Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Project FeederWatch and Bird Count



I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count last year and again this year. In January I also joined and have been keeping a count with Project FeederWatch, a cooperative research project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada, the National Audubon Society and the Canadian Nature Federation. The FeederWatch season runs for 21 weeks, from November through April.  Participants may count birds for two consecutive days each week, and submit up to 21 bird counts, with at least FIVE days between each pair of count days. FeederWatch requires a participants fee ($15), without which the project could not continue.


Here are my results, with 3 counts reported so far.

Checklist for FeederWatch Virginia Birds

February 13, 2010 (Also the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count where I also submitted this data).

Red-bellied Woodpecker2
Downy Woodpecker3
Tufted Titmouse1
Carolina Wren1
Eastern Bluebird16 *Confirmed
American Robin5
European Starling8
Northern Cardinal4
House Finch5
American Goldfinch9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 6, 2010:
Mourning Dove8
Red-bellied Woodpecker2
Downy Woodpecker4
Hairy Woodpecker2
Northern Flicker2
Blue Jay1
American Crow3
Carolina Chickadee1
Tufted Titmouse2
Brown-headed Nuthatch1
Brown Creeper1
Carolina Wren2
Eastern Bluebird13 *Confirmed
American Robin16
European Starling3
Northern Cardinal7
House Finch7
American Goldfinch5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 30, 2009:
Cooper's Hawk2
Mourning Dove9
Red-bellied Woodpecker2
Downy Woodpecker3
Hairy Woodpecker1
Northern Flicker1
Carolina Chickadee1
Tufted Titmouse2
Carolina Wren1
Eastern Bluebird14 *Confirmed
American Robin17
Dark-eyed Junco1
Northern Cardinal13
House Finch11
American Goldfinch7

*Note the 'Confirmed' after each Eastern Bluebird entry. Each time I entered in my numbers, I was automatically 'flagged' and had to separately verify that I was not entering these numbers in error. The website explains that although the number seen might be a usual occurance in your own yard, it is 'unusual' for what is being reported in your general area.


I am not sure 'why' such a high number of Eastern Bluebirds are attracted to my yard--but I am not complaining!





At any given time, there are a variety of bird species in my yard all at once!





When I report 13, 14 or 16 Eastern Bluebirds, I am not referring to what I see 'on and off', tallying them them up to get a cumulative total. No, I'm referring to 5 Bluebirds on one birdfeeder, 2 Bluebirds on another feeder, 3 Bluebirds sitting on a pole, 1 Bluebird standing on a snowpile and eating the snow, and/or Bluebirds at one of the suet feeders...all at the same time.


I only report the total as 'the most of each variety that I actually see, all in my yard at one time'.


So, if I see 8 Bluebirds in the yard at 1:03, and at 1:28 I see 14 Bluebirds, I report my total for the day as 14.


That way, I don't risk counting the same bird more than once-which is very important for accurate data.


*See, I wasn't kidding about the bird standing on the snowpile...

....eating the snow;-)

Of course, we're not just talking bluebirds here. There are Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers...(they look very much alike, but the Hairy's are larger, and their beaks are just a bit longer). I don't believe I have any Hairy's in photos here, but I have had them at the feeders...





 Male and female Downy's:








American Robins...







Northern Cardinals...





Dark Eyed Juncos...



Tufted Titmice...





Carolina Wrens...






Red-bellied Woodpeckers...










Brown Creepers...











American Goldfinches...







Grackles...


Northern Flickers...








Hawk...



Starlings...



Carolina Chickadees...





Mourning Doves...






One of the birds I've seen very little of this year is the Blue Jay. I seem to remember having read something about others experiencing similar results. The same goes for the American Robin, but with just the opposite result. Similar to the Bluebirds, I've noticed a huge increase in their numbers this winter. Every so often there is what they call an 'irruption' of a particular species of birds. Last year, it was the Pine Siskin. There was an increase in their numbers in many areas. I have seen only a couple of Pine Siskins so far this year.

Hope you enjoyed my photos and the results of my count. It's 'ongoing' so I'm still sending in data.

Have a great day!

--Today I am thankful for the variety of birds that visit my yard, and for being able to share them through my blog.



Words and photos by Jan Huston DobleThanks For Today.

