Tonight's little storm produced the most perfect and vivid rainbow I have ever seen. My camera and the pictures I took don't do it justice but it was spectacular. I've seen double rainbows before, however what made this one different was the lower one's colors were so clear.
What a treat! I wonder if that means I'll find a pot of gold?
You know it's good to be wrong occasionally and wrong I was in the case of my lantana. Seems it just needed a little more time(and maybe some really warm temperatures) to awaken from it's dormant period. So far, all but 2 hills have started to show signs of life, so all isn't lost! Made my day yesterday when I discovered I will have some color in the front yard after all.
How about this color? The darn thing is just beautiful right now and is my favorite color of all the azaleas. 
Well, the prolonged cold snap we had during winter took it's toll on my lantana plants save one spot. All my plants in the front yard - gone! The only place I have a few sprigs coming up is under the dogwood tree on the side of the house. There it was sheltered and insulated most likely by the surrounding azalea's. Such a shame, as they were all transplants from our old home place. However, on a happier note, what I have left is the purple variety which is quite difficult to find, so I'll nurse it along and hopefully be able to transplant it back to the front.
Here's a picture I took of it in November, right before I cut it back. This particular variety looks it best in late summer and early fall. The yellow/orange variety in the background was quite showy as well but had less blooms by Nov. 
The yellow/orange variety grew to be 5 x 5 ft. and was loved by the hummingbirds and butterflies. I'll replace it but it'll be a while before it gets big as in this picture. 
This was taken in the summer and you can see how bushy it gets.
Transplanting hosta today, as you can see I have a few pots....
The decking is complete on the back porch and it's so nice to step out the door onto a nice flat surface. It's 20 x 12 and I am loving the space!
And on a totally different note, here's a good example of lazy. Our cat, Smidge dozed in this box all afternoon. I mean really, cats can find the darnest places to sleep.
Nice little house, cedar sided, located on quiet street with lots of woods. Already occupied with cute little nest and 5 eggs.
Newer construction, located slightly further back from the road. Quiet location, brand new and just waiting for a perfect couple!
Yesterday we noticed a pair of bluebirds checking out our blue bird house located in the front yard. Unfortunately, a chickadee had already claimed the space by building a nest and laying her eggs. As a matter a fact, there are now five eggs in the nest.
So, we put up another house in hopes of attracting the blue birds over there. Well, they checked it out, then promptly went back to other house. Taking turns both would fly down to the entrance and peer in but neither would actually go inside.
This morning they started the business of staking their claim again. They both would fly to the top of the house and take turns flying down to look in the entrance hole. Finally, after doing this several times, the female got enough nerve to actually go all the way in. She then started to bring out pieces of fur that lined the chickadee nest. Flying to a nearby tree she would clean her beak on a limb to dislodge the fur. I worried she was going to break the chickadee eggs but as it turns out bluebirds will actually build their nest on top of a chickadee nest. She'll lay her eggs on top those already in the nest.
What I don't know is, will the chickadee eggs hatch along with the bluebirds? Perhaps this will be a blended family??
They're starting to grow up! Amazing at how much bigger they got this past week. Hoping they'll be ready to eat in another 3-4 weeks. However, I may go ahead and harvest 1 or 2 heads over the next 2 weeks, just so I won't have them all ready at once. 
And this is the first thing I'm going to fix!
Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy with Garlic
1 lb baby bok choy, halved lengthwise
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
Kosher Salt, Black Pepper
1-2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp reduced sodium chicken broth
Heat skillet or wok over high heat. Add olive oil and add garlic and stir-fry until pale golden and fragrant. Add half of bok choy and stir-fry until leaves wilt, about 2 minutes. Then add remaining bok choy and stir-fry until all leaves are bright green and limp. Add soy sauce & chicken broth. Stir. Cover with lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Season wih salt & pepper if desired.
These little hens and chicks fortunately do not lay eggs.
However, on the other hand these little girls are seriously becoming broody and wanting to sit on their newly laid eggs. They get quite irritated to see me checking in on things! Notice the tail feathers? Those ruffled feathers mean "stay away" or I will try to peck you if you come any where close to my eggs. And no I didn't move her, but I will get her eggs this afternoon. No little chickies this go, unless of course you all want them.
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