Monday (04-June-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Lots going on. When the Blue Jay is at the bird feeder, all the other birds stay away. I noticed some White Clematis flowers across the street. Then I noticed some new wildflowers in my yard. So far this year it has been pretty sparse compared with last spring at this time. I don’t know the identity of the small white/pink/purple flowers. The plants in the Garden Tower are growing very fast. I am starting to eat some of the lettuce. The summer squash and cucumber plants are getting too big as their leaves are blocking light to the smaller plants in the tower. Some of the pepper plants are starting to bloom. The mile-a-minute vine is getting way out of control. In one section I used a propane torch to burn the vine. In another section I tried a chemical approach. I will compare the two sections in a week. While working the back section I found a couple of May Apple fruits. I have been told the Box Turtles eat, and then spread the seeds of the May Apple.





Mile-a-Minute Vine. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)
Mile-a-Minute Vine. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)


Sunday (03-June-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds at the bird feeder.





Saturday (02-June-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey and Local Farmers Market.

Birds at the bird feeder and the first Montgomery Farmer’s Market. Individual images can be viewed here.



Friday (01-June-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

While mowing the backyard, I found an Eastern Box Turtle at the edge of the grass and beginning of the wildflower meadow. The last time that I saw one in my yard was nearly 20 years ago. The back section is wet, and I recently found some May Apple plants — so had hoped to find that the turtles still existed on my property. There were frogs and dragonflies at the pond. The frogs jump into the pond before I can take their picture. Back on the patio, the plants in the Garden Towers are growing very fast. I have already started harvesting some of the lettuce. Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.




Ten-Years Ago (01-June-2008) — Colorado

Springtime Nature in Rocky Mountain National Park: Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

Male Broad-tailed Hummingbird marking its territory at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec).

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Marking Its Territory at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Marking Its Territory at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)