“Perched on the edge of both Sapsucker Woods and its 10-acre pond, these feeders attract both forest species like chickadees and woodpeckers as well as some species that prefer open environments near water like Red-winged Blackbirds.”

“The USDA says the ants can negatively impact local ecosystems by displacing native ants and other species that act as seed dispersers.” 🌱

“This bird belongs to the flycatcher family, best known for their distinct feeding behavior of perching on branches before flying out to catch an insect in mid-air. This bird was seen hunting for insects in the foliage near the fruit feeder and showing off this unique feeding strategy.”

My dark purple beardless iris bloomed while I was away 😍

“Crenshaw, a professor of law at UCLA and Columbia University and executive director of the African American Policy Forum, has just published a new book, "Backtalker: An American Memoir." #blackbooksky

“Renowned trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis has launched a new project, a kind of call and response for these times.” 🎺🎺🎺 #JazzCallForFreedom

•Allium •Bearded Iris •Row of Alliums among a variety of Sedums

•Robin’s egg

The beardless iris have bloomed 🙌🏽

“Here, we catch one of those fleeting moments when the owlets gather with the female, peeking out from beneath her feathers after a morning feeding.”

A new visitor to the feeder. My phone identifies it as a Brown-headed Cowbird. 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️ The other birds were annoyed that I was near the feeder, as it was dinner time. This bird was unbothered.

The other day I spent time in my backyard pulling weeds. I definitely need to fill in all the bare spots with more ground covers, as the weeds are winning…for now.

“A conversation with the amazing Ayana Gray about I, MEDUSA.” #blackbooksky

🎧

“Seven performers — poets, actresses, and singers — read their own and other Black women writers' works, which span themes of love, identity, motherhood, addiction, Black power, and the complicated ways Black women were seen and unseen by the world around them.”

“The species seen here include the Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, the Violet-bellied Hummingbird, the Blue-chested Hummingbird, the White-necked Jacobin, and the Long-billed Hermit.”

“Imole de, okunkun parada. Light comes, darkness hides.” —Yoruba Phrase “By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed.” —Ghanaian Proverb Chapters 14 & 15 in the Chronicles of Ori contains lessons upon lessons.

“A conversation with Mawiyah Kai El-Jamah Bomani about HOODOO SAINTS AND ROOT WARRIORS.” #blackbooksky

“Bottles trees originated with the Kongo culture, the kingdom from which a significant number of enslaved Black Americans came.” —Dr. Imani Perry, Black in Blues 💙💙💙

It would be nice if Walgreens gave you a shot for every shot you get. My arm is feeling real tender… Pour it up, pour it up 💉💉💉🥃🥃🥃

“Leah Penniman, farmer and Awo, will demonstrate the art of Black Earth listening and the practice of reciprocity. Participants will be invited to explore their own ancestral lineages’ spiritual engagement with the land.” 🌱

Happy Earth Day 🌍 from the Black AF In STEM Collective! Today, we celebrate the Earth and the resilience of those who, like migratory birds, have journeyed across lands, waters, and skies in search of freedom, belonging, and home.

“When we are still enough, we can hear the voice and lessons of the earth.” -Leah Penniman, Black Earth Wisdom 🌱 Happy Earth Day! #blackbooksky

•Dianthus or Creeping Phlox 🤔🤔🤔 The habit is like a Creeping Phlox. •Giant Purple Allium •Row of Purple Bearded Irises I love to get up early and walk through my garden. I have no choice really as the King of Asgard (senior dog) has no regard for your time. 🦮🐾

“As he works on biting away leaves from the perch, you can hear two other males duetting in the canopy ("que-rico!"), advertising the location to passing females.”

Today was a good day. 🚶🏾‍♀️🚶🏾‍♀️🚶🏾‍♀️

•’Boom Chocolatta' Hardy Geranium •Limelight Hydrangea •Hosta •Variegated Hosta This freeze/thaw cycle is causing damage in the garden. 🫤🫤🫤

I have never planted Borage, but it has done well being winter sown in a recycled bag.

•Purple Bearded Iris

Only in the Midwest…

I dropped my phone while pulling weeds and this was the photo that appeared in my camera roll. See, this is why my legs and arse be hurting…lunges and squats while weeding. ☺️

•Candy Corn Spirea •Alliums, Angelina Sedum, Coral Bells, Hosta, and Chocolate Chip Ajuga •Purple Bearded Iris •Purple Phlox flanked by Veronica Speedwell

Thousands in Gary gathered at West Side Leadership Academy Monday as members of the Jackson family, brought 'Michael,' a biopic of the late music legend, back home to Indiana. “It brought tears to our eyes. It was like watching our brother again.” #BlackskyNews capitalbnews.org/michael-jack...

“Watch the older owlet (hatched April 12) and its hours-old sibling peek out from beneath the female Barred Owl in the nest box on the evening of April 14.”

Becky, Becky, BECKY! Clay Cane has the patience of Job!!!

•Tulip 🌷🌷🌷

Overnight frost… •Tulip •Chocolate Chip Ajuga •Yarrow •Lamb’s Ear

Although I’m in a community where we are reading Chronicles of Ori aloud, I’m still using both my physical book and the audiobook. The imagery in this book is really stunning and the audiobook is beautifully narrated by Délé Ogundiran. Chapters 12-Lamuradu and 13-Oduduwa ✅✅✅

Prayerful by Tamara Natalie Madden, Garden Art for the Soul. Available at gardenartforthesoul.com

"Venus" by Daniel Boone, acrylic on canvas.

Community Reads Completed: •Born in Blackness ✅ •The Salt Eaters ✅ I’m still reading Chronicles of Ori…learning about the Orishas. Up next…Two and a possible! ☺️☺️☺️ •Black in Blues •The Second Emancipation •Yurugu…not shown and not sure about this one, as it’s a dense read. #blackbooksky

It’s definitely a tulip. 🌱 You were correct @luvrunr.bsky.social ✨✨✨ I don’t remember buying or planting any. Let’s see what other surprises are in store.

“10 singers that are common across much of North America: Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Killdeer, American Robin, Chipping Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, Northern Yellow Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat.” youtu.be/y_Qth14J5Lk?...

“While working full-time in manufacturing, the storied Fryar began cultivating what would grow into a globally acclaimed garden, shaping hundreds of plants into intricate, whimsical forms.” 🌱 🛎️🛎️🛎️🕊️

Outside pulling weeds near newly emerged plants… •Lamb’s Ear •Giant Allium •Hosta •Allium or Tulip I don’t remember buying any tulips. We shall see. 🧐🌱

“Lonely, ain't it? Yes, but my lonely is mine. Now your lonely is somebody else's. Made by somebody else and handed to you. Ain't that something? A secondhand lonely.” —Toni Morrison, Sula Nel & Sula are still on my mind. 1940 is definitely my favorite chapter, so thoughtfully written-POWERFUL!!!

New seeds 🌱 •Armenian Yard-Long Cucumber •Rosa Bianca Eggplant •Snowflake Snapdragon •Cubanelle Pepper •Mini Red Bell Pepper •Purple Plum Radish •Golden Zucchini •Rainbow Swiss Chard •Banana Legs Tomato •Cherry-licious Mix Tomatoes This will be the last batch of seeds that I buy this year. 🫣

“What started as a small gathering behind the Museum of Science and Industry in 1990 is now the world’s longest-running house music festival. Each year, over 40,000 people come together for music, culture, and community led by the legendary Chosen Few DJs.” #HouseSky #HouseMusic #ChosenFew #July11th