Running Around The Backyard, by Rich Paschall

We didn’t care too much about the backyard last year. Perhaps you hear about the Pandemic of 2020? We weren’t going to have yard parties and a lot of extra yard work did not seem worth it. I did make my usual attempt to kill off weeds, which included the pervasive clover. I might “be all in clover,” but that does not mean I want the backyard to be as well.

This year has become the year of the drought in this part of the Midwest.  With less than 7 inches of precipitation this year, we are around 9 inches below normal. If this keeps up much longer, we will be calling the local rainmaker.

Robin and Clover, over and over

Despite the dry conditions, some plants, birds, and small animals seem to be doing quite well. The clover is back in full force. Hostas refuse to die. Roses are blooming for the first time in several years. The barberry bushes are a thorny issue. The daffodils did well and now daisies are coming to take their place. And we have some very nice flowers that I have no idea what they are. Perhaps you can help identify them.

Unidentified flowering object

Draught resistant?

In my many trips to clean up all the seed pods and other things the hundred-year-old tree wishes to throw at me, I am often accompanied by a robin. He seems to have great luck finding just the right insects and worms for his diet. Sometimes during the day I look out the back window and see a starling attempt to run him off some tasty treat, but mostly he does quite well.

Bobin along

Usually, I do not have my camera with me when the robin is searching very close to me. I did remember to bring it a few times to catch him in his bug quest. I confess I never heard him throbbing his own sweet song.

I’m just a kid again, doing what I did again, singing a song,
When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbin’ along.

Songwriter: Harry Woods.

Categories: #Birds, #Flowers, Rich Paschall, roses

Tags: clover, garden flowers, grass, robin, yard, yard work