You Capture - Blue

Beth's You Capture subject this week is Blue and as usual I turned to my backyard for inspiration.  The first place I pointed my camera was up and this is what I got.  I love this blue and how it contrasts with the clouds and the trees.
 And then it will come as no surprise to anyone that I looked to our bluebirds for my biggest inspiration.  I almost did this entire post about the habits, including pictures, of bluebirds but I decided to save that for a post of it's own.  For now I'll offer this glimpse.  Here's Dad Bluebird in the feeder gathering delicious meal worms for the kids waiting on the roof.

After breakfast Mom Bluebird and then the fledglings flew up for some sunshine and R & R.

 

That's all about the bluebirds for this week except for this morsel of good news.  There are four new blue eggs in the bluebird nest box.  Woo Hoo!

 

Now for the hydrangeas.  I have a nikko blue hydrangea that has never been blue and it's all my fault.  For blue hydrangeas, you need acidic soil and since I'm a terrible fertilizer, the soil is what it is and apparently that is sweet and that produces pink hydrangeas.  However, when I looked underneath I saw some blooms that seem to be turning blue and I wonder if the sunlight might play a part in the bloom colors.

For more shades of Blue (not Grey), visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

You Capture - Pretty

Beth's You Capture challenge this week was 'Pretty' and I looked for it everywhere starting with the small pond in our backyard.  The bluebird babies have left their nest and this one prefers the pond water - despite the net he has to navigate to get to it - to the birdbath which is constantly filled with fresh cool water.  And although he isn't the vibrant blue that he will be as an adult, his camouflage colors are absolutely gorgeous.

Next I headed to Striebel Pond where there are always wildlife photos to be had.

 And flowers.

And sunsets.  I loved this one because for at least 30 minutes I saw a giant dove in the clouds.

 And then the more dramatic sunset in the country.

Finally I returned to the backyard where the hydrangeas have never been more beautiful.

I loved 'Pretty' this week.  The only really hard part was trying to eliminate some of hundreds of pictures I took.  I can't wait to see what everybody else captured at Beth's I Should Be Folding Laundry.