White-Crowned Sparrows

The White-Crowned Sparrows have arrived!

Coleus!

Mike has been growing a lot of Coleus this year. This is my favorite.

Coleus

The Agave is Withering

All of the energy in the base of the agave is going into the blooms. You can see the leaves are getting scorched and are withering.

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Last night's activity at the birdbath. A skunk, opossum and a house cat!

Red-shoulder Hawks

This morning I saw a pair of Red-shoulder Hawks in the eucalyptus tree.

Red-shouldered Hawk

California Thrasher Returns!

It's been six years since I have seen a California Thrasher and I was beginning to think they were never coming back.  However today I heard an unusual bird call and it turned out to be a California Thrasher.  They are easy to identify as they have a long beak.

California Thrasher

California Thrasher

I've enjoyed watching the agave bloom for the last several weeks. The stalk is blooming from the bottom up. The bottom branches are dropping seed pods, the middle branches have blooms starting to open and fully open while the blooms at the very top are still developing before they open. I've also been watching a lot of bees, hummingbirds, orioles, crows and other birds feed on the nectar and distribute the pollen.

Agave Salmiana