The finches have figured out the finch sock feeder!

[conuly]

Shortly thereafter, I saw an intrepid house sparrow trying it out too. They really are very clever little birds, aren't they? They aren't supposed to be able to hang upside down to eat suet, but I've seen them doing that as well. Not very well or for very long, but still.

Everybody seems to hate house sparrows and starlings in North America, but honestly, invasive birds that mostly only hang out where humans are are the best sort of invasive birds.

Somebody online posted a picture of their barberry bush and I said "I do miss our barberries, I'm not sure if I can replace them" and it turns out that they're massively invasive and now banned in NYS. So I can't, and even if I could I couldn't. But there IS a native species of barberry... which turns out to harbor some fungus that's extremely detrimental to wheat, so good luck finding one anywhere. So no barberry for me!

I'm not sure the two bushes we planted are going to take, but if they don't I'll try again next year.

The wildflowers are tentatively starting to sprout, like they're unsure I want to. Somebody did send me wildflower seeds in the mail, but since they didn't comment I won't thank them by name unless they ask me to. I ordered some silver dollars, because I like silver dollars, and it turns out they have to be vernalized, and ugh, who has the time? But they sent me some freebie sunflower seeds!

And, of course, I'm seriously thinking about morning glories.

Poll #31094 Morning glories

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

View Respondents

Which mix should I get?

View Answers

Inkspots
3 (20.0%)

Fieldgrown
3 (20.0%)

Imperial
3 (20.0%)

Harlequin
7 (46.7%)

Early call
1 (6.7%)

Comments

[dine]

they're all pretty neat, and I had to toggle back & forth looking at the pictures before making a final choice. too bad you can't plant all of them

[conuly]

I could, I'm just not going to.

[jhetley]

No "Heavenly Blue"? Wife considers that the *real* morning glory color.

[conuly]

I believe you'll find that in the Imperial mix.

[gwydion]

I've been quietly weeding the plants I don't have to stoop for with my good hand for weeks. We already have volunteers and I planted some lettuce seeds. Goth millennial spent Sunday spring cleaning the garden, and planted the starts i spent the last EBT on.

I am hopeful for both your garden and mine.

[conuly]

I’m not doing a real garden this year but next year I want vegetables again. Good luck to you!