Shelley
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smackbrl.bsky.social
Shelley
@smackbrl.bsky.social
1.1K followers 740 following 1.1K posts
Love native flowers, birds, CLE Guardians & Cavs, and my wonderful family
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smackbrl.bsky.social
@merriam-webster.com -- in honor of your new dictionary!
Mother Goose & Grimm comic strip: Dog: I'm reading this paper dictionary and there seems to be something wrong. Cat: Why? What? Dog: There's no pop-up ads, no viruses, no misinformation, so one's trying to sell you anything. It's just the word you're looking up. Cat: What's the catch?
October 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Thank you to the organizers and everyone who showed up for Strongsville OH #NoKings The flags lining the square through Veterans' Day gave us a very patriotic look.
Large crowd of protesters with signs gathered near a gazebo. Protestors with signs lining the streets near a tall clock tower. Protest sign that reads "Elvis is the only king."
October 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
This one's for you, @neorsd.org!
comic strip: Hare: Our drainage system was blocked with wet wipes. But thanks fo our new rules, the manufacturer has to clean it up. Man in sewer: That was revolting. Hare: If only you had something to clean yourself with.
October 11, 2025 at 12:53 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Even the shadows of white asters show how much pollinators love #nativeplants.
October 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
My favorite part about going downtown #Cleveland to vote early is the tradition we have of picking up Crispy Chick at Woodland and E. 55th. Best chicken wrap around!
Chicken wrap on plate. Delicious looking.
October 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
He may have lost a hand, but it's the best I can do with my limited photoshop experience...
Rocchio with arms raised in front of flames.
October 2, 2025 at 5:05 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Love the fall colors in our yard along with all the insects and birds visiting! A small flock of goldfinch was feasting on the seeds of our purple coneflowers. Be sure to leave those seeds out there. No need to rush into a "clean-up." #nativeflowers
light blue (purplish) aster deeper purple New England aster yellow goldenrod white asters
September 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Great road trip to a #guardsball sweep!
View of baseball field. View of winning team at baseball field
September 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Took a break to enjoy some #nativeplants in the yard on a beautiful fall day.
Light purple asters Deep purple ironweed Bright yellow goldenrod Bright purple asters
September 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
This is not the best quality photo but I have some at my house. I winter sowed them two years ago. They are maybe 8' or 9' tall. Great color!
Purple ironweed plays with orange and black Monarch butterfly on it.
August 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
A great morning for #bees pictures on #nativeplants.
Close-up of large bee on a light blue bee balm flower. Close-up of a large black and yellowish bee on a purple coneflower center which is orange and spiky. There are tiny balls of pollen sticking to the bee on the head and body. Close-up of a smaller bee on a bright yellow flower.
July 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Enjoying watching the #bees enjoying our #nativeplants including some #wintersowing.
Large bee on orange and yellow blanket flower. Dark orange and red blanket flower. Large bumblebee on cluster of small pink swamp milkweed. Video of bees flying around light purple bee balm and purple coneflower s.
July 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Finally have a wealth of bees at least on one section of flowers. Yeah!
#bees
#nativeflowers
Large yellow and black bumble bee with orange pollen pocket drinking nectar from a light purple bee balm flower.
July 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Can anyone help identify this bird? I was a considerable distance away. This was in Carrollton, Ohio. #birds
Small gray bird with white underside sitting on a high tree branch.
July 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
The fawn came back today with mom. The fawn even checked out remnants of my #wintersowing.
Mother deer and fawn in green grass. Fawn checking out milk jug with dirt in it. Mother deer and fawn next to yellow and white flowers. Mother eating grass.
June 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Just finished an absolutely wonderful book - The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

It has memorable lines (Grief is love with nowhere to go.) and an optimism for the power of kindness that I really needed right now.
#booksky
Book cover showing an old man with coffee and a long scarf walking in front of a bright sun. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
June 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
I went to check our tiny yard with lots of #nativeplants for Monarch cats. Found this little one instead nestled in the milkweed and bee balm. It's now behind the garage. Not sure how it got here among all the fenced yards.
Spotted fawn with large ears standing near pink flowers.
June 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Here's a Cedar Waxwing checking things out.
Light brown bird with soft yellow underside and striking black mask of feathers looking straight at the camera.
June 26, 2025 at 2:37 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Thanks to the amazing crowd that gathered in Parma, OH. Thanks to the organizers.
#NoKings
Line of people standing along a long sidewalk facing passing cars. People are holding signs.
June 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
I'm hoping some #nativeplants people can help me. Here are two Spiderwort plants bought together and planted about 5 or 6' apart. What's going on with the yellow leaves?
Purple Spiderwort flowers growing with bright yellow leaves. Purple Spiderwort flowers growing with green leaves.
June 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
The last of my #birds photos from Magee Marsh yesterday. One photo even has two species in it -- a two-for-one special!
Prothonotary warbler sitting on branch against the blue sky. Yellow body with black beak and wings. Magnolia warbler with yellow chest and underside with black streaks. Top of head, back, wings, and tail are black. Two birds sitting on a tree branch. A Red-headed Woodpecker with red head, black wings, back and tail, and white chest and underbody. The other bird is a Red-winged Blackbird with all black body except a red and yellow stripe on the wings.
May 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Found a couple of non-birds during a day of birding yesterday. These were at the Maumee Bay Visitor Center and Magee Marsh. #herps #nature
Head of snake at the surface of the water while it slithers along. Eye and split tongue can be easily seen. Long, dark snake wiggling along the ground.
May 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Two more non-warblers from the Maumee Bay Visitor Center today during @biggestweekbirding.bsky.social a Baltimore Oriole and a Tree Swallow. #birds
Baltimore Oriole, black with bright orange chest and underside eating an orange stuck on a feeder. Tree Swallow sitting on the top of a dead tree. Shiny blue with white throat, chest, and underside.
May 19, 2025 at 2:33 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
We had a wonderful day of birding on the last day of @biggestweekbirding.bsky.social where we went to Magee Marsh and the Maumee Bay Visitor Center. Here are a couple of the non-warblers we saw, a Green Heron and a Black-crowned Night Heron. I'll be posting more over the next few days. #birds
Green Heron with dark long beak, dark head, brownish chest, orange/pink feet, standing on log in wet, marshy area. Black-crowned Night Heron with white body, black across head and back, dark long beak, orange/yellow legs and feet standing in marshy water with tall grasses around.
May 19, 2025 at 2:22 AM
smackbrl.bsky.social
Rhododendron in bloom attracted a host of bees and butterflies. The tongue of the butterfly is too cool to see in action. #naturephotography #bees
Small brown and yellowish butterfly on white flowers. The long, curly tongue of the butterfly is visible. Large yellow and black bee on white flowers.
May 17, 2025 at 3:19 AM