Is Spring of 2013 FINALLY, FINALLY springing? (PART THREE of FIVE) ASK THE MUSCARI FAMILY AND THE ARRAY OF TULIPS!

Cam and her soon-to be named beau are still very much in love as evidenced by the image atop today's entry, where they can be seen beating yesterday's Monday morning blues by doing you know what. Their passion for each other (as first seen and heard in another post here on Blogger) is stronger than ever and they may need to get a room!

And now, dear reader, that I've caught your attention with a "racey" romance, I'll get back to my regularly scheduled program for today, where I've been slated to bring you part three of my series (which I introduced in this past Friday's post here on Blogger) where the "things" I grow will answer the question: Is Spring of 2013 FINALLY, FINALLY springing?

In this post, my various flowers (which I have in my garden) will weigh in with me re their answers to this question. We'll begin with the opinions of my Muscari family and my various Tulips, which are (to some extent) showcased in the image seen directly above, which is an aerial view taken by Juan V after the last time that he and I worked together in my garden.

Is Spring of 2013 FINALLY, FINALLY springing? (PART TWO of FIVE) ASK MY SIX TREES

Welcome to part two of my series (which I introduced in this past Friday's post here on Blogger) where the "things" I grow will answer the question: Is Spring of 2013 FINALLY, FINALLY springing?

Today my six trees and I will weigh in with their answers and we'll begin with the opinions of my Japanese Larch (Larix Kaempferi) followed by the thoughts of my 'Tamukeyama' (AKA Japanese Maple).

Then (in no particular order) my Lemon-Lime Cypress Twins, Acer palmatum ('Shisitatsu' Sawa) as well as my Acer shirasawanum (Autumn Moon) and my Fagus sylvatica (Beech Tree) will join the convo.

So without furthur ado, here's part two!

My surviving larch can be seen within the square imposed over a cropped aerial view of my garden (an image taken by Juan V) and I refer it to it as my surviving larch, for my other larch succumbed to a heat wave this past July, which is still a loss being mourned in my garden!

Is Spring of 2013 FINALLY, FINALLY springing? (PART ONE of FIVE) ASK THE SHRUBS!

Because thirty-six days have passed since spring's hesitant arrival, I'm "due" to make a progress report re the comings and goings in my terrace (roof extension) garden thus far this season. I'll do those over a series of five posts so that I can focus on a couple of "stories" within a given entry, and I'll be taking a look back at how things are doing as of a couple of days ago, Wednesday, April the 24th, when Juan V worked with me in my garden for the the third time since we de-winterized on March 9th 2013 (which means we have already worked together four times this growing season)!

"If you go to New York City, be sure to wear some flowers in your quills . . . "

Today is April 25th of 2013, which means it has been one month and five days since the "official (calendar date)" of the first day of spring for this year. It has certainly been a Bette Davis season so far; that is, it has been a "bumpy ride" with the weather; and the chaotic weather (mostly cold and dreary) has caused folks in New York City, where I live, to question the prudence of their most trusted meteorologist, Charles G. Hogg (Staten Island Chuck), the celebrity groundhog, whom I have referred to a number of times here on Blogger, including a post which you may refer to by clicking here.

Charles G. Hogg's credibility has been questioned over and over this 2013 spring, for he predicted an early one for the tri-state area, and in many ways folks are still waiting for spring to spring into action.

Welcoming a New Visitor: Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

A few days ago, April 18th 2013, I heard a wonderful voice singing in my garden, and as it happens, the voice belongs to the handsome guy featured in the image above today's blog entry. This little fellow is a rose-breasted grosbeak; although I did not know that at the time, and at first I mistook him for a hairy woodpecker because that type of bird has been an occasional visitor to my garden (which I've discussed in my other on-line venues, including a post here on Blogger which you may refer to by clicking on this link).

In any event, I was so awestruck to see this creature that I immediately posted a photo-op (different from the one seen here) on TLLG's Pinterest Boards as well as on TLLG's Facebook Page, where one of my followers, Evelyn E, someone I've never met, pointed out to me that this uncanny little fellow may not be the hairy woodpecker as I had initially thought.

