All that Jazz-mine

Here in northern California, we've had nearly a week of great weather after several weeks of mostly rain. We don't get snow where I live, so rain is as intense as it gets here, and we had more than usual, thank goodness. I didn't water my
jasmine for over a month, yet the roots found a source of nourishment which resulted in the first blossom on Monday.


One corner of the vine has the first cluster of blooms. The fragrance is wonderful and most intense at night for this Star Jasmine.



This little group of flowers is just on the other side of the fence so my neighbor can enjoy them too.


My bonus today as I was photographing the flowers was a fabulous spider web full of drops from a brief rain shower.
It's amazing that what looks like a delicate webbing could stretch like a hammock under the weight of the water and still keep itself together!


I also heard a couple of house finches chirping to one another in the beginning of their quest for the best nesting area of these vines. I have 2 sections of it and recently cut their favorite one waaaay back thinking it was early enough to grow back for their nesting dates, but they are scoping the area out early this year. Last year, 2 mating pairs fought over the same section of vines so one pair is smarter this time around.

Any hints of spring yet where you live considering 49 states in the union recently had snow at the same time???

Cupcakes & Nature

Okay everyone, the Cupcake Giveaway from the previous post is still going strong in it's first of 4 weeks! The next giveaway will be shorter I promise since I've now learned that the first couple of days are when most contestants sign up...lesson learned. Next one will be a week or less.

So today I'm showing you some fun stuff going on in my neighborhood starting with a question:

"Y" did my cucumber have no seeds in its center??? Look at that first picture: I peeled the cuke and sliced it and there was this "y" cutout inplace of seeds...how funny. I just had to take a photo it was so bizarre!

Speaking of bizarre, spring is SO out of whack this year. For heaven's sake, it started in January here in northern California! We barely had winter but plenty of rain so the

grassy hillsides are incredibly green. Never before have my husband's allergies kicked up in January...wow. My daffodils were in full bloom in February...okay whatEVER. I'm just takin' it as it comes 'cuz I never KNOW when it's coming.

And now our usual spring birdies are back as well. For nearly 10 years, the bright red chested male house finches


start scamming our front yard's jasmine vines for nesting possibilities. I started hearing him and the female last week along with the Mourning Doves that always visit in spring. The doves love our side fence for its protection and yesterday they were preening there. They are so soft and pretty and I am mesmerized by their sweet eyes soft cooing.

Something I've never experienced before are house finch nesting wars! There was great commotion going on yesterday and when I peeked out the window to hopefully snap some photos I saw 2 mating pairs fighting each other, I assume for nesting rights in the bushy jasmine. The females were slamming into each other and then the pairs would take off on a chase, but I could still hear them continuing their fight throughout the neighborhood before returning to our yard...and doing it all over again...quite violent but really funny.

The star jasmine just began blooming this week. I so look forward to their deep and heady fragrance that is only released at night.

I'd love to hear the strange and early nature twists are YOU experiencing in your neighborhood.