In The Garden This Week. 06-07-2023

Geraint June 7, 2023 18 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal. This week the garden.

The internet and phones have been down for the last three days after a contractor severed a fiber optic line in Taos. They still remain a bit dodgy. I could go into it further but I’d rather move quickly to get this week’s post online while I have a connection.

Instead of spending time on my phone, online, and on social media over the last few “down” days, I spent time amongst the flowers in our garden.

Here are some of the blooms and one orchid not in the garden. All shot on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Prints available.

Enjoy.

Iris in the garden — Iris with raindrops.

As always, thank you for looking. G

In the Garden with Buddha, the Birds and a Moth

Geraint May 19, 2021 18 Comments

Not a lot of words are needed here. Suffice to say I’m playing around with my new Sony 100-400mm lens, and what better place than the garden. The birds are willing accomplices and help me put the lens through its paces. I really like this lens a lot.

Garden Buddha with seashells, San Cristobal.

Black Headed Grosbeak — Black-headed Grosbeak.

Juvenile Black Headed Grosbeak — Female immature Black-headed Grosbeak.

Juvenile Evening Grosbeak — Female Evening Grosbeak.

Male Black-chinned Hummingbird, tasting the nectar or the air.

A Brown-headed Cowbird returned to the garden this year.

White-sided Sphinx Moth, often referred to as a hummingbird moth.

Thanks for looking. See you next week. G

Red Wheelbarrow, Surprise, Snow, San Cristobal, NM

Geraint December 23, 2020 2 Comments

Red Wheelbarrow with a surprise in the snow, San Cristobal, New Mexico. I like to wander early in the morning, well not too early, in the garden. This little surprise was waiting to be discovered in Pami’s red wheelbarrow after the last snow. So…, something red for the holidays. Thanks for looking. G

Evening Grosbeaks, In The Garden, San Cristobal

Geraint November 4, 2020 8 Comments

Evening Grosbeaks, in the garden, San Cristobal. The variety of birds were in abundance last week. We had Robins, Magpies, Juncos, and Chickadees. Townsend Solitaires, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Crows, and a few straggler House Finches rounded out the thirsty bird species. When the ever vigilant Evening Grosbeaks showed up in their droves, the thirsty drinkers had to back off, all but the brave Robin back there. Thanks for looking. G

Evening Grosbeak, Crabapple Tree, San Cristobal, NM

Geraint September 28, 2020 4 Comments

Evening Grosbeak, in one of our crabapple trees, San Cristobal, NM. Besides colorful hillsides and mountains, fall brings an abundance of food and birds to eat it. This week the Evening Grosbeaks arrived in flocks to indulge themselves of the crabapples. Great individual shots picked out of the thirty or so birds camoflaged by the branches and leaves. Thanks for looking. G

Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Geraint July 13, 2020 12 Comments

Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. Here in the garden this butterfly, with a five inch wingspan, visits each day, frequenting the same plants in the same order. Nature’s fascinating, endless beauty, three yards from my front door. I hope you find some beauty around you. Thanks for looking. G

Poppy, In The Garden, San Cristobal

Geraint June 6, 2020 8 Comments

Poppy, in the garden, San Cristobal, and although they don’t last long, this is one of four and being the approximate size of a dinner plate, put on a marvelous display. With the winds we’ve had today the ground should be well and truly seeded. Thanks for looking. G

Apple Tree, Crescent Moon, Venus

Geraint February 26, 2020 2 Comments

Apple Tree, Crescent Moon, Venus. I was going to make a short drive out to somewhere this evening for a more majestic view incorporating a landscape. As I walked out to the car this delicate scene presented itself in the twilight. Venus and the moon through the branches of the apple tree in the garden. If it’s clear tomorrow evening there will probably be another image of this wonderful conjunction. Thanks for looking. G

Dark-Eyed Juncos, Garden, Snow

Geraint February 4, 2020 4 Comments

Dark-Eyed Juncos, in the garden and the snow today. I had fun hanging out with about five dozen of these little ones storming the bird feeders today. They were unafraid of the guy with the camera in polar gear, and as long as I stood still they stayed around, happily devouring a few pounds of seed. Over the last six days they’ve gone through 30 pounds of seed. And me? After I darned near froze my fingers off and the battery in the camera died in the 20º temps, it was time for a cup of tea! Thanks for looking. G

Townsend’s Solitaire, Winter Ash Tree

Geraint December 29, 2019 4 Comments

Townsend’s Solitaire in the winter ash tree in the garden, San Cristobal NM. I spent some time outside on the deck this afternoon. The feeders were overrun with Dark-eyed Juncos, a few Sparrows, half a dozen American Crows, Mourning Doves and a Lewis’ Woodpecker. The woodpecker returned after a month absence to retrieve the seeds it had stashed in the cottonwood tree. This Townsend’s Solitaire, normally sits in the tops of the trees and sings it’s song. Today it sat on the lower branches for a few snaps. It then returned to the top of a juniper tree. I’ve never seen it feeding at one of the feeders. Thanks for looking. G

Geraint Smith Photography

Tag: Garden