Author: David Mathre

I am a scientist by training (Eckerd College, BSc; Caltech, Ph.D.). I worked for 27 years as a Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing processes to manufacture medicines for human and animal health. I now spend my time as a photographer and world traveler. My interests include the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, sky, and seascapes, travel, and astrophotography. I look for unique ways of viewing the world and presenting my images. I have traveled to over 55 countries in six continents, often on Semester at Sea voyages. While at home in New Jersey, I spend time on home renovation and expansion of a wildflower garden/meadow.

Wednesday (17-April-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

While harvesting lettuce from my indoor hydroponic grow box, I caught a stink bug having lunch. I know that they are vegetarian, but I don’t need the extra protein in my salad.

Stink Bug eating my lettuce. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Stink Bug eating my lettuce. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Daily Power Use (61.6 kWh) and Solar Production (63.6 kWh) from Sense.

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Wednesday (17-April-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

There are plants and flowers that the deer don’t like — daffodils, dandelions, purple crocus, wild violets, and Pieris japonica. I have just planted a number of forsythia and lilac bushes. I hope the deer stay away from them. The flowers in the trees (cherry, plum, and maple) are high enough so the deer are not able to reach. The vegetable garden, tulips and other flowers that I need to worry about are behind an electric fence to deter the deer.

Daffodil Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Dandelion Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Dandelion Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Crocus Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Crocus Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wild Violet Blooms. New Jersey State Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Wild Violet Blooms. New Jersey State Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pieris japonica Blooms. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pieris japonica Blooms. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)



Forsythia Flowers Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Forsythia Flowers Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Forsythia Flowers. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Forsythia Flowers. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tulip about to Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tulip about to Bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (61.6 kWh) and Solar Production (63.6 kWh) from Sense.

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Tuesday (16-April-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Purple Crocuses and Dandelions are blooming. The crocuses are a bit late, but were only planted a few weeks ago. I stored the bulbs over the winter in the garage where they got enough cold storage so they would bloom this spring. Click on the crocus for more views. The dandelions are native — and the deer ignore them. The slide show examines the impact of depth of field (f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, and f/16). Bjorn is making lots of progress clearing brush and removing the downed tree limbs from the backyard.

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Bjorn clearing brush. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bjorn clearing brush. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Daily Power Use (55.5 kWh) and Solar Production (79.3 kWh) from Sense.

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Six-Years Ago (21-March-2013) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Dark-eyed “Slate-colored” Junco Hiding in the Bushes. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter,and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec).

Dark-eyed "Slate-colored" Junco Hiding in the Bushes. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter,and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Dark-eyed “Slate-colored” Junco Hiding in the Bushes. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter,and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (05-March-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.