Sunset

 

 

 

 

Sunset - from the porch - view north. 

 

Clouds over Green Bay.   

 

Running out of views.      

 

Dang trees are getting too tall.

The Reach

Caught red-handed!

Evidence of how much effort a whitetail will put into making a grab for a mouthful of their favorite browse.  Like the luscious oak leaves in the picture.

Normally the deer are content to feed to the height of all four of their feet remaining on terra firma. Which means that my forest is picked rather clean up to the height of my shoulders.

This must have been evidence of a particularly tasty morsel.

The Garden Chronicles

click on the garden for a closer look

 

As you can see from the photo above the garden has made considerable progress since the last time I reported-in.

The sweet corn was flattened by straight-line winds a few weeks ago and had to be propped-up with bamboo sticks.  It not only survived but has thrived.  It has tasseled and it is almost time to erect my electric anti-raccoon fence around it. 

The tomato plants have fruit and the avalanche is poised to begin.  If you've been following this blog you already know that the broccoli and lettuces have been spectacular.  Green beans are coming online regularly and the same with the sweet peppers.  Cukes should be ready in the next week.  The pumpkins, melons and acorn squash are taking over their respective garden locations and battling with the other produce.  The onions and taters continue to develop below ground. Same for the beets and carrots. 

That raggedy row of brown pea vines (left of center) is gone.  After a nice harvest while the kids were visiting I removed the plants on Thursday and put-away the fence until next year. 

Vive le jardin magnifique!

Friday Music

This pop rock band was born on 1981 in Los Angeles.  Original members included  Michael Steele on bass and vocals, Susanna Hoffs on vocals and rhythm guitar, Debbi Peterson on drums and vocals and Vicki Peterson on lead guitar and vocals.  The current band includes Susanna, Debbi , Vicki and Annette Zilinskas.  

This is a particularly fun live recording of their hit single - A Hazy Shade of Winter. 

Crank-up the volume on your office workstation for The Bangles…

A Predator of Another Species

Guests know that if they are observant there is a fairly high probability of discovering a hard papier-mâché-like blob approximately an inch across attached to something around here.  They’re found on everything from a hose bib to a ladder on a deer stand.       

It is called an ootheca and it is an egg mass belonging to the praying mantis.  And one of them hatched recently.      

In many cultures a mantid is a symbol of stillness.  And as a consequence it is associated with meditation and calming of the mind.  I associate it with the patience of a predator that keeps my garden free of insect pests.  Analogous to the stealthiest of bow hunters.        

click on the mantid for a closer look

 

In another exercise in retirement situational awareness I found this critter clinging for dear life as I raised the overhead door of the machine shed.         

About 2 cm. in length it easily negotiated the forest of arm hairs before release to the garden.

Dispatch from the Butterfly Ranch

The kids have returned home and a semblance of routine has returned.  Jill is off to yoga and the girls and I have availed ourselves of a morning walk.  In keeping with my vow of retirement I'm making an effort to be more aware of the natural world around me.

From our walk today there was this...

Compass Plant

Viceroy and Red Admiral Butterfly and Purple Coneflower

Gray-headed Coneflowers all over the place

Large-flowered Beardtongue

Bumblebee and Purple Prairie Clover

Liatris (Prairie Blazing Star)

Wild Bergamot

And False Sunflower

Raising a toast to pollinator habitat.

Red Ink

According to the nonpartisan public policy group Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget the budget deal that was passed by the House is expected to be approved by the Senate.  After which President Trump will sign into law an additional $4.1 trillion to the national debt.  Record-setting red ink.    

There is a low probability that enough GOP defections in the Senate may queer the deal.  If not - Republicans will own deficit-financed legislation. 

After railing against the debt and deficit for years it’s certainly not your daddy’s GOP any longer…..