My home is filled with books. So many that I often don’t realize what I have here. Sometimes, when searching for a particular book I come across others that I’d forgotten about. This post on Lake Life today reminded me of a treasure. The Burgess Bird Book for Children was originally published in 1919. My well-used copy was published in 1965 and has color illustrations by Louis Agassiz Fuertes.

This is a wonderful book to introduce children to birds. I think I bought my copy back when I was teaching elementary school and read it on occasion to my students during the last moments of the school day. Burgess includes information about each birds’ appearance, habits, and personality incorporated into story form. He includes those birds that little children are most likely to see and the illustrations are true to life.

The story begins with the arrival of Mistress Spring. Peter Rabbit goes into the orchard looking for spring’s new arrivals and meets Jenny Wren, the local gossip, who is happy to tell him all about the other birds as they arrive in the Green Meadows. One by one Peter Rabbit meets all of the common country birds and learns about them from Jenny Wren. What is most endearing to me are the names that Burgess gives each of the birds. There is Bully the English Sparrow, Slaty the Junco, Dear Me the Phoebe, and Scrapper the Kingbird among the cast of characters. This book is worth searching out in your local library or used bookstore, even if you don’t have children. Burgess’ love for birds is obvious. Is it any wonder I love this book – bird stories told by a bunny!

You Are Mint Green

Balanced and calm, you have mastered the philosophy of living well. Your friends seek you out for support, and you are able to bring stability to chaotic situations. You’re very open and cheerful – and you feel like you have a lot of freedom in life. Your future may hold any number of exciting things, and you’re ready for all of them!

Thanks to endment for the link to this bit of fun.

A friend at work left this brochure on my desk today. She does this, every so often, because she knows how badly I want to visit the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. I almost stayed there on my honeymoon, but decided it was too expensive and probably not worth the money to be in such a beautiful place in the freezing cold weather. I had a chance a few years later when my car broke down on the Thruway at the New Paltz exit. A good mechanic nixed that chance.

I’m drawn not so much to the elegant accommodations and unique charm of the place (no in-room tv’s and they serve tea and cookies each day!), but to the breathtaking scenery. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a castle in the mountains with that view?

Whether or not you know the story of this Red-Tailed Hawk in NYC ‘s Central Park, the site has awesome photography and is updated daily in season. Have a look and enjoy! Click on photo for link.

In case you haven’t noticed the link on my sidebar to whorled leaves I’ll call your attention to it now. I’ve recently become a contributor to the group, described as “an experiment in blogging book communities… inspired by a common love for the natural world.” I’m looking forward to participating more there once we start reading the next book selection which is “Of Wolves and Men” by Barry Lopez. I picked up a copy from the local library today and am (so far) resisting the urge to begin reading it. I’m already in the middle of two other books that I would really like to finish before I start another.

I’ve never been part of a book group before, although I’ve always wanted to do so. The opportunity to talk books with like-minded people, online without the usual constraints of meeting times and such, is very appealing to me. If you have a chance, check out the link and consider joining us.

Anyone else desperate for a bit of summer color?

Red/orange/yellow are my least favorite colors in the garden, especially in combination, but I enjoy the summery feeling I get from looking at this scrapbook collage I did a few years ago. There is the trumpet vine we planted for the hummingbirds that has since overtaken the shed we planted it next to. I don’t often see the hummingbirds using it, and don’t really like the plants’ habit, but it does a nice job of camouflaging the shed that is in need of a paint job. Below the trumpet vine is a gorgeous red passion flower. Beneath that is the tropical butterfly weed that had run wild for a few years, but has since vanished from the garden. On the top right is one of the ubiquitous tiger lilies and an orange garden lily; if I remember right the original few were a *gift* from my brother when he was overrun with them. Finally, a favorite, a red chinese hibiscus.