Garden Pic Wednesday: Huge Marigolds

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Watching the birds at the feeder and suet cage that hangs on the feeder is always amusing. The suet I buy is full of dried mealy worms and seeds. I bought it in particular for Bluebirds, since mealy worms are their favorite---but until just this month, not a Bluebird has been interested. Then suddenly, within the past 2 weeks, a pair of Bluebirds discovered it and they've now become regulars at the suet-bar. Woodpeckers and all the other birds love that suet, too! 
The other day a Downy Woodpecker was hanging on the front of the suet cage and a Mrs. Bluebird was sitting on the top edge. Mr. Bluebird flew in and landed next to her. The Downy promptly pecked at him to shoo him off and Mr. Bluebird flew away.
It was hilarious.
The Woodpeckers are quite possessive of the suet. The Downy Woodpecker is actually the most tolerant of other birds sharing his suit and he's intimidated by the larger Woodpeckers.
Both the Red-Headed and the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers fly in and land on suet with pomp and fanfare it scares all the other birds off the suet, which I think they do on purpose.
Just have to laugh.

Today 's first Garden Pic is this HUGE Marigold!
It's in the bed out front by the mailbox. It's from seed the neighbor gave me that they get in charity fund requests sometimes.
 Of all the seedlings, these 4 out front are the only ones that have done really well despite the fact this bit of ground is literally an oven baking in the sun.
You can see a Cardinal Basil in the bottom corner; Pinks and Gaillardia in the background.





The second Pic is the Ground Cover behind those Marigolds:
That's Creeping Thyme on the left and Creeping Basil on the right, slowly inching it's way over the bed.
You can see a Purple Shamrock near the bottom of the photo. 



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