unfolding flowers

It is lovely to see all these new beginnings.
Fresh flowers and buds, covered with drops of a mild rain.

ladybird

Ladybird on my door, trying to get inside.

vine

Unfolding leaves of the vine.

I wonder what the vine is going to do this year.
Last year, mostly leaves..maybe 3 to 5 bunch of grapes ... though bigger than normal.
The grapes were too big for a blackbird to swallow.
So they did not eat them.
The grapes sat so long on the vine, so that they became really sweet.

I wonder if ....this year....maybe some more?

apple beginnings?

About a week ago, the apple tree was in full bloom.

some showers later the blossom leaves are almost gone.
On the ground a carpet of white.
I wonder if there are new beginnings of apple?

Blue cloud

A perfect blue cloud is hanging right before my doorstep.
The Wisteria, (blauwe regen) has started to unfold its beauty.
In the evening, and also during the day, it also spreads a lovely fragrance.
During the evening the scent is much stronger.

Every year when its buds are unfolding it is always a surprise,
as if you had forgotten how lovely it was.

Twirling

A small blossom leaf of the apple tree, hanging on a spider-silk
twirling around by the wind

unfolding leaves

Because of the warmer temperatures and a little bit of showers,
the beech leaves are suddenly awakening.
I love it to see these beautiful wrapped buds unfolding.

continuing building

view of the female right 

and left side.

The flycatchers are doing well.
They continued nest building... all kind of leaves and little branches are stored inside.
The female brings in the belongings, while he keeps an eye on her.
So now and then he goes inside the birdhouse, to see if everything is placed on the right place.
Later she went to the birdbath for a good splash...

It worked!

I was just thinking, reasoning and arguing with myself...being not so sentimental...

these thing happen...sometimes these birds don't find a mate, 

because the female flycatcher, also coming all the way from Africa, 

always arrives one or two weeks later.

Maybe she has had an accident on the way... or maybe there are fewer females or more males...

Then...when I looked outside how the flycatcher is doing...

I saw Her!

It Worked!

Miracle...!

She arrived...I could hardly believe my eyes....

Thank you for sending her!

The female flycatcher arrived!!!!!

She sat near the nest box...I knew for sure it was her. notice the difference:
she is more brown, 

and her white stripes on the wings are smaller.

Flycatcher male, more dark, and bigger white stripes on the wings.

They seemed to like each other!

She inspected the birdhouse number 2, one of the houses he had chosen for her.

She inspected the house several times....flying in and out...away...coming back...going in and out again...

and repeated this for a while.

Then to my surprise, she immediately started to collect some housekeeping materials

and pulling the things inside.

He checked if everything was going fine and see if any help was needed.

 He sat for a while in the blossoming apple tree, being very romantic

and being very happy with his lovely bride.

call for a female flycatcher.

For 4 days I did not see the flycatcher anymore.
I thought he was snatched by a cat... of course the neighbors cat.
Bibi only catches mice and Fluffy is not outside so much yet.

I missed him, the flycatcher..such a lovely bird, coming all the way from Africa, and now... finally here...after so many many miles...grabbed by a cat.
I could not stand it, though I know this drama happens almost every day someplace somewhere.

Then to my great surprise, I noticed him again!
Still searching for a nest box, flying from one nest box to another.
But he has no mate yet...
He is singing his call for a mate almost all day.

Maybe you can help?
So here is a call for a mate for the flycatcher.
Please be so kind and sent a female flycatcher to my garden for this lovely bird.

Party

The Malus (lfiry red apple tree) is having a party.
It is feasting and celebrating life on the top of his lungs.
Beautiful blushing red buds...turning white when in blossom.

There are so many flowers...that could mean...so many apples in autumn and winter time.

dozing

Fluffy dozing, Bibi keeping an eye open, in between the dozing.

Queen out

While going out to get a new canvas, 

The butterfly thought he could do it without my support.

When I came back I found him, perfectly perched on the stick,

a little above the empty cocoon.

Because it is cold and rainy I keep him in the glasshouse, till the weather gets sunny and shiny.

Cocoon Swallowtail becoming more transparant

Today I sat a long time...keeping watch.
ready with my camera, lovely sunshine...
Until it just started to rain and the butterfly still not moving.
However I photographed and filmed the transformation already so many times the years before.
that it is not a problem..that I won't capture it again.

The transparency has become even more.
Black dots shining through on the rear end, which were not there  yesterday.

Cocoons Swallowtail

Yesterday one of the cocoons of the Swallowtail came out.
A beautiful butterfly fluttered against the window of the glasshouse
in which I had kept them stored over wintertime.
I let him fly right away.

Yesterday I noticed that the next one is planning to come soon.
A few days ago, both cocoons looked almost the same...
deep green colored.(like the one on the bottom)
When the butterfly plans to come out, the cocoon gets transparent.
The yellow and black colors of the wings are shining though.(top one)

However it is a lucky chance, when you are just in time to see the butterfly coming out.
In just a few seconds he's out.
So to stay all day on the look out,
I don't know...

First day stamp

The day before yesterday....  my niece gave birth to a beautiful delightful daughter.
I was asked to design the baby card
and along with that the first day stamp on the envelope.
Today I received the card in the mail.