Friday (08-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The Troll family found some large mushrooms growing in the black wood mulch, and decided to have an autumn harvest party.

Troll Family Autumn Mushroom Harvest Celebration. (David J Mathre)
Troll Family Autumn Mushroom Harvest Celebration. Image taken with a Leica S2 camera and 24-90 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the day: Cosmos, Morning Glory, Partridge Pea, Rose Mallow, Zinnia.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Two different types of frogs. A well camouflaged Pickerel frog in the yard, and a Green frog (Kermit) in the pond. Apparently, the Pickerel frog is the only poisonous frog in North America.


Frogs of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (46.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (32.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 14.6 kWh.

Thursday (07-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the day: Babies Breath, Butterfly Bush, Cosmos, Marigold, Morning Glory, Rose Mallow, Zinnia. Also seed pods from Poppies and Burdock.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

While cleaning the patio and getting the Grow Towers ready for the Ison’s Strawberry plugs, I harvested potatoes, carrots, and hot peppers. I wasn’t expecting any potatoes as the Raccoon’s already dug many out of the Grow Bags.


Garden Harvest. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

I found a very large and hungry Tomato Hornworm caterpillar eating the potato plant. Unlike the Tomato Hornworm I found last year that had been infected by wasp eggs, this one looked healthy. After taking the pictures of this alien looking vegetarian, I put it up on the birdfeeder. Some lucky bird, got a big meal.


Insects of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (44.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (32.8 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 12.1 kWh.

Wednesday (06-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the day: Chinese Forget Me Not, Cosmos, Plains Coreopsis. These are in a back section of wildflowers that I planted late in the summer. Because they were planted late, I wasn’t sure if I would get flowers. The plants are only about a foot high, and I am fighting to keep the deer out of the section. Another section planted about the same time with Marigold and Zinnia is not doing as well. Only 4 inches high, and no flowers.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The flowers are attracting Cabbage White butterflies and Honey bees. In previous years I would see Monarch butterflies at this time. Not this year.


Insects of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (44.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (13.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy all day. Deficit of 30.5 kWh.

Tuesday (28-September-2021) — New Jersery

Early Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Flowers of the day: Black-eyed Susan, Zinnia. End of season, with many ragged flowers.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (38.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (17.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy. Deficit of 20.6 kWh.

Sunday (26-September-2021) — New Jersey

Early Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Chipping Sparrow.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the day: Black-eyed Susan, Blanket Flower, Common Dayflower, Cosmos, Marigold, Morning Glory, Zinnia.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (33.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (46.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Surplus of 13.1 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (274 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (259 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Surplus of 15 kWh.