One of my favorites things about summer is the number of birds and other wildlife we see around. I enjoy watching the deer with their fawns in our backyard. Many of the birds have returned, including one of my favorites, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. And then we have the mischievous chipmunks who can't seem to stay out of my planters that I adorn our back deck with, full of annuals that never fail to impress. 

It's here! And now that it's here, it is feeling a little bit more like early Fall or late Spring with temps in the 50's and 60's overnight and into the 70's by day. But that's fine with me, I would love a cool summer, as long as it is sunny! 

I recently started working on this painting of a Merganser and her two chicks. I just love the 'wild' feather head of the female.

Several years ago we had a garden on our property. It was beautiful and we had an abundance of veggies. The next year we planted again. We had company, we were busy, the garden was a wee bit neglected. One day I was walking down the driveway to get the mail and I noticed there was something unusual looking about the tomato plants. I wasn't sure what it was but I knew I needed to go look at them.

The Hummingbirds, that is! About two weeks ago I saw the first one. I had just put the small tube feeder out. The males always come in first - I imagine the females are on the nest because I never see them until after the first chicks are born. And now I saw two males dancing around the feeder so I thought it was time to put the big feeder out. As soon as I put it out and I was turning to go into the house, a male swooped in and sat on it. It was as if he was telling me that he knew the feeder was for him.