Monday, 25 October 2021
I’m guessing this is a Stereum species. They prefer deadwood, and this is on a decomposing stump. They prefer oaks, and the stump is oak-wood.
Autocorrect wants it to be sternum. Not the same at all. However, since I’m guessing, can I criticize autocorrect for guessing?
Sunday, 17 October 2021
I did get two “crowns” of rhubarb transplanted. They were so poorly that neither was a crown, truth be told. They REALLY needed to be transplanted. I just hope some of the bits survive.
After reburial, I lightly watered the survivors, then put some dessicating fern fronds on top for winter protection.
Friday, 15 October 2021
Enjoyed a glorious sunny, lovely morning, as if it hasn’t been raining off and on for days.
Even the playhouse looked inviting.
However, overcast had returned by the time I walked in mid-afternoon. I took a detour along the back edge of the pine plantation, and discovered the tree guys have been busy.
Here’s the detail on how the rootballs are wrapped and prepped for shipping. They used to use burlap for the wrapping, and this fabric does look like burlap, but I’m guessing it may have some artificial fiber incorporated (polyester?). Ages ago when I worked in the plant nursery world, trees prepared this way were called B&B, for balled and burlapped. [Nobody even cracked a smile.] I never saw the metal frame way back when; seems like a smart improvement.
Thursday, 14 October 2021
I suspect this is a Cladonia species, perhaps pixie cup. These have long fascinated me, such strange shapes. I’m glad I’m not an ant having to navigate among them.
Late afternoon became sunny and pleasant, not long after we finished a mint (Mentha spp.) transplantation exercise, establishing three new colonies, two to the south, and one (the large parent plant) to the southwest. The hillfort is now empty of foliage, although I’m certain many aggressive mint roots remain. I will transplant at least one rhubarb crown to the north margin of the hillfort. It’s time; they are languishing in the shade by the sour cherry.
Saturday, 9 October 2021
Pretty sure this a stand of young basswoods leaning toward the light. Like the silver-grey bark and that the trunks are mostly parallel. Bummed that a glimpse of blue tarp nudged into the shot…covering crap at an empty new hunting camp…
Yes, it’s milkweed pod-and-seed season. Note that the sunshine lasted perhaps two hours before retreating to leave us basking in overcast again. We enjoyed ye when ye were here, MrSun.
Monday, 4 October 2021
I played the weather odds and walked in the morning, thinking the afternoon would have precip, as my app showed and as happened the last two days. I assumed this color on the Uncle Dave Maple I saw on my return would be the best of the day.
Wrong I was. So, with the advent of MrSun, I went out to capture a few barberry shots.
And was touched by this Sympetrum spp., a skimmer dragonfly as I understand it, also called a meadowhawk. Insect taxonomy requires extensive study of minutia that’s far beyond my knowledge base.
Friday, 1 October 2021
The fog lasted and lasted this morning, although it just looks odd in this photo of the ghost elm.
Speaking of odd, a rough-skinned heirloom squash.
Another local sign. A now truncated parking area…gravel, so unorganized.
Tuesday, 28 September 2021
Such a pleasure to take a walk in the woods. No blacktop. No zooming vehicles. Just a chipmunk cacophony on the forest floor, and wind susuration overhead.
Quite a festival of fungi on rotting logs and here and there on the…forest floor. The tiny, bright orange spheres were my faves; alas, no photos.
We had what I think of as two options leaving the trail head. We could go the Mosquito way, or we could pick the Chapel route. You can also mix it up, I guess. We selected the Chapel circuit.
Here: Chapel Beach.
Chapel Rock (with the tree growing out of it and the hole; this is only the pinnacle-crown).
The top of Chapel Falls, with the water disappearing down, down, down. I think it’s north-flowing enough that it’s almost always in shadow.
And Chapel Lake. With touches of fall color.
Monday, 27 September 2021
This angle is just east of north, and I sure didn’t expect to see dawn pinks that direction. Had to put my rubber boots on and mosey out to capture it. With clothes line and posts.
We spent most of the afternoon at an extended social “hour” enjoying sun and shadow alternately on the neighbors’ deck and near-constant laughing and stories. Attendees were the same as at last night’s dinner.
A guest looked over the end of the deck in the autumn-fading ferns, and spotted this beast. It looks rather like a strange and distorted morel, however it is too white and the top is separate from the stem, and the stem is holey. It is a kind of stinkhorn. Ten minutes after picking this was abundantly evident. Even flies zoomed in. And the specimen was summarily delivered to the compost pile.
Saturday, 18 September 2021
We went across the road to greet the neighbors, and she gave us a big hug and took us through to the front deck to wave at her husband, out in the boat. On the mirror-surfaced lake. It isn’t usually this calm this late after sunrise. It was a gorgeous day all the way to dark.
I digress.
Her husband came in shortly with a big haul of four, fine, large fishes. These are the two largest. They are planning on a big small party in a week, so these will go in the freezer until then. And we are invited, so….