Month: September 2019

Friday (27-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

For the past week I haven’t been outside much while working on several indoor projects. Today I did my walkabout with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. In burst mode, this camera sounds like a machine gun — but is able to focus and track moving targets. Good thing today because it was a bit windy out. I noticed that the Burma Water Gourd vine had produced several gourds. It probably is too late for these to develop into the 1 meter long gourds I saw while in Burma, and that my mother was able to grow in Florida. I was also surprised to see that I still have Strawberry plants that are flowering and producing more Strawberries this late in the season. There were lots and lots of Monarch butterflies in my wildflower meadows. They were feeding on Mexican Sunflower, Zinnia, and Marigold flowers. I also caught two Common Buckeye butterflies. I was surprised to see a Hummingbird Clearwing moth feeding on Larkspur and Lemon Mint flowers. There are still a couple of Bullfrogs in the almost dry pond. One stayed still long enough to get an image. Later in the afternoon a Doe spent some time just outside the fenced in wildflower garden. The Air Dancer Scarecrows appear to be working. Finally, while reviewing the images I found one of a backlit Cosmos flower with a Praying Mantis lurking. I admit I didn’t notice the Praying Mantis when I took the image, even though I have been looking for them for several weeks.

Burma Water Gourd. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Burma Water Gourd. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Burma Water Gourd. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Burma Water Gourd. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Strawberry flowers (and green strawberry). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Strawberry flowers (and green strawberry). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Common Buckeye butterfly on a Cosmos flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Common Buckeye butterfly on a Cosmos flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Common Buckeye butterfly on a Marigold flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Common Buckeye butterfly on a Marigold flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Kermit the Bullfrog in the nearly empty pond. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Kermit the Bullfrog in the nearly empty pond. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Backlit Cosmos Flower (with a Praying Mantis). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backlit Cosmos Flower (with a Praying Mantis). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (51.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (49.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Almost break-even with an overall net deficit of 1.9 kWh. Clear skies most of the day (with the Sycamore tree blocking the solar panels in the afternoon). The Geothermal HVAC system was only on for a short time (2.7 kWh) and the new indoor hydroponic systems running (8.7 kWh).

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Thursday (26-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout with a Nikon One V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens. There were several Monarch butterflies in the wildflower meadow. They seem to like the Cosmos, Zinnia, and Marigold flowers. This may be the last brood that will be heading off to Mexico for the winter. For flowers there was a blue Asiatic Dayflower, Black-eyed Susan, and Purple Morning Glory. I’m not sure if the dayflower was in one of the wildflower seed mixes or is a local (invasive) weed. I also saw a bee that looked to be collecting mud at the edge of the mostly dry pond.


Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.



Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Bee collecting mud. Image taken with a Nikon One V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting mud. Image taken with a Nikon One V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Yesterday Electric Energy Used (62.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. As the sun gets lower, the leaves from one of my Sycamore trees block the solar panels part of the afternoon. You can see the hump in the graph. The Geothermal HVAC was off. The new hydroponic gardens are using 8.7 kWh. Overall a net deficit of 27.6 kWh.

Daily Electric Energy Used (62.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (49.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Warmer out so the Geothermal HVAC was back on for some of the afternoon and evening (3.3 kWh). The new hydroponic gardens are using 8.7 kWh. Overall a net deficit of 13.0 kWh.

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Thursday (26-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Indoor Nature in New Jersey.

The new Aerogarden hydroponic Farms have been online for just over a week. You can see how many of the plants have already sprouted. Depending on how big some of the plants get, I may have to trim some out. The LED lights for each tray raises to 36 inches as the plants grow.

AeroGarden Farm 1 Left. at 8 days. Red Heirloom and Golden Harvest Tomatoes. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 1 Left. at 8 days. Red Heirloom and Golden Harvest Tomatoes. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 1 Right. at 8 days. Lettuce (Red Romaine, Deer Tongue, Marvel of 4 Seasons, Paris Island, Black-seeded Simpon, Red Sails), Basil, Chives, and Dill. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 1 Right. at 8 days. Lettuce (Red Romaine, Deer Tongue, Marvel of 4 Seasons, Parris Island, Black-seeded Simpson, Red Sails), Basil, Chives, and Dill. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 2 Left. at 7 days. Peppers (Mini Jalapeno, Purple Super Hot, Red Fire), and Chives. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 2 Left. at 7 days. Peppers (Mini Jalapeno, Purple Super Hot, Red Fire), and Chives. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 2 Right. at 7 days. Lettuce, Romain, Arugula Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 2 Right. at 7 days. Lettuce, Romain, Arugula Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 3 Left. at 7 days. Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Basil, Dill, Parsley. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 3 Left. at 7 days. Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Basil, Dill, Parsley. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 3 Right. at 7 days. Cauliflower, Kale, Cilantro, Oregno, Rosemary, Thyme. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 3 Right. at 7 days. Cauliflower, Kale, Cilantro, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Yesterday Electric Energy Used (62.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. As the sun gets lower, the leaves from one of my Sycamore trees block the solar panels part of the afternoon. You can see the hump in the graph. The Geothermal HVAC was off. The new hydroponic gardens are using 8.7 kWh. Overall a net deficit of 27.6 kWh.

Daily Electric Energy Used (62.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (49.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Warmer out so the Geothermal HVAC was back on for some of the afternoon and evening (3.3 kWh). The new hydroponic gardens are using 8.7 kWh. Overall a net deficit of 13.0 kWh.

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Tuesday (24-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

More seeds of the various wildflowers I have planted in my backyard over the last few years trying to create a wildflower meadow. This fall and winter I am going to try and grow some of these indoors in either hydroponic or regular dirt gardens. One of the goals is to know what the plants look like before they develop flowers so in the future I can better what is a weed vs. something I want growing in the wildflower meadows. I also want to relate which which wildflowers did or did not work in my gardens, especially from the wildflower seed mixtures. More seeds and seed mixtures in yesterday’s post. The grid in the image is 0.1 inch.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (62.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cooler out so the Geothermal HVAC wasn’t working as hard (5.2 kWh), but more clouds. Last day of running server backups. Overall a net deficit of 27.6 kWh.


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Monday (23-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Something different. Seeds of the various wildflowers I have planted in my backyard over the last few years trying to create a wildflower meadow. This fall and winter I am going to try and grow some of these indoors in either hydroponic or regular dirt gardens. One of the goals is to know what the plants look like before they develop flowers so in the future I can better what is a weed vs. something I want growing in the wildflower meadows. I also want to relate which which wildflowers did or did not work in my gardens, especially from the wildflower seed mixtures. More seeds and seed mixtures will be in tomorrow’s post.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the slideshow.


Yesterday Electric Energy Used (61.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (48.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Less sun and warmer. As the sun gets lower, the leaves from one of my Sycamore trees block the solar panels part of the afternoon. You can see the hump in the graph. The Geothermal HVAC was on (11.6 kWh). Server backup and new hydroponic garden online. Overall a net deficit of 12.6 kWh.

Daily Electric Energy Used (69.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (47.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Warmer out so the Geothermal HVAC was back on for much of the afternoon and evening (19.2 kWh). Using more electricity while running server backups and the new hydroponic gardens. Overall a net deficit of 22.2 kWh.

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