Month: October 2019

Wednesday (23-October-2019) — Skillman

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

The Opossum is back visiting the patio.

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.0 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (35.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun returned. Overall a net deficit of 23.8 kWh.

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Tuesday (22-October-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic Updates

AeroGarden Bounty 01, 28 Days. Cosmos Dwarf Sensation, Cosmos Early Dwarf, Zinnia Thumbelina, Zinnia Lilliput Mix, Marigold Sparky Mix, Blanket Flower, Sweet Alyssum, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, and Plains Coreopsis (All wildflower seeds from American Meadows). All plants sprouted. The two Cosmos, two Zinnia, Marigold, and Plains Coreopsis continue to growing well. The Blanket Flower, Sweet Alyssum, and Lance-leaf Coreopsis are still very small and there is some mold growing on the brown substrate.

AeroGarden Bounty 01 at 28 days. 01 Cosmos Dwarf Sensation; 02 Cosmos Early Dwarf; 03 Zinnia Thumbelina; 04 Zinnia Lilliput Mix; 05 Marigold Sparky Mix; 06 Blanket Flower; 07 Sweet Alyssum; 08 Coreopsis Lance-leaf; 09 Coreopsis Plains. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Bounty 01 at 28 days. 01 Cosmos Dwarf Sensation; 02 Cosmos Early Dwarf; 03 Zinnia Thumbelina; 04 Zinnia Lilliput Mix; 05 Marigold Sparky Mix; 06 Blanket Flower; 07 Sweet Alyssum; 08 Coreopsis Lance-leaf; 09 Coreopsis Plains. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Bounty 02, 28 Days. Crimson Clover, California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Red Poppy Mix, Red Poppy, Blue Cornflower, Purple Cornflower, Lemon Mint, Lupine (All wildflower seeds from American Meadows). The Blue Cornflower (Bachelor Button) is growing robustly and blocking other positions. The Oriental Poppy and Purple Cornflower have not sprouted. The remaining planse sprouted, but are small and growing slowly.

AeroGarden Bounty 02 (Right) at 28 days. 01 Crimson Clover, ; 02 California Poppy; 03 Oriental Poppy; 04 Red Poppy Mix; 05 Red Poppy; 06 Blue Cornflower; 07 Purple Cornflower; 08 Lemon Mint; 09 Lupine. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Bounty 02 (Right) at 28 days. 01 Crimson Clover, ; 02 California Poppy; 03 Oriental Poppy; 04 Red Poppy Mix; 05 Red Poppy; 06 Blue Cornflower; 07 Purple Cornflower; 08 Lemon Mint; 09 Lupine. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

I decided to move the larger successful plants to one of the AeroGarden Farm hydroponic trays where they will have more room to grow and develop. The smaller plants from both Bounty 01 and Bounty 02 that were alive were moved to Bounty 01, and the ones that had not germinated discarded. The tray was cleaned and filled with a fresh growth solution (4.25 L DI water + 12 mL plant food; pH 4.96, 592 ppm). Bounty 02 was was also cleaned and filled with a fresh growth solution (4.25 L DI water + 12 mL plant food; pH 4.93, 584 ppm). It was then restarted with new seeds. 01 Oriental Poppy; 02 Oriental Poppy; 03 California Poppy; 04 Nasturtium; 05 Purple Cornflower; 06 Red Poppy; 07 Red Poppy; 08 Red Poppy; 09 Red Poppy Mix.

The Swiss Chard in Farm 03 Left was blocking other plants and needed to be harvested again.

AeroGarden Farm 03 Left Tray at 33 days. L01-L03 Broccoli; L04-06 Swiss Chard; L07-L09 Basil; L10 Dill; L11-12 Parsley. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03 Left Tray at 33 days. L01-L03 Broccoli; L04-06 Swiss Chard; L07-L09 Basil; L10 Dill; L11-12 Parsley. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (4.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy and rainy all day. Overall a net deficit of 54.8 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (0 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (19.5 kWh), Kitchen (2.6 kWh).

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Monday (21-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

I’m not sure if this is the same Praying Mantis from yesterday. If so, it looks tired. I don’t know if they lay more than one batch of eggs, or if this is the end of the season for this one.

Praying Mantis. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 129 mm, f/5, 1/80 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Topaz Denoise AI. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 129 mm, f/5, 1/80 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Topaz Denoise AI. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (62.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (35.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sun was out most of the day. Overall a net deficit of 26.2 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.6 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (16.8 kWh), Kitchen (2.8 kWh).

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Sunday (20-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Last week I noticed something attached to the Cosmos stalk. I didn’t know what it was. Today, I found out that it was an egg sack as I came across a Praying Mantis laying her eggs.

Praying Mantis egg sack. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1000, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis egg sack. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1000, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 500, 112 mm, f/4, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 500, 112 mm, f/4, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It rained most of the day so not much sun. Overall a net deficit of 58.5 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (21.7 kWh), Kitchen (3.4 kWh).

Weekly Electric Energy Used (410 kWh) from Sense and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (192 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 218 kWh.

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Sunday (20-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Daily walkabout with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter. I was looking to see what survived he frost we had a couple nights ago. There are still some Cosmos, Marigold, Lemon-Mint, and Larkspur flowers. The Burma Water Gourd vine is also still blooming. I see a couple of gourds have set, but don’t expect them them to get much bigger than they are. I also found I still have some late season strawberries.

Click on the above image to access my Photoshelter Gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (64.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It rained most of the day so not much sun. Overall a net deficit of 58.5 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (21.7 kWh), Kitchen (3.4 kWh).

Weekly Electric Energy Used (410 kWh) from Sense and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (192 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 218 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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