more flowers...

peony

verbena

peony

a flower journey

Baptisia from my garden taken into the studio. 

end of the day

Evening swan afloat.

An opening

Spending more time in the garden now that the sun has finally come out!

part of life

They lost the eggs. I believe that they were flooded, but I don't know for sure. 

My heart is as heavy as the nest must have been, saturated to overflowing with sadness.

What would have happened; 

IF I had created drainage in the platform instead of just using a plywood base

IF it hadn't rained for days on end with no sun to dry the nest out

IF the temperatures hadn't been so cold

IF our young couple had been a bit more experienced.

But the ifs aren't going to bring back the eggs from this family.

But my hopes for them are strong, I know they are learning how to live, 

Like the rest of us, making mistakes along the way and living with the choices we've made. 

For now the nest remains empty.

The parents are in the area, flying in the trees, and landing on Brad's boat. 

And on heartbreaking occasions landing on the edge of the nest for a few moments.

in my dreams

I have been dreaming of making this beautiful springtime image again this year.

 But no, it's not meant to be.

 If I were to attempt this now I would have steel grey behind these soggy blossoms. 

let it shine

Like this female osprey, I too want to feel the warmth of the sun to dry off the dampness that has permeated this spring.

I too want to head into the goldenness of a new day,

and land happily in my own nest.

lilacs

Hard to spend time in the garden when it's mostly raining or dreary everyday.

But it felt good to take in the lilac smells on this overcast and misty day.

anticipation

Dad is on the right, and mom is on the left. They are both fussing in the nest.

The wind is picking up so mom is having a bad hair day.

Dad hasn't even noticed as he is too busy preparing the nest for the eggs

 that I think should be coming soon. They have both been spending much more time on the nest than ever before. Mom sat for hours and then dad flew in and took over. Just when I thought there might be eggs they both proved me wrong by leaving the nest alone for way too long a time. 

911

No need to call the authorities, this is not a family dispute!

Earlier today dad, on the right, appeared on the nest a bloody mess down the front of him.

 I panicked, how did this happen?

 Did he have a territorial dispute with the neighbors, was someone picking on him??

Well actually no, he had just killed a really bloody fish and made a mess of himself. 

In this image he is almost all cleaned up.

The next drama is watching the two of them have a tizzy fit because the neighboring osprey flew too close to their nest and they're giving him what for.

giving the eagle eye, opps I mean giving the osprey eye...