Cam's Unnamed Beau

Anyone who follows TLLG's venues either here on Blogger, tumblr, Pinterest, or Facebook knows without a doubt, Cam (the female cardinal in the image atop today's entry which was taken in my urban rooftop garden) is very dear to my heart.

Moreover, Cam had a "one woman show," in that she was the sole character in one of my Virtual Stories (mini movies) titled Words in my Beak , which may be viewed via my Vimeo Library.

I named her Cam for my dearly departed grandparents, Clara and Albert Melahn. Cam first arrived in my garden in July of 2012 and up until that time I had never seen a female cardinal, nor did – I must confess — I realize that female cardinals had brown coloring!

THINKING OF STARR SAPHIR

CAM, A FEMALE CARDINAL

If you follow TLLG here on Blogger or Facebook, dear reader, then you know that recently much of my content has dealt with the escapades of Cam (the cardinal pictured in the image above), as well as the tales of her unnamed (as of this posting) beau, pictured in the image below...

MAC, A MALE CARDINAL

...and of their romantic interlude (indicated in the following image).

MAC AND CAM: A CARDINAL COUPLE

I'm thrilled with the aforementioned couple, and could continue to write about them for some time to come, but I am dedicating today's post (through the "escapades" of the array of all the birds which visit my garden) to Starr Saphir, a dearly departed birder, who you may read about by clicking here.

Ms. Saphir was known to many for the bird walks that she led in Central Park. Even though I live very near to this park, I've never been on one of her bird walks; or any other bird "event," for that matter, as my interest in birds as well as their antics, is fairly new: I have the feathered creatures to thank for it because they showed up in my garden without an invitation or lure of food other than the vegetation in my garden!

Cam's Baaaaaaaaaacccccccck!

Yesterday (Sunday, April the 7th of 2013), was The Octave of Easter (also known as Divine Mercy Sunday), and while I'm not the most reverent, in honor of the day, I made an "alternative" Easter "basket" (seen in the photograph posted above) and gave it to a good friend. She had come to visit me and as we sat in my garden, I told her about the fact that Cam had gone missing (as I announced in yesterday's post here on Blogger). I informed her, as I informed  you, dear  reader, that I feared a hawk had swooped Cam away. And a few minutes later, my friend thought she got a glimpse of Cam in one of the trees that is located down the "courtyard" that separates buildings from one another! I did not see any evidence of Cam at the time my friend did.

Cam's Mysterious Disappearance!

For those of you who follow TLLG on Facebook, you may recognize the handsome guy in the image above today's entry, a guy who I have reason to believe is Cam's significant other.

Cam is an adorable female cardinal who began visiting my rooftop garden last year and is the feisty lady in the banner image on TLLG's FB Page.

My "evidence" of their relationship has been through subtle "signs," but a few days ago, the signs were not as subtle, as you can see from the image posted below (which was also featured on TLLG's FB Page as well as in my previous post here on Blogger).

However, a couple of days after their interlude, Cam's beau arrived very early in the morning to meet her by the saucer and she was not around; so he flew off. I'm not sure why he didn't stick around and wait for her arrival for she seems to be a late riser, as he must know by now!

Dancing Beak to Beak (And Other Garden Stories)

I ended my last post here on Blogger with photo-ops of the feisty folks and creatures that were visiting a succulent garden that I have in my kitchenette, and I mentioned that they "have been reiterating their message: 'Spring! Bring it On! Let the Spring Season Begin,' and as of today, April the 4th, thirteen days later, we have not had a warm spring day since that posting! It's been quite chilly, cold in fact, and some of the things which I grow in my  terrace (roof extension) garden are struggling with their ability to bloom! This is evidenced by the image posted above of one of my sets Kaufmaniana Tulips, a variety that was in its glory days much earlier last season!

Out of respect to my tulips (or anything else for that matter), I don't like to post images when they are struggling, as I find doing so akin to posting unflattering images of folks having a bad hair day or an unfortunate moment.