Dianthus (Firewitch)
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Woodshed
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8 comments:
Happy, happy Hump Day!!!
I wonder how this Dianthus would taste?????? Kind of sweet with a hint of cloves?
Here in the swamp it looks like it is going to be a BODACIOUS day weatherwise. Far be it from me to be the one who puts a monkeywrench into that plan. So, have a great Wednesday.
Carl, from last night, I think the Maple is a broadleaf (or a Vine) and yes, we see the little Box Elder bugs all the time. In fall they are on the side of the house. There are not too many of them so I just let them be. They move so slow they are easy to catch if they come in the house...I just take them outside and put them on a plant somewhere, I do the same thing with small spiders I find in the house. The large black spiders are a different story! They go on to their 'reward' in a hurry. Shudder.
The cover flower is so pretty!! I've never seen one like that. Do they bloom all summer?
I was on a walk this morning when I was chased several blocks by 2 crows, they actually dived at me twice!!! I was beginning to get very worried but when I crossed a busy street, they did not follow. So weird! They might have had young in a nest close to where I walked - that is all I can think of. I've been walking that route for nearly 30 years and that is the first time this has happened. Joe said that happened to him a few weeks ago and every morning for about 4 days, the crows would chase him for a few blocks. Reminded me of Hitchcock's "The Birds".
Carol - Religiously deadhead the Dianthus(all varieties - Carnations, Pinks, Firewitch, Sweet Williams, etc.) as the blooms die off. Also, prune the foliage back about six weeks after the first blossom to stretch the bloom season to last all Summer. They propagate by seed, cuttings, or layering so they will spread if left unattended.
I'm betting the Crows might have a nest somewhere close. If you examine the trees in the area, you might be able to see it. It'll be about 50 to 60 feet above the ground. You may not be able to actually see the nest but you should be able to see a spot that the Crows repeatedly go to once the chicks hatch.
One other possibility is that they had a chick that had fledged and was on the ground somewhere in the area. Late May and June is about the time when this might happen.
Crows are very intelligent and interesting but they will not pick a fight with you unless they have something they are trying to protect. If you watch them for a while, you will see them gang-attack anything that gets too close to the nest or is in any way a threat to the flock. Hawks and Cats are almost always in for a serious attack by the entire flock.
They won't just "chase" people. If someone has been throwing rocks or threatening them, however, they will get fairly aggressive but they won't actually make contact. They'll just try to make you think they will. With enough patience you can get a crow to peacefully land on your arm or shoulder. Offering them food is the best way for this. I've had a couple that would land on my extended hand to take a piece of bread. They really appreciate the dish on the ground more. It's interesting that when they eat the food given, some of them will place a rock in the pan. I suspect they are offering something in trade but I don't know for sure and I might be giving them credit for more intelligence than they actually have. :o)
Carol - By "prune the foliage" I mean to remove about a fourth or no more than half of it. Don't take it clear down to the crown or it won't come back in time to continue blooming.
Carl, thanks so much for your advise on the Dianthus!!
As to the crows, I don't think you are giving them too much credit for intelligence. They are very smart birds and I have heard that they do indeed 'attack' anything that gets too close to their nests. They also will be a 'friend' to you too. When that happened to me this morning, I heard all this commotion and looked up into a very tall fir tree and saw 2 crows 'hollering' at each other, when I stopped to look all the noise quit and to the other side of me, 2 other crows were sitting on a telephone line. I started walking again and that is when the 2 on the line started diving at me. I have heard they remember people or other creatures and will continue the activity. This is apparently true as Joe said the ones that followed him are still doing it!! I thought they had quit, but it was just that Joe hadn't mentioned it again. With him though, it isn't an aggressive behavior, they just fly ahead of him and wait for him to catch up to them, then they repeat the process. This goes on each day for several blocks. Obviously it's a sensitive time of year for them.
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