Flowers, birds, and a sunset

I’m home from that most recent camping trip, home from exploring this gorgeous and fascinating world, home … just home. I love going camping, and will be going again as soon as I can, and yet I love being at home.

Because even here at home, there are gorgeous and fascinating things to see and do and explore. Today was a very good day for that.

First off … here’s a Yucca plant that’s somewhat close to my home, so I take care of it. It evidently likes what I’m doing. It’s taller than I am (I’m 5′ 8″), and look at those flowers! And look at that base spread that’s almost six feet wide.

 

 

You can always click on photos to enlarge them.

After taking these photos of the Yucca, I did my duty and set up the oscillating sprinkler in order to water the lawn and some shrubs and small flowering plants. I then went indoors to check email on my computer (it’s right next to a window).

I was listening to the water swish back and forth as the sprinkler oscillated back and forth, a nice relaxing sound. But then I looked out the window to find this … !

An Anna’s Hummingbird flying in the stream of water from that sprinkler. Yes it was a hot and dry day. And this bird had found a very good way to cool off. 🙂

He/she then went over to a Hydrangea bush right outside my window and sat there waiting for the oscillating sprinkler to bring cooling water.

 

In the photo above, the hummingbird is waiting for the water to come back … feathers spread, waiting for that cool water.

In the photo below, the sprinkler had oscillated and the water was back. Hooray! I think that bird lifted one wing in joy.

 

 

 

 

Here are two videos. The hummingbird sometimes flies out and follows the water, but mostly it waits right there around the Hydrangea for the water to return.

 

Well, that was fun. 🙂

I let that sprinkler run awhile, then moved it around to the back of my house for the plants and the lawn there. After a good healthy watering in that area, I shut the sprinkler off and put it away. But just a little bit later, I was standing in my kitchen, looking out at the yard back there, looking at the one small puddle of water that always collects right there in one spot and wondering if I should fill that dip in the lawn. And look who flew in at that exact moment! A hawk! Quick, go get the camera!

It fluffed around a bit in that little pool of water, probably trying to cool off on this very hot day. But it was wary … humans and dogs and cats and raccoons and other birds and other animal folk are sometimes in this area too. The hawk spent quite a bit of time looking to the left, and the right, and then up towards the roof of my house, and back over its shoulder.

 

 

 

And finally it looked right at me (or so it seemed).

I guess it then felt safe. It took one look at the water …

… and then plunged in.

Here are two videos of it. Oh it was enjoying that water so much, made me smile and chuckle.

 

That was so cool! For me and for the hawk. I will NOT be filling in that dip in the land. Next summer, when it’s hot, I will actually water that dip extra deep!

But … what kind of hawk is that? I don’t know.

Later, soon enough, the afternoon changed into evening. From my office/computer room window, this view (below) of the sky above appeared. How beautiful. I watched as the sky darkened towards nighttime. What a great day this was!