Deltona Garden Community

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Kite- Eagle, Hawk Raptor Family

Sighting Deltona, Fl  May 4, 2020

Before leaving the page, there is a link at the bottom to report sightings

This afternoon I looked up to see a full grown “Swallow Tailed Kite”.  I was only equipped with my cell phone in hand which limited a nice photo.  I’m just happy to see it arrive. I’m not happy to know it is robbing nests since it is a carnivore. It’s food sources are also rodents, snakes, lizards and pests.

One of the most beautiful birds in “Deltona Florida”, the unmistakable, elegant swallow-tail kite is easily recognized by its deeply forked tail, distinctive black and white plumage, and graceful aerial displays. Juvenile birds can be identified by the lack of the deeply forked tail.

Swallow-tailed kites are almost always seen in the air. If you are lucky enough to be able to watch one for any length of time you will notice them swoop to pluck an insect out of the sky or a fledgling bird from a nest, and then eat the meal while flying.  Swallow-tail kites feed entirely on the wing, primarily on insects, lizards, frogs, snakes and small birds.  They drink on the wing like a swallow, swooping low to snatch water from the surface of a river or lake.

Swallow-tail kites arrive in Florida from South America in late February to mid-March.  They are most obvious at this time of the year as they carry sticks, moss and other nesting material to their chosen nest site.  Nests are usually in the top of one of the tallest trees in a pine or cypress stand.

After the two or three young fledge, the adults and young birds fly south again, first gathering in communal roosts in south Florida before migrating to South America.  One such roost near Fisheating Creek near Lake Okeechobee contained approximately 2,000 birds.  In 1996, Dr Ken Meyer attached radio transmitters to 6 swallow-tailed kites and followed their migration route through Cuba, Mexico and Central America to their wintering area in Brazil.

Click here to find out where you can report swallow-tailed kite sightings in your area.

Article info reference courtesy WildFlorida.com

So many things come to life at night.

Sweet Dreams ✨🌟✨

I miss the tiny little Downy Woodpecker.
Unfortunately the tree where the little one called home, no longer exists.

Cutting down dead trees, can sometimes destroy a living habit. Unsightly? Yes.

I recently had the top half of a twisted oak tree cut and left the tall trunk for woodpeckers.  It sits in the very back hidden. There looks to be hundreds of poke holes all over the dead tree trunk.
I had attracted the king of woodpeckers to that tree a few weeks ago. You guessed it. The red headed Piliated Wood Woodpecker!  Ripped off a good portion of tree bark at the top of pine. Simply a beautiful bird.

Reminising about my little Downy I thought I’d share my past houseguest with you.

Adobe Spark Page close up of the
Downy Woodpecker

Free PDF

Photo by Mareefe on Pexels.com

Photo by Olenka Sergienko on Pexels.com

Cherokee Herbal Remedies

This year I used only Non GMO seeds.

The tomatoes have been amazing producers. The trunks are 3″ around and very sturdy. The difference is remarkable.

I had to buy a trellis to hold up the heavier tomatoes. I used “knee high” stockings to tie up branches. The nylon is forgiving and will stretch during growth with no damage to branch.

My mother taught me to use a nylon stocking to put the tomato in while growing so bugs can’t destroy the fruit. I haven’t had to do that but it’s also a useful recycling tip for those old stockings!

The garden has exploded and the heat is definitely on. I placed my plants in semi shade to get through the hottest summer weather. It only took 30 years to figure this out!

I watched the movement of the sunrise and sunset as it changes and placed plants accordingly. Brilliant idea!!!

I’ve eaten as many salads as I can with tomatoes but I just can’t keep up!! So freezing for spaghetti sauce which I look forward to soon!!

The trick to a longer growing season is from ground zero up. Keeping the base of the plants in shade is the key. The height reaches the sun where it’s most needed! Also a sheet of weed barrier helps hold moisture.

It’s so hot. “How hot is it”? It’s so hot that I hope the garden survives without me.

My husband informed me it was 100 degrees today.

Here is a little update of what the rest of the yard looks like. The pond still needs work but the Koi aren’t picky how it looks!

Celery 2 yrs old. Good producers from seed.

See ya soon – AJ the great white lizard hunter ❤️

I often think of the song “Woodstock” performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

”We have got to get ourselves back to the garden”

Did you know Joanie Mitchell wrote the song Woodstock for CSNY to sing at Woodstock?

WOODSTOCK
by Joanie Mitchell

I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him where are you going
And this he told me
I’m going on down to Yasgur’s farm
I’m going to join in a rock ‘n’ roll band
I’m going to camp out on the land
I’m going to try an’ get my soul free

We are stardust
We are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden

Then can I walk beside you
I have come here to lose the smog
And I feel to be a cog in something turning
Well maybe it is just the time of year
Or maybe it’s the time of man
I don’t know who I am
But you know life is for learning

We are stardust
We are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden

By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere there was song and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Riding shotgun in the sky
And they were turning into butterflies
Above our nation

We are stardust
Billion year old carbon
We are golden
Caught in the devil’s bargain
And we’ve got to get ourselves
back to the garden

August 2019. Will it happen – I do not know. Rumors of cancellation.

The lineup for Woodstock 50 is officially here.
Jay-Z, The Killers, Chance the Rapper, The Black Keys, Halsey, Robert Plant, Miley Cyrus, Common, Janelle Monae, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, and Jack White’s The Raconteurs are among the big-name artists scheduled to perform at the official 50th anniversary concert festival on Aug. 16-18, 2019, in Watkins Glen, N.Y.