Flora and flying fauna

Despite putting out our high tech oriole-attractors, we have yet to see one of the orange flashes in the back. On the other hand, the last few days have brought Eastern Towhees

and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

to the feeder in back. We haven't seen any hummingbirds yet, either, but our red trumpet vine hasn't even leafed out yet and its orange-red trumpet flowers are the main attractor there.

This morning I saw a yellow and black swallowtail butterfly in the front yard. There have been a few moths around, but this was the first butterfly I spotted. Peggy gave us a butterfly bush of some sort but it hasn't bloomed yet. Maybe it will bring more.

A thunderstorm a few nights ago took down my birdhouse, which broke apart when it hit the ground. Fortunately there was no irreparable damage and this afternoon I got it put back together and hanging back in place. No one had built a nest in it, and I suspect it will turn out to be ornamental rather than residential.

Our little crab apple tree looks like it will never grow up, but one side is loaded with blossoms at the moment.

Creeping Charlie is a perennial problem unless you decide to make peace with it and let it be.

The Bleeding Hearts are bursting out all over. The bits of blue you see with them are Vinca, with their own close-up below.

Descendants of the Hens and Chicks Helen gave us. They are now thriving in all sorts of places, mainly among the rocky gardens Tom is building.

Mounding phlox in several shades is also doing well among the rocks and finding its way into other niches.