Might be late today, Doctor Visit for Bob today

today is Thankful Thursday at Brians' Home-Forever, 

Bitter Melon or Balsam Apple Vine

 

A few of you asked what the yellow flower was in a prior post.

It seems this is a weed of Many Names.

Bitter Melon, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Squash, Balsam Pear, Balsam Apple

Take your pick of name.

I found that I had done 3 posts back in 2013, under, 

Balsam Apple Vine

Reading them again I found it is as fascinating now as 9 years ago.

I may have taken a few photos in the past few weeks of the gourds and how they srpead the seed to become INVASIVE WEEDS in Florida

These are the gourds, on the flower above, that are open now and i have to clean them up so Beau will not eat them. They are laying on a rusty metal table.

Small gourds bursting on the vine

Today we remember Jacob (Jakey) over the rainbow bridge Jan 30th.

Jakey lived with Rosy and Sunny and Angel Dory and 

angel Arty all part of  

LLB Backyard Gang.

Joining Nature Friday with Rosy at Adventures of the LLB Gang.. 

Weeds Work for Nature Friday

 

I watched YouTube iPhone on taking photos of tiny things. Rushing outside to practice, i saw this tiny yellow flower on the weeds on the fence.

The flower is a little larger than 1/4 in,/6.35 mm'

Can you see the tiny ant?

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen Shin

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” – A.A. Milne

iPhone Magical Weeds

Yellow Weeds for Rosy on Nature Friday

Caturday Art

 

I downloaded the two photos above found in PicMonkey Free Photos catalog.

I can't sketch or paint or draw 

but I can Monkey.

Below are the Monkeyed with by 

MadSnappermonkyer

This all started when I read the quote on my peppermint tea bag. I love weeds! Always have, I rather have a bouquet of wild weeds than have a vase of roses.

The only difference in a flower and a weed is judgement. Wayne Dyer

Weeds, Hinges and Lizards, Oh My

 

Weeds in the pine straw, we leave them there because I like the tiny white flowers.

Lizards that always always make me say awww

I snapped this while talking to him. 

I said "does the sun feel good?" Don't worry, I will not hurt you. He stares into my eyes, just like Beau does.

Hinges on the gate 

Spanish or Air moss that visitors to our state buy in gift stores.

 Stick that tiny ball on a shell and sell, sell, sell.

The one above is on sale for $8.00 ebay HERE

I can pull the one by the hinge below and mail it. of course the mailing postage might be more than the 

Spanish Ball Moss. our yard is Full of it.

There is always something in the back yard shining in the sun.

BACKYARD Label HERE has 100 posts in it and that is not all.

Walking with Weeds and Flowers

Each day as I walk, I pass several of these beautiful flowers that we call Frangipani. I was shocked to find they are Plumeria, but also called many names.. 

They are a common sight in our neighborhood.

We think of Hawaiian Leis when we see them.

Wikipedia Link Here for more info

Weeds are also a common sight, which if fine with ME.

I am a WEED lover! to me these are as beautiful as any flower.

As a child, we made many leis and garlands for the head from weeds.

I have no idea what the name is. Let me know if you do.

Joining LLB in the backyard for Nature Friday.