The henbit is blooming

Henbit on left, Speedwelll on right

The henbit is blooming along with the groundsel and another plant that looks like dead nettle but has blue and white flowers about 2.5 mm wide. (Turned out to be speedwell, veronica polita) The groundsel came in from some hay that I used for a scarecrow one year and completely covered two of the nearest beds the following year.  The advantage I have of getting rid of it is that it blooms in early, early spring and so sticks out well enough for me to weed it along with the henbit.  I don't let the henbit get too far along because it harbors powdery mildew.  All this means that I have to get out in early Febuary and weed.  Luckely we do have warm, sunny days with little wind during this time to play in the garden. Yestarday it was 80F with no wind and enough sun to get a sun tan.

The sparrows are pairing up and gathering nesting material already.  I put some water in the birdbath and in the time it took me to turn around it was full of little chirpers taking a bath.  Within about 10 min all was quite and I guess they  went off to preen themselves.