Daily Musings

Candis, I was talking with a neighbor about Walking Sticks only this evening. I've never seen one up close, that's a great pic. Thanks.
Sidney, I've been absent there for too long. You're a honey.
Gram, the spraying will take place tonight, here. I'm worried about my bug buddies. Even if the spider and mantises survive the night, will they have enough food to live on in the coming days.

On another note...... While visiting my 'other' site today, I read the most heartwarming thread. I wonder if it's allowed to post another site's thread here. Does anybody know? It's a photography site.

Andy P

Gotta love ladybugs

My goodness Andy, what a great shot. Is she on a leaf?

Sarahskeeper - so sad about the spraying. Reminds me to get busy and put up a bat house to keep the mosquito population down here in Bridgeport. It just is SO much sexier to use a big helocopter to spray poison over mother earth than to put up some bat housing or plant to encourage birds that eat mosquitos. No offence intended to the wonderful, smart guys in the Northeast - but this spraying has to be a "guy thing". They do it all the time in California (where I am from) and look who they elected governor - Mr. Macho himself!

Grampapa, I'm so glad to see those hummers at that feeder. I bought one of those but they never come to it. Is yours near that hanging basket? What flowers are in the basket. I read about the hummzinger. Since a hummer comes through my yard and stops briefly at flowers, I put up the feeder and then put a hanging basket close to it. They visit the flower and then leave.

Dave, the Ladybug is on a leaf of an African, annual Hibiscus, Red Shield.

I heard the plane go by last night around 11, a 2 engine Cessna at 300 feet going 180 MPH. No doubt it was the sprayer.
I checked on my 'bug buddies' this morning and they are OK. I have seen no Skippers and only one butterfly so far today. Grasshoppers and cabbage moths are still plentiful.
I picked everything that was ripe from the gardens yesterday, no picking for 2 days, now.
I scrubbed the bird bath, too.
I wouldn't say the spraying was a 'macho' thing. Many women were in fear for their children, playing outside.
I saw a pretty blue Hummer this morning, visiting the Agastache and Phlox.
Andy P

Hi, I am new here. So if I step on anyone's toes into a conversation that I am not invited please let me know. Well, I guess I should introduce myself. I live in Laurel Run, Pa. and recenly bought a home surrounded by woods and all types of nature. Needless to say; I love it here. I have started gardening and "tending" to wildlife since April 2006. So I am new at all this. Except for the times I spent helping my grandmother gardening as a child. I can't wait to meet people here. And hopefully some near my area so we can all exchange stories!

Andy - that's a good shot. I barely see ladybugs - I wish I did there are lots of mites for them here.

here's a honeybee and the usual bumble

Hi Babybird - I live in the midwest LOL, hey if you figure out how to step on someones toes let me know - I'm all out of ideas. Al

Welcome, babybird. No toes to step on, not even virtual ones. This is friendly territory! We'd love to hear about your wildlife and your garden and grandmother stories LOL. whatever you want to share.

gram

Babybird, A big hardy WELCOME. Don't worry about toes, all us gardeners wear boots, LOL.

OK, I did some asking around and got the OK from the Admins of the 'other' site to post this thread. Non-members will not likely see the pics, that should save a few tissues.
It's an example of how wonderful some people can be toward total strangers. It involves a photographer from Saudi Arabia, Faisal and a photographer in Michigan, Sandy. It's 2 pages long. http://www.photographycorner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41651
You will feel better after reading this story, guaranteed.
Andy P

This message was edited Aug 24, 2006 5:33 PM

thanks for that, Andy. didn't have the best day today, and that was heart-warming.

Welcome Babybird! There are a few PA folks around this forum. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Andy, Thanks for sharing that story & answering my question.

babybird welcome. i'm up north a little but havebeen to wilkes-barre. nice area.

andy great story. kindness comes in all colors and creeds. good time to remember that.
ps. speak for yourself...i don't wear boots, i'm barefoot whenever possible.

Babybird, welcome aboard. I don't contribute everyday, mostly I just enjoy the 'musings' of the others. Still, I wanted to jump in and say hello.

Babybird - welcome! nap - that is such a cool picture!

Yes, Nap. That is a very cool pic.
Made me look twice.

Hi all,
Though I have many nice grownup cardinals around--I don't seem to have any good pics of them. They don't stay still for long enough!

