Garden

[GingerPeach]

Today in my backyard, in between showers:

[OKPrincess]

Thanks for sharing. What are the red blooms?

[on the bay]

@GingerPeach-

I was going to say so pretty

And thought those were stones oin your birdbath but thats a turtle! Right?!

Aw, he or she chose you

[GingerPeach]

Hi @on the bay

I wish it were a turtle, but you were right the first time.  They are stones.  I read somewhere it helps the birds gauge the depth.  Whether or not that's true, I kind of like the stones!

Do you know what tardigrades are?  They are also called water bears, and are microscopic creatures that are pretty amazing.  I have a feeling some may be on the mossy stones in the birdbath.  I would need a microscope to be sure, something I do not yet own.  

I had a frog in my backyard once.  

[GingerPeach]

Hi @OKPrincess

Those are angel wing begonias.   Very easy to root from cuttings.

[SandPiper]

@GingerPeach So nice to see blooms. It’s been a long cold winter here and it’s not over yet. Thanks for posting. 

[on the bay]

@GingerPeach-

Well, then its a very nice stone!

And no I've never heard of tardigrades-very interesting and also didn't know about birds navigating the depth from the stone.

I found a picture of a tardigrade-(magnified many many times!)

[GingerPeach]

@on the bay  That's one!  I think it was only last year or the year before I ever heard of them.   They can recover from long-term freezing as well as from excessive heat.  

Makes me almost wish I could start another career in science.  There are so many amazing things in the world.

I'm going to call my stone "Turtle" in your honor.  

[on the bay]

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@GingerPeachwrote:

@on the bay  That's one!  I think it was only last year or the year before I ever heard of them.   They can recover from long-term freezing as well as from excessive heat.  

Makes me almost wish I could start another career in science.  There are so many amazing things in the world.

I'm going to call my stone "Turtle" in your honor.  

---

Aw-I will feel honored!

And yes, nature is fascinating!

[BirkiLady]

@GingerPeachSo pretty to see color already!  We've had rain recently and it's predicted for the next few days. Lots of things are beginning to poke through the soil . . . so green is on the way to pretty spring blooms. Yes, birds do like rocks in the birdbath (or so I've also read) so they know the depth of the water. Lovely yard. I've had a frog living in a window well for several years. He croacks (sp?) deeply in the late evenings and I worry about cats finding his hidey place. Apparently he overwinters there (I don't hear him after the first hard frost), but will hear him again as soon as it warms up. Friendly sound as I wander about the yard late at night tending to my potted plants.