July 29 2021 -  I've been so busy fostering baby starlings that were just released on July 25th, that I forgot to make July entries here.  

                                       June 23 2021.  2 nestling starlings. 

                                                 July 15 2021 - fledglings

Being so distracted with fostering the birds, the property has sadly returned to weed heaven with a record amount of rainfall this July egging the weeds on.  I've been working slowly on the driveway project and sorely neglected the organic veg garden and the re-painting of the 1929 kitchen.  Why didn't I drop more cardboard down over the insidious weeds germinating faster than lightening?  This morning, I filled a bucket with a plethora of promiscuous weeds that germinated wildly, and I picked a handful of green beans amongst the many weeds turning into seed heads this week.  I have to rip out as many as possible, but another storm is coming today.  And I'm scheduled for a hair cut - first one since 2019. 

Still in physical therapy, my  body has slowed down, and on those mornings when I feel no pain, but am very tired upon awakening,  I love to rest in bed, and listen to the birds. There are so many wonderful bird species living on my property. I could stay in bed for hours with the dual aspect windows wide open and listen to them. I especially love the increase in number of Northern Cardinals who have found the Borage flowers growing wild in the organic veg garden very appealing. They may being eating the flower and the seed.

                                            Cardinal nest and eggs.  

Cardinals eat the seeds of the forsythia shrubs in late Spring .  This is what the seed looks like. 

Bright red male Northern Cardinal.

Bright red with a pointed head crest and black bib, male cardinals are always a welcome sight here. Cardinals prefer thick underbrush for nesting. Cardinals have been expanding their range northward from the south for many years.

Both male and female cardinals sing almost year-round. Common calls include "cheer cheer cheer", "whit-chew whit-chew whit-chew" and "purty purty purty". Cardinals eat seeds, fruit, and insects, and are easily attracted to bird feeders, especially those containing sunflower seeds.

Male cardinals defend their territory. Females usually sing after males establish territory but just before nesting starts. A cardinal's nest consists of a tightly woven cup of roots, stems and twigs lined with fine grass and hair.

I've been seeing many young fledgling cardinals everywhere on the property.  And this brings me back to the veg garden and the wild, overgrown self-sown return of the Borage plants.  Bees are everywhere.  And the cardinals are competing for some of those tasty flowers and seeds. 

I started growing Borage in the mid 1980's. And decorated a lot of cakes, and English Trifles with their flowers. Borage has limited culinary use in today’s foods, but the borage flower is often used as a garnish. I crystalize them for cake decorations. Borage was used to treat many ailments, from jaundice to kidney problems. In medicinal use today it is limited, but the seeds are a source of linolenic acid. Borage flowers are also used in potpourris or candied for use in confections. Their cucumber-flavored leaves are used for tea and other beverages as well as bright, starry blue flowers for decorating salads. All parts of the plant, except the roots, are edible.

Borage, orange day lilies, and asparagus ferns. Rear of the organic vegetable garden in mid-July.  Is it any wonder that the bees and butterflies birds love this peaceful, pristine garden?