Nicole
@theinvitinggarden.bsky.social
Transforming our boring Midwestern sea of grass into an inviting natural habitat full of native plants, birds, and wildlife.
Gardening, bird watching, & reading are how I spend my time if given the choice, whenever I’m not teaching or being the mom taxi.
Gardening, bird watching, & reading are how I spend my time if given the choice, whenever I’m not teaching or being the mom taxi.
It’s getting really crowded in the bluebird box and the babies don’t seem to happy about it. I’m guessing they’ll fledge in the next week or so. #birds
May 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It’s getting really crowded in the bluebird box and the babies don’t seem to happy about it. I’m guessing they’ll fledge in the next week or so. #birds
Some new friends have arrived this week, including an Indigo Bunting and a pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Both were high on my list of migratory birds I wanted to attract to the yard. Next on my wishlist is a Scarlet Tanager. #birds
May 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Some new friends have arrived this week, including an Indigo Bunting and a pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Both were high on my list of migratory birds I wanted to attract to the yard. Next on my wishlist is a Scarlet Tanager. #birds
It seems appropriate Mother’s Day this past weekend, that both clutches of eggs have hatched in our nesting boxes. 4/5 bluebirds for sure and at least 5/6 chickadees.
May 16, 2025 at 9:41 AM
It seems appropriate Mother’s Day this past weekend, that both clutches of eggs have hatched in our nesting boxes. 4/5 bluebirds for sure and at least 5/6 chickadees.
Ran into this Killdeer in the community garden today. Her eggs are so well camouflaged that you can barely see them under her body. Apparently I don’t appear too threatening because she doesn’t display her “broken wing” for me, just squawks very loud. #birds
May 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Ran into this Killdeer in the community garden today. Her eggs are so well camouflaged that you can barely see them under her body. Apparently I don’t appear too threatening because she doesn’t display her “broken wing” for me, just squawks very loud. #birds
We’ve also managed to deal with the House Sparrow issue (fingers crossed) and the Bluebirds moved back in and laid another clutch. Fingers crossed we can keep the sparrows out this time. #birds #easternbluebird #birdnest
April 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
We’ve also managed to deal with the House Sparrow issue (fingers crossed) and the Bluebirds moved back in and laid another clutch. Fingers crossed we can keep the sparrows out this time. #birds #easternbluebird #birdnest
Newest backyard neighbors: a nesting pair of Carolina Chickadees. She’s been incubating 6 of the most impossibly tiny eggs at least since Sunday, but possibly started as early as Friday of last week. #birds #carolinachickadee #birdnest
April 30, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Newest backyard neighbors: a nesting pair of Carolina Chickadees. She’s been incubating 6 of the most impossibly tiny eggs at least since Sunday, but possibly started as early as Friday of last week. #birds #carolinachickadee #birdnest
Think PINK 🎀 🎀 🎀
American Flamingoes, Roseate Spoonbill, and Scarlet Ibis.
(Photos taken at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA. ) Proof that Mother Nature sure is an artist. I’m not sure I’d ever go inside if these birds lived nearby. #birds
American Flamingoes, Roseate Spoonbill, and Scarlet Ibis.
(Photos taken at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA. ) Proof that Mother Nature sure is an artist. I’m not sure I’d ever go inside if these birds lived nearby. #birds
April 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Think PINK 🎀 🎀 🎀
American Flamingoes, Roseate Spoonbill, and Scarlet Ibis.
(Photos taken at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA. ) Proof that Mother Nature sure is an artist. I’m not sure I’d ever go inside if these birds lived nearby. #birds
American Flamingoes, Roseate Spoonbill, and Scarlet Ibis.
