Late Addition

As things are getting ready to go dormant, I ended up adding a water lily (our native Nymphaea odorata) to the pond.

I have wanted one for a long time, so, when I found that I could purchase one from a native plant nursery (Edge of the Woods, in Allentown)--I jumped at the chance.  Actually, my dentist offered me some water lilies from his sound--I have yet to get them from him...and not sure if he has the native one.  (I do hope to get some blue gills and black nose dace from him eventually.)

Despite the weather dropping from the unusual highs of 70s & 80s for the past week or two to a high of 52°F, I waded into the water (with old shoes on) and put the potted water lily in place.  Hopefully, it will survive the winter and thrive next years--it is supposed to be remarkably hardy.

With the addition of the larger pond...and (the future) wetland, I have really expanded the variety of native plants to grow on our property.   I am so excited by this.  :)

More Fox Captures from Game Cam

First evidence that there is more than one fox.  A pair? :)

More Fox Captures from Game Cam

"New" Visitor on Game Cam Pics

For approximately 3 months or so, I have been consistently using the game cam that was a gift from Jeff a couple of years ago.  Today, I looked through about two weeks worth of photo captures.  For the first time, in all of those months, there is finally a shot of a bear.  In our 8-9 years here, we have seen a bear twice--well, Jeff and I saw one a few months after moving in (it was eating from our bird feeder)...several years later, I saw one probably 10-15 feet away from me (this time no pane of glass between us).

I am excited to see it again.

I adjusted the brightness on this and left the time stamp.

After all of these months, I'm still waiting to see a turkey (or flock of them) go through.  I'll have to wait and see what the next few months bring.  Hmm...I have to wonder if I would see some babies in the spring--fox with its kits would be really cool! :)

You've Got to be Kidding Me

First, I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted anything here!  Second, after a long stretch of unseasonably warm weather (which I got very used to), things have gone unseasonable in the other direction; the temperatures went below freezing over night--into the 20s!  We had snow today--not that it lasted.

The last time I put off posting was on April Fools' Day--another day we got snow! (...and I wasn't happy about that either--even though it didn't last either.  (I searched for the April snow pictures, but didn't find them.  I doesn't matter--the purpose of this post it to start me posting again anyway.)

Some flurries this morning and ...

...hail this afternoon.  Okay, I confess, both pics are of hail.
I slept in this morning...and it is hard to take pictures of snow!

  

I have to get past the idea that everything must be kept in chronological order--that has kept me from posting all sorts of things...until I post what had happened prior to it.

So, later (I'm a procrastinator, remember), I will post some highlights of that past several (plus) months.

Robins

Another Encounter?

Last night, a bit after dark, I went out back to harvest a stalk of celery or two for a recipe I was making.  Just around the corner from the back door is a motion sensor light.  I stepped out into the darkness, and heard some rustling somewhere towards my left near the deck.  My first thought was that I startled a deer or something, but my thoughts quickly went to the bear I encountered a month or  so ago.  I grabbed a shovel I had leaning nearby...just in case, then wen't to get my celery.  The light came on, I got what I needed, and returned to the house.

This afternoon, I went around back and noticed the garbage can was on its side--empty (I was pretty sure there was one bag in it).  Immediately I decided a bear had taken it...and I was grateful there was no mess to pick up (not that I relished the idea of garbage strewn out somewhere in nature).  After scanning the area, I noticed that it had been taken down the slope, and grabbed the camera and another garbage bag.  I got a photo of the circumstantial evidence, and then cleaned it up.

...Not Over by a Long Shot!

For the past three days I've been out taking photos inspired by the fall...but especially inspired by the activity that the asters are attracting.  Yesterday, I got a huge surprise:  brand new monarch butterfly!  She was absolutely pristine!

Wing detail:

I was thrilled to see her, but she flew off after I took some pictures, I hate to think I scared her off...I was really hoping to see her the next day, but no luck...perhaps she had to go; she has a LONG journey ahead of her!

Today, I saw more pollinators and another species or two of butterfly.  ~smile~  As hard as I tried to show the amazing activity busying themselves all over the asters, the photos don't do it justice.

It *isn't* Over!

Despite the fact that we've dipped below freezing and most things are done blooming, the activity of pollinators is still going strong.  For the most part only the white asters are still blooming--at least one species is commonly called "frost aster" (I think), but I'm seeing the bumblebees, fly mimics, and other pollinators that I've been missing most of summer and fall.

The high biodiversity I'm seeing again makes me smile.