The Goldfinch

I don't want to get ahead of myself, here -- because it could all change in the blink of an eye -- but we are having an amazingly beautiful spring so far! I took Olga to Fortune Green and the cemetery yesterday, and there were so many people and children and dogs out that it was hard to find space to throw the Kong.

We managed it a few times at the cemetery, but even there, we encountered four or five women and their various small furry yipping dogs. They all circled Olga like paparazzi around Kim Kardashian. Olga slunk away to a secluded spot and chewed on her Kong, preferring to keep her own company.

Dave and I had a busy morning in the garden. We planted the acanthus, back by the bench where we sit with our evening G&Ts. Dave dug a gigantic hole, more power to him, and we maneuvered the plant into place. I think it will like that spot. (It had better, because it's not going anywhere ever again.)

This was the big news of the day -- a goldfinch on the goldfinch feeder! You may remember that Dave saw two on the feeder back in February, but I hadn't seen any at all. Then this one showed up and not only could I watch it for a while, but I had the camera handy. Woo hoo!

As you can see in this extremely blown-up version of the shot above, the goldfinch has a banded leg. I guess it must be part of a research project.

Finally, here's our latest plant rescue effort. You may remember that last year a wild foxglove appeared at the side of the house, growing in a pavement crack. We left it alone and it reseeded itself, but its offspring was growing in a seam in a pipe coming from our upstairs neighbor's flat. Well, they're not going to want that foxglove lousing up their plumbing, and in fact I doubt it could have survived there anyway.

So I gingerly pulled the plant out, but only a tiny cluster of roots came with it. We put it in a glass on the kitchen windowsill, where I'm hoping it will grow more roots so we can put it in the garden somewhere. It might be a long shot.

Last night we went to dinner with our pals Chris and Linda, at a crazy place in Kensington with a very elaborate rooftop garden. There were trees and a pond and flamingoes walking around -- all on top of an old department store building. Surreal!