A Bird Nest - Three is a Crowd

Unknowingly my domestic helper snipped off the two yellowed leaves of the Hydrangea macrophylla bush where the bird nest was attached.

I held the nest wondering what to do with it when we heard the mother bird chirping frantically away on top of a tree nearby.

Hydrangea macrophylla

Bauhenia kockiana

22 Dec 2012: I then used some green garden twine and secured the nest to several stems of Hydrangea and to a metal stake for Bauhenia kockiana. I then tied the upper stems together so that the leaves arch over the nest forming a protective canopy to shelter them from the elements.

 

 No sooner had I finished the job, it rained cats and dogs. Phew, just in time!

24 December 2012: As the babies nestled in the cramped nest, Santa and Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer visited.

 25 December 2012: The fluffy yellow down was beginning to show.

26 December 2012: I went to check on them early in the morning. Their feathers have grown longer and thicker. 

 
 
27 December 2012 am: Both parents took care of their progenies. They constantly flew to and fro with grub in their beaks while at the same time chirping shrilly.

The babies stirred from their sweet slumber. It was feeding time.  
 "God gives every bird its food, but he does not throw it into the nest"
~Josiah Gilbert Holland

27 December 2012 pm:  By evening, they've acquired a thick mantle of downs and feathers and were more alert.

28 December 2012 pm

Nest Address:    No 27, Hydrangea Lane, Lake Edge.

Nest Residents: Tweety, Peety and Weety

29 December 2012 pm:   Early this morning, Tweety, Peety and Weety had flown the nest with mum. I was too late to record their maiden flight. Now, I'm suffering from empty-nest syndrome. The nest is framed by the Hydrangea, Jasmine and Bauhenia kockiana shrubs.

Changing Hues of Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangeas are common in temperate climes but it can still be planted succesfully in the tropics if conditions are rendered suitable.  It is imperative to plant them  in partial shade or under filtered sunlight. Copious amount of water is needed to counter the onslaught of the harsh afternoon sun, otherwise they will wilt and look very sorry.

 

This bush of Hydrangea was about six months old before it started to bloom. It originated from a cutting taken from the Mother bush. Based on my own personal experience, Hydrangea cuttings take root easily with almost 100% success rate.

A common garden snail moved in the direction of this bloom. From my observation, snails don't fancy hydrangeas as tasty grubs. Actually it was merely seeking refuge under the leaves before the sun burns fiercely down.

 
The buds start off as green with the blue hue coming later as they blossom.

A few clusters can be found on the same branch.


This single inflorescence is terminal and is so large ...

 it drooped under its own weight.

A hint of pink start to appear on the blue blooms.

 

The colours gradually fade.

Hydrangeas can change colour according to the soil type. I took a cutting from a bush of blue hydrangeas and planted it on the other side of the garden. Months later, I was pleasantly surprised ...

 to find this pink hue on the first blooms.

Subsequent blooms remained pink ever since. I hope that it would not revert to its original blue colour as I have lots of the latter.

As the flowers matured, they took on a bluish tinge.

This touch of blue is quite prominent on this cluster which ...

faded as it aged.

This bloom is about three months old. It still look good so I am reluctant to deadhead it.

 

A tree frog was resting quietly on the stem, partially hidden from view.

I lifted up its cover to get a better image. It had no objection at all and allowed me to take as many pictures as I wished. It is a cute little thingy in spite of its slimy look.

Life is a travelling to the edge of knowledge, then a leap taken. 

- David Herbert Lawrence 

Some snippets of Hydrangea in a small vase brings a lovely touch of sky-blue indoors. I don't normally trim Hydrangeas as cut flowers since they last like forever in the bush.