Crabapples in bloom delight both the gardeners and wildlife.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqhG4WK-Cn_nZSRqL9_ExEblnzmaXOuMmeFS1yIwES7gcLb1pryiCodZ_ycpk4koQG4Xbld1F0Go8ZW21wAEkz48DSsYLRgD0erZ9tdDQtktesENqK6z-tc0WvEHADHvHRmrd-NxcygQ/s640/DSC_3248.jpg) |
Chipping Sparrow in Crabapple Tree |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoXubj_mCqDzS2h5SxiPS6-ja9P2cPSIdM_HpogGNM65lhcQ-aN82s59XKotrtVWvvJsc0eo0yQif7eU-NhuVikShV91iICgQ99Xfkt4XpBiXgWIpDKlupGarkL5hmSIEWmgufRnV3ew/s640/DSC_3593.jpg) |
'Three Graces' ~ Crabapples |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgr1N7nNANs-JwcCv2vLPCs8n-1Eo4Avu5l-ukib_oC906DbrP2yCwJt6sa2ka7OlR-_I2GFVE2sQJgeTXe4PuVpzH1rFpHm7xq7g0Gtacu7RXcNsESDJjNJs8WnYOszF7OLQaLILZNU/s640/DSC_3941.jpg) |
The Other Side of 'Three Graces' |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwS2UuNW4WOtbxQYq-I84EpGYczA846AQCtEO5YSMlMycyO3UuSuG4ovR4c1EyeNxaTBRcQfFiQgAMPrImUXTWzPJkdA9Y-qHmRQxUy0Zy0fkNq1YwBmF0COGtK9w_NEkgtdh6yHvecY/s640/DSC_3605.jpg) |
Tops of 'Three Graces' Looking Over Towards Crabapple Orchard From Middle Meadow Garden |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1ALi9eMHqHNZKVDKnJsFSUfMeuotyFAlfGk8hZsg2v2pObYaMq1gWmydGCZK5e7QH2rE3VcSPobTnkIwMJ9vZbBYoLd03IUdtxcuG0lIVxzy8U5Cgq5veAznWakJI5yfsjb7i5zqLh0/s640/DSC_4117.jpg) |
Yellow-rumped Warbler in Crabapple Blooms |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2m8-8HhoGxxfsgcN9rIZQuxNF5x1Hu8NLJMH1zOVzXDEWxSH2jqSDhKp6s7O9R1nrYxwS4-u550ijgAlSg3lWflSaxnCpbU7khUCjx51IeT6Pza-SbStnGKFL0U8tSaN7ahZr8X1v6w/s640/DSC_4146.jpg) |
Nashville Warbler in Crabapple Tree |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW6B9g-d6mLl1Q1VVkjaA_0TqdlMgnnK6pz5zGNJp8Ikkvr5y6iXXN7mqVejuxMTe8KlHcwWY6exKjifO8BL4uM6ERR7fuh7ubJ9b3OdJtejye3KuO9tEWZh38ZsiwPGoIrwRKNzImaQ/s640/DSC_4158.jpg) |
Clever Nashville Warbler Opening Crabapple Bud |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfrCB8UTamqXNEzWwOnNQ72_06jX90x535qjrEsmDKLfn46JJf97dkkozTBDARvZYp6LjVOMsr-foiIGXImiEDEB1r5XRJXi2alveGuPQlmSWxQ_ZTWrazxt6vVW0KlorOfzConeo6a8/s640/DSC_4174.jpg) |
Nashville Warbler Moving on to Another Crabapple Tree |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qylyx0zypTmNuicaiI8y2Dr6RdlIxWd6fjVXo02QimZQka56WTqPP7cSnYD5za_pSz3mp5XUxBTirfbxVRpfg9Zj1kdoYNum5WaGVgLIkaCpy_eFsd_oftlDUxyUPgghTo1N7PyE5LE/s640/DSC_4603.jpg) |
Weeping Crabapple Behind Little Studio |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAjncUEBGpWZUJ5cDq9_HwpW3O7WRA_EoUPiQq8STqWwwCKSkqYIXrhll26rHop3Tybc9-wkevL4L0SbFjLt-jyRbzobuO8mo7EEXY9CCTadJPgI5C2Hct_RJ4HRJAj2DusSbBk37H8o/s640/DSC_5415.jpg) |
Red Admiral Sipping Crabapple Blooms |
The gardens are bursting at their edges . . . everything is moving in the fast lane and it is hard to keep up. Still it is a joy to experience the surge of growth and returning wildlife.
I have never seen so many butterflies at this time of year. A great many tiny Red Admirals and other butterflies floating about and within the many blooms. I saw my first Monarch Butterfly on May 7th . . . the earliest I have ever sighted one in thirty years. It was a male and I could not get a good photograph.
I am thrilled to have a native North American
Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla, that I originally mistook for a Common Yellowthroat female. How could I? The Indigo Bunting and Baltimore Orioles are back and I will be sharing some wonderful portraits of them coming up.
Encounters with a winsome weasel.
Happy Mother's Day to All of you MOMS out there.