34 comments:

  1. Oh my, Jan, those are amazing photos! You captured the bird antics so well. I really love the photo of that crazy-looking shepherd's hook-feeder platform with several different bird species on it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Jan, What a superb record to have and contain in the archives of house and garden. You must be so thrilled to have so many different species of birds visiting your garden at this time of year. I was most intrigued with the close up images you managed to capture and wonder how this is achieved.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan,
    Please tell us what you are feeding these birds? Bluebirds and robin usually do not eat from seed feeders, suet might get bluebirds.

    The two robins facing off is a killer photo, KUDOs.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, Floridagirl, Edith & Randy;-)

    The robins and bluebirds actually have been eating the hulled sunflower nuts and suet w/seeds. Unusual, maybe--but not here! Bluebirds have eaten these offerings for the past 3 years, although this is the first year I've seen the robins eating the suet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's fantastic that the bluebirds eat sunflower seeds at your house. Like Randy said, I've seen them hanging around near suet feeders, but never a seed feeder. And so many bluebirds! I feel lucky if I see one.

    Love the photos of the brown creeper. Not the flashiest bird around, but one of the cutest, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Miss Jan what wonderful pictures! We have a lot of Bluebirds but I have never had any eat at the feeders..
    Awesome! hugs, Cherry

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is amazing, Jan! I love the little brown creeper as well. They are so hard to spot. I've participate in the bird watch as well and was curious how to count so many birds. Your Eastern Bluebird numbers are ... I'm speechless! However, looking at your photos I can SEE what attracts all these birds to YOUR yard - variety of food! A buffet of birdie feasts! Great job all 'round!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such wonderful photos, Jan! You taught me the brown creeper. I'm not sure I've seen one before. And I love the ones of the bluebird on the snow pile! Such a cutie. I left you something in my post today. Join in if you're so inclined.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow Jan, what amazing photos. What type of camera & lens do you use?
    There is certainly a lot of bluebirds there, which I would love to see in my garden. They just seem to flit by.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Now I know where all my robins have gone! I think there has been only three or four bird species in the yard this winter, which is pretty strange, even for Alaska. I have started to hear the birds singing again in the last week. They are appreciating the increased daylight, I think (I appreciate it too!).

    Christine B.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and information about the count Jan. I can't get enough of pictures of your local birds, there is so much variety!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't believe bluebirds are eating from seed feeders, either! I thought you had to put out meal worms or something to attact them.

    Great pics!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have so many beautiful visitors to your yard! So many wonderful shots too. I especially love the shots with the Bluebirds together at the feeder, the Bluebird on the snowpile, and the Red-Bellied Woodpecker series. The Brown Creeper looks like he's thinking "You can't see me, I'm invisible." lol

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just loved this post. This is why I'm so glad you returned to blogging. I remember your bird posts last winter too.
    I'm just amazed at the variety and numbers of birds that visit you. I wish I would see just one Bluebird once!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks so much for sharing all these amazing pictures! Almost makes me want to start feeding the birds. But I still think no snow, no handouts...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jan, this post was such a treat! Your pictures are fantastic! I am so jealous of your bluebirds, I've yet to see one! I have never have heard of a brown creeper either.

    I had wondered how to count large numbers of birds for the count, thanks for sharing how you do that.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jan -- you have done an amazing job of counting, documenting, photographing and share your knowledge of your feathered friends. My husband and I loved this post.

    We have a year-round bluebird population. Our neighborhood road is lined on one side with board fencing and every 100 feet, there is a bluebird house.

    The big Robins have been here for weeks, pulling worms out of our meadow!

    The Juncos are still here, so I guess it is still winter.

    Cameron

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good grief what colour and variety you attract! Lovely photos of many birds I've never seen before.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow Jan what great pictures girl! I am so jealous of all of your Bluebirds.I have never saw the Northern Flickers. They are so unusual with the spots and touch of red. Nor have I saw the Brown Creepers. The remind you of Nuthatch's but their coloring looks so like the bark. How pretty. The Cardinals in the pine is a Calendar one for certain. You need to make a bird calendar.You get a lot of Robins too.
    Lona

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderful photos! I'm really developing a tremendous soft-spot for those bluebirds...you're so lucky to have them, and the cardinals too! We do get Northern Flickers here, and last year I had a fledgling that stood outside my office window staring at me for hours (if I'm honest he was probably fascinated with his own reflection)! You captured the personalities of these birds beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  21. What an amazing variety of birds that are attracted to your feeders. They are all so beautiful, but I do have a favorite...the Bluebirds :^)

    ReplyDelete
  22. WOW. That's the only word repeating over and over in my head while viewed your amazing photos, Jan, until at some point I managed a "HOLY COW." So incredibly gorgeous, and many are birds I didn't recognize. I've been taking pictures here, too, but yours blow me away! The two birds facing off, wings spread -- truly a great photo capture. I need to go put my next suet out right now!

