House of the Rising Sun-flower

Just finished one of the best books I've ever read on attracting birds to the back yard. It's called Best-Ever Backyard Birding Tips by Deborah L. Martin. I've always been somewhat casual about attracting birds, believing that those feathered folk who wanted to come would show up. Then I began reading about the importance of birds in pest control and pollination and decided I needed more help in the both departments. Evans is a delight to read. She assumes no prior knowledge. Her last hint is, if you have time to do only one thing plant a sunflower. Black oil sunflower seed is the preferred delight of most birds in NE Fla.

The Lime in Winter

Mornings on the St. Johns shore have been heartbreakingly gorgeous. First, the cosmic artist drenches the sky with ebony which fades into blue;then a slash of apricot appears. Birds begin to zip westward. They are silhouettes of aerodynamic zoom and purpose. Later in the morning the Top Gun pilots will try to emulate them, much higher and so very much louder.