Bud 'n Debb in Portal
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When we're in Tucson, We play with the Arizona Banjo Blasters at venues around Tucson and Green Valley.  Happy Banjo Music for your Listening Pleasure.

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wildflowers & city flowers

4/23/2015

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Thanks to our lovely winter rains, there has been a profusion of wildflowers along the highways, hillsides and fields throughout southern Arizona.  On a recent drive to Douglas along Hwy 80 we saw huge expanses of yellow composites and Verbena as well as Indian Blanket, Primrose, Prickly Poppy, Lotus and several unidentified colorful masses.
At the San Simon Cienega pond there were fields of yellow and when we walked through them our shoes turned yellow from all the pollen!  The pond is drying up considerably, but I think it might still have water until July when the monsoon rains come.
In our yard in Tucson an Agave stalk started to grow a month ago and on Monday when we were there, it is now 12 feet tall and blooming beautifully.  The Palo Verde Trees and Prickly Pear Cactus as well as the Saguaros are blooming now too!  We hope when we get back to Tucson this weekend, we'll get to see our Torch Cactus bloom.  We missed it last year when we were in Portal, but we might time it right this year to see some flowers.  It generally blooms the first week in May.
In our yard in Portal we have a lot of "city" plants that we aren't real sure of because they were here when we bought the place, but we had Lilacs and now Roses and Irises blooming.  The Wisteria that stretches across the back of the house is a monster and we can barely see out the windows, the plant is so big.  The flowers are beautiful and smell lovely.  This fall we'll be cutting it back and building a new arbor to replace the old rotted wooden one that can no longer support the huge plants.
It is peak birding season here in Portal now through May and there are birders on our road at all hours of the day with their binoculars and cameras.  We enjoy pointing out the birds like the Great Horned Owls if we see where they are day perching.  The birders appreciate the tips.
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Spring & Summer Birds in Portal

4/18/2015

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Today was a great day for birding in our Portal yard.  Across the road in our neighbors yard the male Great Horned Owl was day perched in a cottonwood tree.  He frequents that tree, so I look for him there and in spite of his attempts to stay hidden from most of the people with binoculars on Rockhouse Road, I found him.
We then heard a beautiful song from high in our pine trees.  It took a while but we spotted a beautiful male Summer Tanager.  The first of the season.  He sang for a good 1/2 hour!  From there we walked downtown to the Portal Store & Cafe to record the tanager on the bird sighting list.  There we were able to see the day perched Western Screech Owl that used to be at the Library, but has moved downtown. :)
Back in our yard we sat for a short while and saw the male Bullock's Oriole cautiously approach the jelly feeder and get a little sweetness.  He didn't stick around long, but I did get a picture.  The Summer Tanager approached the jelly feeder too, but was intimidated by both the male and female Scott's Orioles.  Finally it just forged in and got some sweet grape jelly too.   We haven't had the Lazuli Buntings in the yard yet, but they are being seen just down the road, so any day now, they'll find our bird haven.
We worked on our water feature in the butterfly/hummingbird garden this week.  Our friend Kathy brought some Verbena and helped me plant them.  Yesterday I purchased some Penstemons
from Barbara Miller and planted them and though more than half of the plants are drooping, I think enough will survive to fill in the area and reseed themselves.  The water feature is working as we hoped and eventually we'll have a return channel to an underground cistern for recycling the water.
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Banding Hummingbirds

4/15/2015

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I've always wondered how do they get those tiny little bands on the tiny little legs of those tiny little birds?
Last Sunday we participated in the hummingbird banding at the George Walker House in Paradise and it was fascinating!
I got to record the data for each bird captured and helped with their release after they were measured and fed.
Bud manned the nets to trap the little sprites.  it's a neat experience we intend to help with every other Sunday through September when we're in Portal.
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Life in Portal

4/14/2015

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Life in Portal is busy, yet relaxed.  There is always something to do and some days, so many things going on that you have to choose which you want to participate in.
The St. Patrick's Day Parade is a big event with lots of participation.  Actually, there are probably more people in the parade, than watching it!  The parade musters in our yard (formerly Penny's yard) and we've decided to continue the tradition.  This year we also organized and led the Kazoo Band. 
Participants in the parade are two, four and no legged.  The Mullen boys brought their pet snakes to return them to Ireland!  The parade mascot was an adorable donkey who was a little overwhelmed with the crowd and all the horses and dogs.
The parade route is a straight line from our yard, past the Library and Post Office to the Portal Store & Cafe.  About 1/4 mile and it's over pretty quickly.  Everyone gathers in the library after the parade for the introduction of our new honorary mayor and to sing Irish songs.  It's a fun day.
We are trying to hike or at least walk a few miles every day and sometimes we're just too busy!  I'm working on my butterfly & hummingbird garden now and hope to get it finished next week with flowering native plants and a water feature.
The gray foxes and striped skunks are regular visitors in the yard, cleaning up the birdseed that is dropped on the ground each day.  Our cliff chipmonks have kids and Mr. Brown (our dog) watches them through the windows as they nibble the flowers off the Wisteria.
The Friends of the Myrtle Kraft Library opened the bookstore with much fanfare and a hotdog lunch.  Recognition was given to Jon & Mary Lacey for their yearlong dedication to getting the building stabilized for use.  Thanks also to Peter Grill for his hard work.

It does take a village!
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Spring Has Sprung

4/10/2015

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Our neighborhood Great Horned Owls are active at sundown and we've been privileged to see the male display for the female before their evening hunt.  They obviously have nestlings, since both parents are hunting in the evenings.  It's still too early for the nestlings to be showing themselves, but in a couple more weeks, they should be coming out branching.
Elf Owls and Western Screech Owls are calling each evening and can be reliably spotted in their chosen nest cavities at sundown and early morning.
Our yard birds include 6 species of hummingbirds so far: Blue Throated, Magnificent, Broad-Tailed, Broad-Billed, Rufous & Black Chinned.  We're still hoping to see a Calliope.  Yesterday we saw an Osprey over Portal/Paradise Road at Cave Creek Road.  On it's way north, it didn't stick around, just passing through.
We've been hiking a lot, trying to get back into shape after our sedentary winter.
Hooded and Scott's Orioles have arrived, but haven't seen a Bullock's yet.  Each day brings something new. 

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    Bud & I bought our dream house in Portal in December 2013 and find ourselves in a heaven on earth in this beautiful friendly community.

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