Tulip Trees and Turkeys    I have both!

a nature and wildlife blog ...

Hi! I'm Maria!

About Me

Mother, grandmother, passionate about native gardens, birds, wildlife and collies, writer, author, believer in fairies ...

More Media

Nature Blog Network
She’s arrived!!! on Flickr.She’s back … in all of her beautiful glory!!! My twenty-year-old hibiscus is now a small tropical tree … quite special for our Long Island climate where winters are sometimes harsh. When she arrives from the greenhouse, I know that summer is near …

She’s arrived!!! on Flickr.

She’s back … in all of her beautiful glory!!! My twenty-year-old hibiscus is now a small tropical tree … quite special for our Long Island climate where winters are sometimes harsh. When she arrives from the greenhouse, I know that summer is near …

Easter Sunday “Brunch”

As I was walking along my garden path, my arms laden with leftovers from the fridge, en route to offering an “Easter Brunch” to my ever-growing crow family … composed of the largest crows that I have ever seen … I was amazed at the stillness - not a bird or squirrel in sight!

And, then, I heard this strange sound and when I looked up, there were two magnificent hawks circling  my wildlife garden … I suppose looking for their own “Easter Brunch.” I watched in awe as they circled and flew their dihedrals in the sky.

At first, I thought that they were two males fighting over their territory but my instinct said otherwise. I think they were a mating pair and the call was to me to “get out of my garden!!!”

A Gift from the Garden Fairies … on Flickr. Mr. and Mrs. Pheasant ~ look hard … she’s in the back … to the left of the feeder. I was devasted a few weeks ago when a careless speeding driver senselessly killed my resident male pheasant. But my garden fairies - nurtured in a wildlife garden that is planted natively and free of chemicals - always send me the most precious gifts … This time a new pair of pheasants who will, hopefully, begin their mating season in my natural conservation bufffers! 

A Gift from the Garden Fairies … on Flickr.

Mr. and Mrs. Pheasant ~ look hard … she’s in the back … to the left of the feeder.

I was devasted a few weeks ago when a careless speeding driver senselessly killed my resident male pheasant.

But my garden fairies - nurtured in a wildlife garden that is planted natively and free of chemicals - always send me the most precious gifts … This time a new pair of pheasants who will, hopefully, begin their mating season in my natural conservation bufffers! 

A magnicent doe graces … on Flickr. To make my day even more perfect, I walked out into the garden and felt eyes staring at me. I looked up into the soft brown eyes of a doe peeking around my twenty-year-old tropical hibiscus. And, oh yes, this morning … torrential rain and all … the minute the rain stopped, my hummingbird was enjoying breakfast on the terrace. Her menu choice: mina lobata … must be yummy!!!

A magnicent doe graces … on Flickr.

To make my day even more perfect, I walked out into the garden and felt eyes staring at me. I looked up into the soft brown eyes of a doe peeking around my twenty-year-old tropical hibiscus.

And, oh yes, this morning … torrential rain and all … the minute the rain stopped, my hummingbird was enjoying breakfast on the terrace. Her menu choice: mina lobata … must be yummy!!!

Pheasant Chicks adorning … on Flickr. A truly special day in my wildlife garden. Mama pheasant who has been brooding her chicks for some time now finally arrived with six chicks in tow. It’s surprising, but even at this young age, they can almost fly. I just happened upon them resting on my fence. Priceless!!! And, shortly thereafter, mama turkey arrived with eight fuzzy poults but they were camera shy … so no pictures!

Pheasant Chicks adorning … on Flickr.

A truly special day in my wildlife garden. Mama pheasant who has been brooding her chicks for some time now finally arrived with six chicks in tow. It’s surprising, but even at this young age, they can almost fly. I just happened upon them resting on my fence. Priceless!!!

And, shortly thereafter, mama turkey arrived with eight fuzzy poults but they were camera shy … so no pictures!

One of the turtles … on Flickr. The eastern box turtle saga continues … and I’ve met a turtle expert who has offered commentary on all my turtle photos. I thought I only had one turtle but it turns out that I have 3 girls and a guy and the girls are making “forms” to lay their eggs in. His advice is priceless and there soon may be baby box turtles roaming through my wildlife garden! Wahooooooooooo!!!

One of the turtles … on Flickr.

The eastern box turtle saga continues … and I’ve met a turtle expert who has offered commentary on all my turtle photos. I thought I only had one turtle but it turns out that I have 3 girls and a guy and the girls are making “forms” to lay their eggs in. His advice is priceless and there soon may be baby box turtles roaming through my wildlife garden! Wahooooooooooo!!!