(Photos taken at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA. ) Proof that Mother Nature sure is an artist. I’m not sure I’d ever go inside if these birds lived nearby. #birds
Despite the best efforts of the bluebirds, my kids, and myself, the house sparrows destroyed the bluebird nest this week. The pair is sticking around; I hope they’ll try again. Found this egg in some tall grass tonight. Meanwhile, I’ll take any advice for dealing with unwanted house guests. #birds
April 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Despite the best efforts of the bluebirds, my kids, and myself, the house sparrows destroyed the bluebird nest this week. The pair is sticking around; I hope they’ll try again. Found this egg in some tall grass tonight. Meanwhile, I’ll take any advice for dealing with unwanted house guests. #birds
We’re really starting to show off our fancy summer feathers here. #birds #feederfriends #americangoldfinch
April 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
We’re really starting to show off our fancy summer feathers here. #birds #feederfriends #americangoldfinch
Our little clutch is growing but I don’t think she’s incubating them yet as I haven’t seen her spend significant time inside the nest box. If she’s successful, I think we’re going to need a lot of mealworms! So many little mouths to feed. #birds #operationbabybluebirds #bluebirds
April 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Our little clutch is growing but I don’t think she’s incubating them yet as I haven’t seen her spend significant time inside the nest box. If she’s successful, I think we’re going to need a lot of mealworms! So many little mouths to feed. #birds #operationbabybluebirds #bluebirds
We have eggs! I repeat, we have eggs! Operation Baby Bluebirds is officially underway. 💙💙💙💙
#birds #easternbluebird #nestingseason
#birds #easternbluebird #nestingseason
April 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
We have eggs! I repeat, we have eggs! Operation Baby Bluebirds is officially underway. 💙💙💙💙
#birds #easternbluebird #nestingseason
#birds #easternbluebird #nestingseason
A new addition to #feederfriends this week has been this Northern Mockingbird. Coincidental that I just finished teaching To Kill a Mockingbird? I think not. #birds
March 28, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A new addition to #feederfriends this week has been this Northern Mockingbird. Coincidental that I just finished teaching To Kill a Mockingbird? I think not. #birds
One last gem of a store on our Spring Break bookshop hop. Storyline opened within the last year in Upper Arlington and it’s such a sweet, magical place. #indiebookstore #bookstore #shopsmall #shoplocal
March 27, 2025 at 9:19 PM
One last gem of a store on our Spring Break bookshop hop. Storyline opened within the last year in Upper Arlington and it’s such a sweet, magical place. #indiebookstore #bookstore #shopsmall #shoplocal
Another day, and another stop on our spring break book shop hop! This time it was to Beanbag Books in Delaware, Ohio. #indiebookstores #bookstores #shopsmall #shoplocal
March 26, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Another day, and another stop on our spring break book shop hop! This time it was to Beanbag Books in Delaware, Ohio. #indiebookstores #bookstores #shopsmall #shoplocal
Signs of spring are popping up everywhere. Little streams no longer frozen over and some of the earliest flowers and leaves making themselves seen.
March 26, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Signs of spring are popping up everywhere. Little streams no longer frozen over and some of the earliest flowers and leaves making themselves seen.
Another stop on our spring break book hop. The ever charming Cover to Cover in Upper Arlington. It’s seriously the most magical and cozy place. #indiebookstores #bookstores #booksky
March 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Another stop on our spring break book hop. The ever charming Cover to Cover in Upper Arlington. It’s seriously the most magical and cozy place. #indiebookstores #bookstores #booksky
They have the grumpiest faces but somehow, it just makes them even more cute. #feederfriends #birds #nuthatch
March 25, 2025 at 9:58 PM
They have the grumpiest faces but somehow, it just makes them even more cute. #feederfriends #birds #nuthatch
Spring Break Indie Book Shop Hop. Stop 1 of 4 for this week was Gramercy Books in Bexley, OH. #indiebookshops #bookstores
March 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Spring Break Indie Book Shop Hop. Stop 1 of 4 for this week was Gramercy Books in Bexley, OH. #indiebookshops #bookstores
Such a gentleman to allow his lady first dibs on the mealworms. #birds #easternbluebird
March 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Such a gentleman to allow his lady first dibs on the mealworms. #birds #easternbluebird
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 20/20 #booksky
March 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. Day 20/20 #booksky
Quick lady, look the other way while I grab a treat or two from the feeder…
March 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Quick lady, look the other way while I grab a treat or two from the feeder…