January gardening



 Mild, dry weather has drawn me outside to begin clean-up in the garden.

My miscanthus (Japanese morning grass) is a huge clump that "sheds"
its foliage when the winter winds blow. I've rounded up these
scattered blades from the flower beds and neighbor's driveway.
Dale will need to cut the clump down for me soon.
It nearly requires a chainsaw.
Hellebore 'Rosemary' is blooming now.

Chosen in memory of my aunt Rosemary,
 an enthusiast gardener and bird lover,

she's planted where she can be seen from the kitchen window.

"My" resident male Anna's hummingbird will sometimes
 scold me when I'm out in "his" backyard.
Neither of us is much afraid.

Sometimes I'm lucky enough to see his
iridescent fuchsia feathers.

 

 

 

 

guarding the feeder

while I inch closer to shoot

he’s perched unafraid

 

 

 

throaty fuchsia flash

hidden beneath drab feathers

breath-taking to see