The Last Leaf Gardener

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

N'tl Bird Day 2021 has come and gone! However, one can continue to celebrate! (Tuesday's Truths WK 201)

This image features a male House finch perched on the left side of a bird feeder that is shaped like house. The feeder is made of metal and is hunter-green in color. House finches are featured in volume one of my book series, "Words In Our Beak." Info re these books is in another post on my blog @ https://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2018/10/one-sheet-book-series-info.html

This two hundred and one segement of Tuesday's Truths is to alert you to the fact that National Bird Day has come and gone for the year 2021. It was celebrated three weeks ago on 1-5. Information re this holiday can be found in a number of places on the web including a page for National Day.

In bygone years, I've published posts about this occasion as I certainly appreciate any occasion that aims to raise awareness about members of the animal kingdom and I don’t think it needs to be limited to one day.

But this segement is also designed to let you know that if you missed this year’s National Bird Day, just make it a point to do something that will benefit our feathered friends, such as making sure any bird feeder you have is clean as well as replenished.

They will truly appreciate your efforts as evidenced by this male house finch (in the photograph directly above) who is enjoying a snack from a feeder in my garden.

Another thing you can do is to make sure your bird bath is clean and if winter temperatures are prevailing, make sure the water isn't frozen.

“A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

This is a picture of a blue jay perching on the rim of a flora container in my garden. The bird’s beak is open ever so lightly and he appears to be looking into the container. “Blue jays are large for songbirds, typically measuring between 9 and 12 inches long, and weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. Distinguishing characteristics of the blue jay include the pronounced blue crest on their heads, which the blue jay may lower and raise depending on mood, and which will bristle outward when the bird is being aggressive or becomes frightened. Blue jays sport colorful blue plumage on their crest, wings, back, and tail. Their face is typically white, and they have an off-white underbelly. They have a black-collared neck, and the black extends down the sides of their heads - their bill, legs, and eyes are also all black. Their wings and tail have black, sky-blue, and white bars. Male and female blue jays are nearly identical.” (Info from https://forum.americanexpedition.us/blue-jay-facts). They are featured in my three volume book series, “Words In Our Beak. Info re these birds is in another post on this blog @ https://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2018/10/one-sheet-book-series-info.html

Blue jays visit my garden frequently and the other day was no exception. My latest visitor can be seen in the image atop this entry as well as in the ones directly below.

This is a picture of a blue jay perching on the rim of a flora container in my garden which is wrapped in burlap. He appears to be looking on to the garden floor. “Blue jays are large for songbirds, typically measuring between 9 and 12 inches long, and weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. Distinguishing characteristics of the blue jay include the pronounced blue crest on their heads, which the blue jay may lower and raise depending on mood, and which will bristle outward when the bird is being aggressive or becomes frightened. Blue jays sport colorful blue plumage on their crest, wings, back, and tail. Their face is typically white, and they have an off-white underbelly. They have a black-collared neck, and the black extends down the sides of their heads - their bill, legs, and eyes are also all black. Their wings and tail have black, sky-blue, and white bars. Male and female blue jays are nearly identical.” (Info from https://forum.americanexpedition.us/blue-jay-facts). They are featured in my three volume book series, “Words In Our Beak. Info re these birds is in another post on this blog @ https://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2018/10/one-sheet-book-series-info.html

This is a picture of a blue jay perching on the rim of a metal saucer that is in my garden. He appears to be looking at what is there which bits of fruit. “Blue jays are large for songbirds, typically measuring between 9 and 12 inches long, and weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. Distinguishing characteristics of the blue jay include the pronounced blue crest on their heads, which the blue jay may lower and raise depending on mood, and which will bristle outward when the bird is being aggressive or becomes frightened. Blue jays sport colorful blue plumage on their crest, wings, back, and tail. Their face is typically white, and they have an off-white underbelly. They have a black-collared neck, and the black extends down the sides of their heads - their bill, legs, and eyes are also all black. Their wings and tail have black, sky-blue, and white bars. Male and female blue jays are nearly identical.” (Info from https://forum.americanexpedition.us/blue-jay-facts). They are featured in my three volume book series, “Words In Our Beak. Info re these birds is in another post on this blog @ https://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2018/10/one-sheet-book-series-info.html

Upon my seeing this creature, I thought of some lines from a poem by Eleanor Farjeon which go like this, “A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

You may recognize her name as she wrote the hymn, "Morning Has Broken," which is usually associated with Cat Stevens whose recording of it popularized the song.

This bird type, which sometimes gets a bad rap, has influenced me from an early age when I drew (albeit not very well) the creature's picture.

Taking a Cue From Mourning Doves

This image features a figurine designed by Lori Mitchell who has named her Miss Teachy. Miss Teachy is wearing a yellow cardigan and plaid skirt. She has a pencil in her right hand and is holding a book about trees in in left hand. Teachy is wearing horn rimmed glasses and the look in her eye dares students to not pay attention. At the top left corner of my image I’ve included text that states, Take a cue from what mourning doves are doing when they visit you. Mourning doves are featured in my book series, “Words In Our Beak,” and info re them is in another blog post @ https://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2018/10/one-sheet-book-series-info.html

MOURNING DOVES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

The other evening after the sun went down, I noticed at least seven mourning doves sitting in my rooftop garden. Due to their coloring and the darkness of the sky, they nearly blended in with the blacktop surface; so it was hard to observe their behavior and impossible (given the constraints of my camera equipment) to photograph them.

It's just another day?

This photo features a woman wearing "costume glasses" New Year's glasses for 2021. They are made from a metallic plastic material comprised of a several colors including shades of blue, shades of pink and shades of yellow.

CARDINAL THEMED FACE-MASK AVAILABLE VIA FAA

As we face this day of 1-15-2021, two weeks into a new year, I am reminded of some lyrics in a song written by Linda and Paul McCartney which state, "......Ah, it's just another day. It's just another day. It's just another day."

Indeed it’s just another day and a number is not going to instantly bring about changes to the consequences of where we are today (with the on-going coronavirus pandemic and with our political unrest).

A wise thoughtful, prophetic FB peep (SR) pointed out, “…presidency isn't the answer. This goes beyond politics… So for now do no harm. Try to promote peace and do good deeds. Leave others alone unless you have something positive to offer."

If we heed the wisdom of SR we can make this day and the ones to come more than "...just another day."

Thursday, January 14, 2021

"...When January brings new faces!"

This is an image of the words to a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson titled "The Chickadee." It reads: Piped a tiny voice hard by, Gay and polite, a cheerful cry, " Chic-chicadee-dee! " Saucy note Out of a sound heart and a merry throat, As if it said, " Good day, good sir. Fine afternoon, old passenger! Happy to meet you in these places When January brings new faces! "

"THE CHIKADEE" BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

As promised in my last entry (published on 1-7-2021), I'm back in the blogging saddle for now. My absence wasn't so long when I consider it has been over eight years (November 18th 2012) since I heard the sound which poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, calls the "gay and polite" "cheerful cry" of a Chickadee occcuring in my rooftop garden but I heard it this morning.

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Once again I've been out of the loop re my blogging as I've been doing research and photo shoots for a few articles I was assigned to write.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2021

N'tl Bird Day 2021 has come and gone! However, one can continue to celebrate! (Tuesday's Truths WK 201)

Monday, January 18, 2021

“A new day. A blue jay. A new beginning...."

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Taking a Cue From Mourning Doves

Friday, January 15, 2021

It's just another day?

Thursday, January 14, 2021

"...When January brings new faces!"

Thursday, January 7, 2021

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