We feed birds year round so have quite a few visit our garden throughout the year some of the birds that come to mind are... Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and this year for the first time Hairy Woodpecker. Bushtits come in flocks to the suet feeder. Chickadees Both Rufus and Annas Humingbirds Several kinds of Sparrows Towhees Robins Juncos California Quail, although they have been in the neighborhood forever they now come into our yard several times a day, sit on our roof early evening looking in a window, drives Percy are house kitty nuts. Goldfinches only come into the garden if we put a feeder out by our back fence. Some years we have Pine Siskins others we don't. House Finches which nest in the Boston Ivy on our chimney. Most Januarys we have Varied Thrush visit for awhile. Flickers We used to have both the Violet Green and Tree Swallows nest in our garden these and the Barn Swallows we don't see any more. I'm sure I've forgotten some of the birds we've seen or have at the feeders but can't think of them at the moment.

I've been too busy to get everything set up, but I hope next week. I have seeds Purple Jalapenos and Serranos,Red Habanero and I think I'm going to try some ancho again. The ones from last year were looking good with lots of small immature fruit when we got hit with the first frost. plants survived the first one but not the second. all the unidentified bird pepper "trees" are still growing and producing like mad and haven't been covered at all, so I don't need to plant any of those. For Tomatos, I didn't order seeds this year so I'll have to go with localy available seeds. I have packets of Rutgers, Brandywine, Earlygirl, Stupice, and betterboy. Hopefully I get everything set up next week. I can't believe it's the end of December already, almost time to put the sweaters back in the attic..... Cactus Dude, For bottom heat I use a heating pad from target (or Wally world) It has three settings low med hi. I fold a bath towel, wet it(not soaking wet just wet and wrung out) , put it on top of the pad and leave it on low. set the seed tray on top of the towel and I have perfect 80 degree bottom heat. j

Beth, I adore your fun spot with the sign post and I also like the statue in the background. thanks for sharing. Barb I love that cyclops steer skull. Must be right out of mythology so does that make your garden a mythological western garden? Felix, from all the amazing stuff in your yard I know your garden is as delightful as others have said. I may just have to invite myself up one of these days and see it in person. Thank you so much for sharing and I love all your garden angels and the windmill and the tree eating the bicycle.I simply adore the tree face. Judy, your sun always makes me smile and I still think you should host a swap. Regine, if that snorkeling cat disappera he wandered over to my yard if he doesn't stop at Kate's first. Kare, I adore your birdbath and the plants in the pots that is a neat corner. Evelyn, the mirror is fantastic. I am thinking of using that on my Florida room to make the plants look thicker and give the area more interest. It would also reflect the hot tub and make it look like two in the room. Kara, you are so creative and I adore those totums. I also now know what to do with all my old sneakers. Thanks, everyone thus far, you are all so talented and creative. Linda

Probably a little blue heron. In real life they look very dark all over, not the reddish purple in the field guides.