So, instead I'm sending a photo of 2 monarchs I hatched a little over a week ago. Every summer I look for eggs on my milkweed and I bring in about half of them and raise them in a little terrarium. (I don't ever see caterpillers on my outdoor plants, so I think something gets the eggs before they hatch.) Incredibly, it only takes about two weeks from egg hatch to butterfly release. I released four this year--hoping they will make it south this fall (-:

That's amazing! What does a monarch egg look like, and how do you move it into your terrarium without disturbing it? Then how do you nurture it, and how long does it take to hatch? What does it look like when it's born? What do you feed it?

Sorry for all the questions, but I find that fascinating!

Me, too. I just got some milkweed seed from a DG member, so I'm hoping to at least move closer to attracting some monarchs next year.

Jenny, Brilliant picture!

Jenny ~ They are beautiful...what a wonderful idea!

Strange mix of emotions in the garden the past 2 days. Woke up to a beautiful, huge heron in my water garden (which has never occured before). I think its a great blue. Wing spand is enormous. He keeps coming back too.
The downside? Most of my fish are gone!
Awesome and depressing at the same time.

Dave, that's one of the reasons i don't have a water garden. probably is a great blue and he is probably visiting because your fish looked good to him. they are amazing birds. regular visitors at the edges of our lake. they can stand motionless for the longest time waiting for fish. unfortunately for you, they are like the Canadian Mounties...they always get their fish. look almost like you would imagine a pterodactyl in flight. I know some people keep wire mesh over their koi ponds. and then there's the folks over on the wildlife forum trying to keep their fish from eating the tadpoles. circle of life. hope your fish weren't expensive.

gram

That is a shame Dave, I always wondered about racoons having a midnight snack also.

The racoons definitely snack in my yard - I have yet to get a tomato!

here's one of our herons fishing today ~ it's tough to get a good pic from across the lake

edit to add: he's about 4' tall and like Dave said ...wing span is amazing

This message was edited Aug 26, 2006 5:34 PM

dave, i strig fishing line across my pond , the herons dont like it and its not an eyesore.

Thanks ohwoisme. Good suggestion.
My pond is only about 750 gallons and they have never visited here before (I've been here with the pond for 5 years). There are a couple of real ponds nearby, that must be why they were in the area. Are they like deer in that they return to where they previously ate?

Racoons are in & around my yard but have never caught a fish.
I have shebunkin & comets, no expensive koi. There are a couple brand new babies and a kid left but he/she cleaned up fast.
My kids have taken it far better than my wife. She is bummed. Our peaceful, little sanctuary attacked.

Dave, my neighbor has a pond. He knows about fishing line as bird deterrent. It works great and can be removed in a month or so.
I've noticed much less activity at the bird bath lately, Goldfinches and Redwing Blackbirds.
I'm starting to see the Canada geese flying low in formation, they are such honkers, lol.
Andy P

The geese honk when they are ready to take off and/or land. we get a kick out of watching them practice their formations in late summer. their V's get better as the season wears on.

Thanks Andy.

Andy ~ I don't mean to put a damper on everyones mood but, I now know why they have to spray, this is so sad.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060901/ap_on_he_me/mosquito_virus

Yes, I saw it on the news last night.
There is a 23 year old guy who is recovering and a 50-ish woman in a coma, too.

It is so sad. A mosquito bite used to be a joke...not any more.

On a lighter note: I just found this.
http://www.glumbert.com/media/cattoilet.html
A cat with a flushing habit.
Andre

My daughter came over and my 2 year old grandaughter, and she had a bite on her arm...naturally my "Mother" instincts kicked in. I hauled my 28 yr. old daughter by the arm (as if she was 5 again) over to the comp. and instead of a lecture about the importance of bug spray I just made her read the article. The kids were dripping in bug dope the next time they walked out the door.

LOL! My cat doesn't flush but he does look into the toilet bowl to watch it go down. Maybe it's not to late to train him...especially after the male species goes in there.

too funny!

Noticing the sun riding a more southernly line now as I was watering this morning. Areas that used to be shady early in the morning are now sunny and some sunny areas are now shady. I have beds that are a challenge to plant right because of this late summer shift.

I'll bet you're the only person on the NE forum who did any watering today, Al. I know it rained here all day.

it's interesting about your sun/shade. I promised myself to take some notes about my front beds and average hours of sun while I was on vacation and didn't do it. didn't even occur to me that it might change