Western Tanager with Cassin's Finch
A Cassin's Finch greets a male Western Tanager at our little home-made Badwater Springs solar powered waterfall. Tanagers are rare visitors to Earth Home Garden and this one was moving fast, making it difficult to get a decent shot.
Linum lewisii
Click on photo to enlarge - © 2008 jim otterstrom
Blooming in the native plant garden this morning are Blue Flax (above), Grape Soda Lupine, Indian Paintbrush and Western Wallflower.

Beautiful pictures... glad you're back!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous images!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing them.
Glad you're back, I was worried!
ReplyDeletecoleen
Hey Jim & Peg! Loved the photos & hope you'll post more soon. Good to see you back! I saw my first ever Western Tanager in my backyard in Culver City two weeks ago--a life bird for me. They ARE elsusive; I got about 10 seconds of glass time on it before it flew off!
ReplyDeleteBTW--did I say it's really, really good to see you back?!
--Linda
Beautiful photo's! The blue is so vivid! Glad to see you back, been waiting for a new post.
ReplyDeleteThanks all,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the long absence, but I just haven't been in the mood to sit at a computer lately.
It's too beautiful outside and there's always so much to do.
Remember the post from December 5, 2007 about the mountain of dirt I acquired from a construction site down the street? Well, right now I'm occupied with moving that small mountain, by wheelbarrow, to a new rock garden area I'm creating.
Everything is fine here and I hope you are all enjoying spring as much as we are.
Jim - Yay! Spring! Glad that you are doing okay, enjoying the spring, and giving us, your dedicated fans, a little gift/posting. I love the pic of the birds. Just love it. I have spent the last two days in the Lexington (KY) Cemetery enjoying all the birds flitting about. I saw my first Eastern bluebird of the season last week, in my back yard. What a thrill! You and Peg take care and enjoy the spring! KinKY
ReplyDeleteI had a Western tanager in my yard this spring--vary rare for Minnesota!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're busy and enjoying life!
love the flax photograph. I think thats what I had in my head when I got the 'woad'. muddled up of course, it has a little yellow flower and is used to make blue dye.
ReplyDeletewell, starting another wnat list now. . .
beautiful birds! i'd love to just come and sit on your porch and watch all the beauty that unfolds around you.
ReplyDeleteglad to see you back! i always enjoy your writings and photos.
Those are some gorgeous pictures. The Blue Flax is particularly vibrant. Nice catches. :)
ReplyDelete