    ReplyDelete
  23. OMG Jan! I can't tell you how much I love this post! Jeez... I can't even decide which picture is my favorite since they are ALL amazing! I'm so jealous of the bluebirds. I never see any around us, but we do a get a wonderful variety of so many other birds that I can't complain. Thanks for sharing these amazing photos!

    ReplyDelete
  24. ...Gaaahhh, I'm in chock...

    Wow, the amount of intersting, beautiful birds you have hanging around.....

    Cheers from Hillevissan, birdlover and gardendesigner in Stockholm, SWEDEN wishing you a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a beautiful group of visitors you have! We have cardinals here as well, but those are some of the only ones I can identify with any certainty. The other ones are the green ones, the black and white ones, the ones that look like cardinals but aren't, etc. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Jan, are you sure you're not giving the birds cappuccinos and lattes on the side. Those bluebird shots are amazing. I think we've seen bluebirds twice this winter in fleeting visits to the feeder. They almost never hang around the house. What a marvelous posting!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Jan, you are amazing! Those photos are amazing. The robins migrate away and come back in late winter to claim their "yards". Last week I knew they were back by the droppings of juniper berries all over the walkways. Sure enough, I looked up and there they were. Quite a happy group of them. Every year I get a few new juniper trees that I pot up and use as potted trees and also give away to friends, thanks to the robins.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, you lucky gal, Jan.. You have some amazing photos here!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful pictures, Jan. I really enjoyed this detailed accounting of your participation in the bird count. You've reminded me to be thankful for all the birds that lift my spirits at our feeder every day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a treat. This post was so much fun to view. I loved all the great pictures! Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete
  31. That is an astonishing tally - and wonderful photographs.

    Unfortunately, my computer wasn't able to load them all onto the screen but I was delighted the bluebird on the snowpile showed up. What an amazing image, wonderful posture and expression!

    I was pleased to see the cardinals. We don't have anything like them where I live in England. The woodpecker pictures are spectacular.

    Unfortunately, only the bluebird on the snowpile came anywhere near alleviating my jealousy that you are able to entice such a huge variety of colourful birds into your garden. The standard colour of our local birds is brown. Any tiny flash of colour seems exotic.

    Esther

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sorry I've taken so long to reply! Thank you all so much for stopping by and leaving your comments! I love them;-)

    Entangled & Cherry, From the time I noticed the bluebirds going after the hulled sunflower seeds, I knew I had to keep those feeders full! That was sometime in the winter of '08. I don't know if other people in my area see them or not...but I don't mind if they choose only to hang out here!

    Hi Debbie, I didn't know what the little Brown Creeper was, until I looked it up. They are tiny and move quickly and are pretty hard to spot. Having the heated birdbath is the 'main' draw, I think, for the birds. If I had just one feeder, they'd probably still come, but we'd be out there every hour filling them. Having several takes care of that problem;-)

    Laurie, I just learned about the Brown Creeper recently, myself:) I'll have to check your post...thank you. I'm sorry I haven't looked into it yet.
    Linda, I have a Nikon D40X and my zoom is a 70/300. I'd love a 400 but they are so expensive. We're looking in to an 'extender'. I took all of these shots from inside the kitchen.

    Lotusleaf, Christine, gippsland gardener,Thanks for stopping by;-)

    Ginger, I used to think the same thing about the mealworms. But when I tried that, the bluebirds never even went for them. I did see the squirrels take a big interest, however...and yes, the squirrels actually ate them.

    Sweetbay, Catherine, TM, Robin...glad you liked them;-) I am glad I continued blogging too, Catherine...and Robin, I just learned about the Brown Creeper too!

    Freda, I'm glad both you and your husband enjoyed the birds;-) I know you have a lot where you are, too. They are lovely little birds to watch.

    Carrie, glad you could see some birds you've never seen before;-)

    Lona, the first time I saw a flicker was last winter, and not too often. This year a couple of them have been hanging out. I've just looked in to making cards and calendars but still haven't decided if I will, but it looks quite easy online.

