I've always enjoyed and featured on Wildlife Wednesday an abundance of butterflies in the spring garden so one of the big surprises this year was the small number of butterfly visitors. Whether it was the rain or the plants were slow to bloom I can't be sure so I'll wait for the fall migration to bring them back this way.
Salvia darcyi or Mexican Salvia with its long-lasting bright red tubular blooms is quite popular.
I was delighted to find Lesser Goldfinches having a field day in the Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis). You can just see three of them since the plant is at the far back corner of the garden and getting closer would have meant chasing them away.
Good to see the birds have found plenty to eat in the garden without supplemental food.
Hummingbirds have kept me entertained in the interim. Interesting to note the variety of plants they like.
Salvia darcyi or Mexican Salvia with its long-lasting bright red tubular blooms is quite popular.
Aniscanthus wrightii or Flame Acanthus is a well-known Hummingbird favorite. As a native plant it is easy to grow but you'll need plenty of space or be prepared to remove seedlings and give it a major cutback twice a year.
Melochia tomentosa or Pyramid Bush is another irresistible draw for hummingbirds in the garden. This local native plant loves hot, dry, rocky slopes so it's ridiculously easy for a plant that sports such striking blooms.
GIF for June, frenetic hummer!
Though I have cut way back on feeding birds, they still find plenty of seeds from spring wildflowers or like this female Tufted Titmouse awaiting ripening grapes from the vines climbing the fence.
I was delighted to find Lesser Goldfinches having a field day in the Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis). You can just see three of them since the plant is at the far back corner of the garden and getting closer would have meant chasing them away.
Good to see the birds have found plenty to eat in the garden without supplemental food.
From time to time Neal joins in with a contribution from the golf course where he spends quite a bit of time. His idea of wildlife in the "garden" is this hawk taking water from rain runoff on a fairway. Probably a Broad Winged hawk which is known to frequent our area.
Only 15 feet away....must really want that water!
Only 15 feet away....must really want that water!
Amazing how close he could get to this beautiful bird!
Bucks have been kicked out of the herd during fawn season and band together in "bachelor herds" until mating season comes around again.
Deer herds migrate up and down the neighborhood along the creek During May a small bachelor herd foraged plants filled out by plenty of rain.
This guy has a flea problem.
Got it!
Again!
A couple more bachelors in the herd that visited during May.
Fenced out of the garden for three years now. It works for me, not so much for the deer.
That's it for Wildlife Wednesday photos from May. Be sure to check out other blogger's contributions along with Tina's impressive collection of garden birds this month at her Wildlife Wednesday post.
