Tiny Bird

I've seen a number of these tiny birds clinging onto tree trunks and pecking at them. I don't know what kind of bird it is, but it sure is cute. Maralee

Swan Lake

Or should I say, Swan Pond.  This swan was resting in a little pond off the Deschutes River. Maralee

Flicker

A beautiful Northern Flicker Woodpecker. I came across this flicker on my walk this week.  It was at the same hole, two days in a row.  It made quite a nice hole, too.  They are such interesting, beautiful birds. Maralee

Prolific Echeveria

When we moved into our house 14 years ago, there was an area of our property we called the "lunar bin" because it was nothing but rocks, dirt and weeds.  Nothing grew there and there was no water going into that area.  Being that we live in the high desert, we did some xeriscaping landscaping. …

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

It is so nice to be seeing butterflies flitting around the bushes and flowers.  There were two of these Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) butterflies following me on my walk today. These butterflies are found just about everywhere, especially in riparian areas which are in abundance here.  Adults can live 10-11 months and could be our …