    Curbstone Valley, you're probably right about the fledging...he was curious about his reflection. Cute;-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. What beautiful pictures. You surely do attract a great variety of birds to your bird feeders. Thanks for posting all the pictures

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Post Topics

17 year Cicadas...Enough Already! 2011 Official Post 2012 4th of July collage 5-lined skink A Certain Kind of Light A Cozy Fire A Dusting of Snow A Family Meal A Hawkish Tale A Little Bit of Winter A Visit From Miss Glad on Blooming Friday A Visit With The Queen A Warm Cup of Tea Acorns African Violets African Violets:Kitty Style Agastache Allium Am I too late for GBBD Amaryllis Amazing Zinnias American Beautyberry American Hazelnut American Lady American Robin Anemone Anenome Anglewings Anise Hyssop Another Birthday aphids April 2010 April blooms Arbor Day Are Words Really Necessary? Artemesia Asarum Asclepias Asiatic lilies Aster Aster Yellows Audubon-at-Home August 2009 GBBD August 2013 Autumn Autumn Reflections Awards Awesome Azaleas Azalea on Ice;Picture This Photo Contest;Winter's Beauty Azaleas Azealea Back Yard Backyard Bird Series backyard birds Backyard Makeover Bald Eagles Balloon Flower Bee Collage Bee-Balm Bees Bees Busily Buzzing on Blooms Before and After Being Settled berries Big Eyes Bird Collage Bird Conversations Bird Itch Birdfeeding Birds Birds Before Blooms Birthday Books Black Swallowtail Black Swallowtail Butterflies Black Swallowtail butterfly cats Blackeyed Susan Bleeding Heart Blog Anniversary Blogger blogging blogging friends Blogiversary Blooming Friday Blotanical Blotanical awards Blotanical's 2009 Best Virginia Award Blue Blooms Bluebeard Bluebird Bluebird Fledglings Bluebird in Snow Botanical Interests Boulder Bouquet of the Month:April 2010 Bouquet of the Month:March 2010 Bright Flowers broad-winged damselfly Brown Creeper Brunnera Buddleia Bugbane Bulbs BulbsSproutinginPot Bumblebees Butterflies BUTTERFLIES LIVE Butterfly on Salvia Butterfly weed Calorie-Free Candy Camera-less in April Can You Guess What This Is? Can You Please Identify Me Can't Get Enough Cosmos Cancer Experience Cardinal Cardinal (Female) Cardinal (Male) Cardinal Flower Carolina Wren Carolyn's Shade Gardens Carpenter Bees Carpet Rose Caryopteris Caryopteris x clandonensis Catmint Cedar Waxwing CedarWaxwing celandine poppy Celebrate Your Freedom Cercis canadensis Certified Wildlife Sanctuary Chelone Cherry Blossoms Chickadee Chris McLaughlin Christmas Fern Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cicada's Ahead of Schedule Cicada's May 2009 Cicadas May 2013 Cinquefoil Clematis CobraHead Collage Collages Columbine Common Buckeye Common Whitetail dragonfly Composter Coneflower Containers Cooper's Hawk Coral Red Honeysuckle Coreopsis Corona Corydalis Cosmos Covered Hellebore Plants Cozy and Warm Cranberrybush Vibernum Crepe Myrtle Crested Iris Crocus Crocus 'Romance' Crow Cut Flowers From My Garden Cutleaved Coneflower Daffodil Daffodils dainty blue flowers Dayflower Daylilies December 2010 December Birds Deer Poop Desert Island Plant Challenge Desperate for Color on Bloom Day Devastation in the Garden Devotion Dicentra Digitalis purpurea Does This Outfit Make Me Look Fat? Dogs Dragonflies Dragonfly or Damselfly Dried Blooms ducklings Dutchman's Breeches Dwarf Nandina Dwarf Sumac e-Bird e.e.cummings e.e.cummings:i thank You God for most this amazing Earth Day Eastern Bluebird Eastern Comma butterfly Eastern Redbud Eastern Tiger Swallowtail eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Ebony Jewelwing Echinacea Elderberry Emily Dickinson End of the Line Epimedium Euphorbia Evening Primrose facebook Faith Fall Color Project