November, 2019 - David Mathre Photography

Saturday (02-November-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic Garden

The first of the wildflower seeds that I planted in a AeroGarden hydroponic Farm that started to bloom. It is a “Lilliput Zinnia” from American Meadows. I started this set of seeds 39 days ago. The flower is still only partially open and is taking more than one day to open. It looks like there will be at least two more layer of petals. This is a focus-stacked composite of 66 images taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens. When the next flower starts to bloom, I want to try to do a time-lapse video.

First indoor hydorponic Zinnia flower starting to bloom. Composite of 66 focus stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus. (DAVID J MATHRE) — First indoor hydroponic Zinnia flower starting to bloom. Composite of 66 focus stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (80.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (33.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun was out, but much colder outside. Overall a net deficit of 46.8 kWh. Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house (9.9 kWh). Monthly server backups also adding to the always on usage.

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Friday (01-November-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic AeroGarden “Classic 6” Flower Gardens. Week Four (28 days).

At four weeks it was time to add additional plant food, and top off the water for the two “Classic 6” gardens. Since week 2 in Garden 01 the Dianthus has sprouted – but the Yellow Coreopsis appears to have died (mold?). In Garden 02, everything had sprouted by week 2 and now growing slowly. I checked the pH and TDS for the two gardens. Garden 01 pH (5.92) TDS (>1000); Garden 02 pH (5.78) TDS (>1000). The pH is in the OK range (5.5 – 6.5), but the TDS was high (desired 500 – 800 ppm). I decided to clean the bowls and replace the solution with rain water and 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food. Afterwards, Garden 01 pH (6.11) TDS (783); Garden 02 pH (6.08) TDS (790). The dead Yellow Coreopsis was replaced with a new seed plug.

AeroGarden "Clasic 6" Great Room 01 at Day 28. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Phlox Mix; Position 04: Orange Gazania; Position 05: Yellow Coreopsis; Position 06: Dianthus. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE) — AeroGarden “Clasic 6” Great Room 01 at Day 28. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Phlox Mix; Position 04: Orange Gazania; Position 05: Yellow Coreopsis; Position 06: Dianthus. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden "Clasic 6" Great Room 02 at Day 28. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Purple Snapdragon; Position 04: Lavender; Position 05: Dianthus; Position 06: Purple Snapdragon. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE) — AeroGarden “Classic 6” Great Room 02 at Day 28. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Purple Snapdragon; Position 04: Lavender; Position 05: Dianthus; Position 06: Purple Snapdragon. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (47.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (17.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The power was off for 12 hours, and the temperatures dropped 30 degrees. Overall a net deficit of 29.6 kWh. Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house.

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Friday (01-November-2019) — New Jersey

Outdoor Backyard Nature in New Jersey

Dumb Deer. If you back your butt up against an electric fence, you are going to get a shock…