Birds, eggs, young, mist nets, hummingbirds and incredible scientists delighted a group last Saturday, during our fundraiser for Burke Ornithology endowment. We had a dynamic trio of scientists to show us so many things.
This great photo by student, Eileen de la Cruz. Alejo has the bird in hand.
Introducing Dr Alejo Rico-Gueverra, the Curator of Birds and an expert on hummingbirds and nectar feeding, who presented an incredible power point of his work, conducted at his research station in Columbia. A link to a good TedEd animated show for kids is included here – also fun for adults!
Dr Scott Freeman, biologist, teacher and author was clearly showing his incredible teaching skills the way he asked questions on the forest walks to get us to think about what we were seeing. Many thanks to Scott for sharing his day and skills with us.
Dr Sievert Rohwer, whose property we toured and netted on, shows young birder Jura and mother Brita the brood patch on the sparrow. The photo above by Eileen shows the brood patch, as Sievert blew the feathers out of the way. Amazing how the females loose those feathers during breeding season in order to incubate their eggs.
The eagle release just so happened to fall on the same day – lucky for us all and Eileen with her super camera was able to get photos worth posting!
After a short hop through the field our male eagle took off, flew strongly and landed in the fir trees, where Eileen was able to get a good photo of its wings outstretched. It had been in rehab a couple weeks so no long flights until Saturday. Adjustment time for sure. It latter took off again with a strong flight.
The day was so full we didn’t have time to do all the things we hoped to cover. I did take 3 people out to see the red wing nests, eggs and one nest that had young in it. Nothing like getting the kids started early on seeing the wonders around them – beyond the screen.
If I could include in these newsletters anything else, it would be to have the scent of so many of my fragrant shrubs that surround the house come through with the photos.
The golden azalea is lovely but the small subtle flower of the eleagnus in the lower photo really takes the cake. There are 3 large old shrubs ( drought tolerant and deer proof ) by the summer house and the fragrance is a delight during the day or at night if I’m sleeping out there.
A double rare spring ephemeral ranunculus – love the green and white.
A chinese mahonia ( not sure which one ) on the UW campus not to far from Red Square. Clearly happy due to the huge fruit set!
The plantings around the Hans Rosling Center for Global Mental Health on the UW campus is worth stopping by sometime to look at. Many plants Leah and I don’t recognize and so many healthy specimens.
The photos above show Crambe maritima ( native to England ) and the healthiest one I’ve ever seen. The lower photo is the bed up on the terrace roof garden where I got to enjoy lunch last week.
Primula veris, a hose in hose kind as there are more petals – hose in hose are a very old English type I’m delighted to have.
Erin Vanhee will be teaching this Saturday in case anyone still wants to sign up – there’s room in this great class – Feral Foods of Whidbey Island. Wild collecting food, making salts and aqua fresca.
Renee Boyce of Freeland Art Shack will be participating in our Summer Market again this year on July 29 & 30. Mark your calendars for this fun event.
This Mother’s Day our floral and food event is SOLD OUT but you’ll get another chance to create gorgeous flowers and eat Matt Dillon’s incredible food on Saturday July 29, when Brita and Matt return for a class / food event. It’s not posted yet but email me if you want me to hold you a spot.
I’m working on lots of new tops with hand embroidery as well as some of the classic comfortable box dresses out of fabulous fabrics – like this shibori dyed cotton made by Gasali Adeyemo – a Yoruba man I met in Santa Fe.
Music is happening again this summer!!
Whidbey Island Music Festival dates to hold:
July 15th – Spanish Nights – Corelli, Handel (from Almira – the Spanish Queen) Sherezade Panthaki
August 13th – Bach Cello Suites
And NEW this summer – Americana music by the Townies
August 19th
Hope you can come to the market and some music as well as other classes that are happening.
Mary Fisher
www.cultusbaygardens.com
360-622-6275
7568 Cultus Bay Rd
Clinton Wa 98236