Feasting on Seeds Feb 2010 GBBD Feb 2010 monster storm Feeling Blue Feeling Blue? Finch Fire Pink First Day of April First Snow First Snowfall Project Fiskars Flame Azalea Flat Tire Basket Flick'r photo large sizes Floral Collages Focal Black and White photo Foliage-Followup Forsythia Fourth of July Foxglove Foxy in November Free Will Friends Fritillaria Frozen Blooms Galanthus Garden Garden Blessings Garden Blogger Bloom Day:November 2008 Garden Blogger Muse Day November 2009 Garden Blogger Muse Day:December 2008 Garden Blogger's Bloom Day:January 2009 Garden Bloggers Garden Bloggers Bloom Day Garden Bloggers Muse Day Garden Bloggers Muse Day (April 2009) Garden Bloggers Operation Christmas Child Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day Garden Bloggers' Muse Day: June 2009 Garden Books Garden Give Away Garden Give Aways Garden Give-Aways Garden Product Give Away Gardening Gone Wild photography contest Gardening Nude Gardening-by-Letter project GardenShoesOnline Garter Snake Ingests Toad GBBD Febrary 2009 GBBD July 2009 GBBD June 2010 GBBD March 09 GBBD:December 2008 GBMD May 2009 GBMD:January 2009 Geese in a Row--and Ducks too Giant Hyssop Give-Away Winner Gladiola Gloves Go Native Goblins and Pumpkins and Snakes oh my God in the Garden Golden Groundsel Goldenglow Goldenrod Goldfinch Goodbye March Graham Rice Gramma's Afghan Grapes Grasshopper Grateful Great Backyard Bird Count Great House Plant Census of 2010 Green and Gold Green Cure fungicide Hairy Woodpecker Happy Father's Day Haven Brand Manure Tea Hawk hawks Heated Birdbath Heather Heliopsis Heliotrope Hellebore Hellebore Collage HelleboreHover Hellebores Hellebores Book Give-Away Helleborus Helleborus niger Help Identify Animal Tracks Henry David Thoreau: Hepatica Heron Heuchera High School Orchestra Concert Highbush Blueberry Hip Mountain Mama Holiday Stress Holiday stress: How Much is Self-Imposed Holly Honored and Humbled Hornworms House Finch Hummingbird Clearwing Hyacinth Hyacinths Hylotelephium I Am Truly Thankful! I'm a bit Bee-hind Iberis Ice on Stream Ice Storm Ilex Impatiens Indentifying Butterflies Iris Iris reticulata It's Here Its Grown On Me Jacob's Ladder January 2010 snow January 2011 January 2013 Japanese Anemone Joe Pye Weed John Keats July garden 2010 Junco June 19th 2009 Just Be Gardens Kerria Kerria-Japanese Rose Keter Dynamic Composter Kombi Ladybird Johnson Lake Anna Lake Anna June 2009 Lake Vacation Lamium Lantana Late to the Party Again lavender Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Leyland Cypress Liatris Life Experiences Light Lilac Bush Limestone Liriope Liverwort Lobelia Lonicera sempervirens Luna the Greyhound Lungwort Lyme Disease Lyme Disease has gone to my Head Macro in a Mason Jar Mallard ducks March Birthday Bloggers March GBBD mention master gardener May 2010 May Apple Meaning Memorial Day 2010 Memories Mertensia Mid Summer's Eve Mid-June Blooms MidMarch Blooms and Foliage Milkweed Miniature Dachshund mishmash wednesday Mistflower Mites Monarchs Monarchs and Milkweed Monarda Monkshood Monthly Garden Bouquet Moon More April Bouquets Morning Light Mountain Laurel Mourning Doves MuhlyGrass Mums Muscari Muscle My Cat Smokie My Daughter My Dog James My Family My FIRST Enlarged Photo My Husband My Mother My Son My Yard Mystery Tracks Nandina Nandina berries National Cherry Blossom Festival Native Ginger Native Honeysuckle native plants Natural Habitat Nepata New York Fern Non-Natives Northern Flicker Not The Best Notecards November 2009 GBBD Now that's an 'ice picture Obedient Plant Oct 2008 GBBD Almost Ready Oct 2009 October 2009GBBD Of Gloves and Shovels Oh Say Can You See Okay so who or what is eating my plants Oliver Herford:I Heard a Bird Sing Operation Christmas Child Pain Management Techniques Pansies Pansy paperwhites Pay It Forward Project Pay-It-Forward gift-giving exchange Peanut Feeder Peonies by Mary Oliver Peony Perennials Perennials in my garden Perovskia Personal Poetry Personal Poetry: Petunia Phlox Phlox paniculata photo contest Photography Contests phytoplasma Pieris Pieris Japonica Pileated Woodpecker Pine Siskin Pink Azalea Pink Peony Planting Natives Plants on Ice Poetry Pollinators Polymonium Pond Critters Poppy Potentilla Potomac River Pretty Pink Peony Has Popped Prize Winners Product Reviews Project FeederWatch Pulmonaria Pumpkin Carving Purple Coneflower Purpose Questionmark butterfly radishes Rain Rain Barrel Rainbarrel Rainbow Project Rainy Days Raspberry and Lemon Sherbet Reasons I Garden red admiral Red Winged Blackbird Red-Bellied Woodpecker Red-Spotted Purple Red-winged Blackbird Redbud Relaxing Remember Renee's Garden Revised GBBD February 15 Richmond VA Robert Frost Robin Robin'sNestingPlace Rock Soapwort Rock Solid RockSoapwort Roly-Poly Squirrel Rose hips Roses Roses with Thorns Rosy Maple Moth Rudbeckia Rudbeckia lanciniata Russian Sage S.A.D. Salvia Salvia greggi Samuel Taylor Coleridge:The Nightengale Sanguinaria Scilla Seagulls Seasonal Affective Disorder Security Blanket Sedum Sedum Autumn Joy Seed Planting Experiment Seed Starter System Seed-Planting Experiment#1 Seed-Planting Experiment#2 Seed-Planting Experiment#2 (cont.) Seeds Sense of Humor September blooms September Blooms:A Series of Surprises September Surprises #3 Serviceberry Shades of Blue Shady Gardener:Gladsome Be? sharing Sharp-shinned Hawk Shawna Coronado Shirl's Garden Watch Siberion Buglose Skink Slaty Skimmer dragonfly Snake Snake skin Snow Snow in Spring Snowdrop Anenome Snowdrops Snowstorm Solomon's Seal Sounds of the Birds Speedwell Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly cats spicebush swallowtail caterpillar Spider Webs Spiderwort sprained ankle Spring Buds and Bulbs Spring Has Sprung Spurge Squirrel Squirrels stainless steel water bottle Standard Poodle Starling Steam on Fence Strawberries Succulents Summer Flowers SunRays Sunrise Sustainable Living project Swallowtail Butterflies Sweaters Hoods and Coats Sweet Allysum Sweet William Teacup and Teapot Tete-a-Tete Thank You to Phillip Thanksgiving The Best Christmas Gifts The Complete Idiot's Guide to Composting The Gardener's Guide to Growing Hellebores The GGW photo contest I 'almost' entered on time The Multi-Hued Greens of Spring The Ocean The Seed Keeper Company The Sun Shines at Night The Thrush This Ain't No April Fools Joke This aMayzing Day Thyme Tiarella Titmouse Toad Lily Tools Toulouse goose Tradescantia Tree Sparrow Trees Trillium Trout Lily Tufted Titmouse Tulips Tulips in Spring Tulips on Thursday Turtle Crossing turtle garden Turtlehead TX-Bluebonnet Umbrella VA Gardener Magazine Valentine's Display variegated foliage Verbena Veronica Vinca Violas Virginia Bluebells Virginia Gardener Magazine Wake Robin Walt Whitman:Miracles Washington DC Water Fountain Water Garden Waterfall/Stream WBBS Wednesday Words Weeping Willow West County Gardener What Are You Waiting For What d'ya think Janet What's Happening? What's New in November White Embden geese White Peony White-Breasted Nuthatch Wild Geranium Wild Ginger Wildflower Wednesday Wildflowers Will the Real Turtle Please Come Out William Wordsworth William Wordsworth:The Daffodil's Willow Leaved Sunflower Window; Death; Personal Photography Winter I Am So Over You Winter is for the Birds Winter Light Winter Solstice winter storm slide-show Winter Walk-Off 2014 Winterberry Witch Hazel Woodfern Woodland Pinkroot Woodpecker WORDLESS Friday Wordless Wednesday: Wren X-Rated Yellow but not Mellow Yesterday and Today Zinnia Zinnia Bud (Plan B)