Friday (01-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Turkey Vulture, American Crow, European Starling, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. White and yellow Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule). California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Pink Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Calendula (Calendula officinalis) — common name Pot Marigold. An orange Iceland Poppy started, but didn’t completely open. I opened some windows today, and the indoor temperature dropped a few degrees that may have contributed to the slower opening.


Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (70.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (42.7 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 27.9 kWh.

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Thursday (31-March-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, European Starling, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Vultures of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (80.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (21.0 kWh) from Sense. Clouds and rain. Deficit of 59.9 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (2029 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (1257 kWh) from Sense. Deficit of 772 kWh.

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Monday (28-March-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, European Starling, American Robin, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal. It’s cold out there and the birds return.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Indoor Hydroponic Flowers. The California Poppies continue to produce flowers. A new yellow Icelandic Poppy joined the white Icelandic poppy. Also a white Poppy with pink lace bloomed (probably a Red Poppy). Unfortunately, both started opening before the LED Hydroponic Farm lights went on at 05:30 AM. So the time-lapse video today is the later part of the flower opening. The flower bud for a Turkish Tulip Poppy is ready to open. So I will have a camera ready to capture it tomorrow morning (before the Hydroponic LED lights go on).


California Poppy Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Icelandic Poppy Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Pink and White (Red) Poppy Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (104.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (45.1 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds, but much colder. Deficit of 59.6 kWh.

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Sunday (20-March-2022) — New Jersey

First Day of Spring. Nature in New Jersey.

Bird of the day viewed in the backyard: Turkey Vulture, American Crow. The birds seem to be avoiding the patio and birdfeeder.


Bird of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The indoor hydroponic garden California Poppies (Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink-White) continue to bloom in Farm-01L and Farm-08L.



California Poppy Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Other indoor hydroponic garden flowers include a Pink Poppy flower (day 3), and Icelandic Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy, Calendula, and Celosia flower buds about to open.


Indoor Hydroponic Flowers and Plants about to Bloom. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Backyard Daffodil and Purple Crocus flowers.


Daffodil flowers in my Backyard. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Purple Crocus flowers in my Backyard. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (66.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (30.3 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 36.1 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.

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Weeky Electric Energy Used (508 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (319 kWh) from Sense. Deficit of 189 kWh.

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Monday (28-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, American Crow. The Bald Eagle returned for a second day. At this point, most of the carcass is gone, with two Turkey Vultures waiting for the leftovers. On the right leg of the eagle there is a green tag (D 99). This may identify the eagle as a nearly eight-year old male born at Duke Farms. While the big birds are around, the smaller song birds have been hiding.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Turkey Vultures. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Indoor Hydroponic Updates. Bounty-01 (Day 43). Bok Choi doing well. Two more plants harvested this last week. It was important that I thinned it down to 1 plant per position. Even then the plants are crowded in the Bounty. I also have to top off the water every day, and add fertilizer every other day. Bounty-02 (Day 43). The Dill is growing tall. I started harvesting the top of the Dill. The Black-seeded Simpson and Rouge d’Hiver lettuce doing well. Harvesting leaves every other day. The Genovese Basil is doing well. Needed to trim some of the Dill and lettuce so the basil gets more light. I’ve needed to top off the water every day and add fertilizer every other day. Bounty-03 (Day 35). Dill and Genovese Basil doing well. The Italian and Curly Parsley starting to get bigger. Bounty-04 (Day 20). Heirloom Red Tomatoes (5/5). Golden Harvest Tomatoes (4/4). The Heirloom Red Tomatoes are about ready to be thinned and transplanted to a Farm module.


Bounty-01, Bounty-02, Bounty-03, Bounty-04. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-01L (Day 42). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-01R (Day 42). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02L (Day 42). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02R (Day 42). Oriental Poppy, Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy, Red Poppy, Red Poppy, Somn Blend Poppy.


Farm-01L, Farm-01R, Farm-02L, Farm-02R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-03L and Farm-03R (Day 35). Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Mustard Greens. I initially thought I also planted Swiss Chard but during the transfer from the seed starting tray probably swapped with Sage. The Swiss Chard ended up in Farm-04L and Farm-04R. All of the greens are growing fast, and producing large leaves. I am having to harvest the largest leaves to provide light to the smaller plants. I also harvested the Swiss Chard in Farm-O4L/04R to make room for the Sage from Farm-03L/03R. Next time I should probably only plant a single type of greens in each Farm with a limit it to 4 or 6 plants. AeroGarden Farm-04L and Farm-04R (Day 35). Oregano, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme, and now Sage.


Farm-03L, Farm-03R, Farm-04L, Farm-04R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-06L (Day 26). Transplanted from seed starter Farm-09R. Snapdragon (A1); Chrysanthemum (A2, A3); Iceland Poppy (B1, B2); Sweet William (B3), Columbine (C1, C2, C3); Osteospermum (D1, D2); Blue Daisy (D3). AeroGarden Farm-06R (Day 8). Various types of lettuce. Red Sails (A1, A2, A3, B3); Deer Tongue (B1, B2); Black-seeded Simpson (C1, C2); Rouge d’Hiver (C3, D3); Paris Island (D1, D2). AeroGarden Farm-07L (Day 8). Heirloom Red Tomatoes and Golden Harvest Tomatoes. AeroGarden Farm-0RL (Day 8). Bok Choi (12/12) already sprouted.


Farm-06L, Farm-06R, Farm-07L, Farm-07R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-08 (Day 42). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. The odd plant is Celosia. AeroGarden Farm-08R (Day 42). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09L (Day 42). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09R Seed Starter (Day 4). Nine different Basil varieties. Row A: Dark Opal Basil (6/9). Row B: Cinnamon Basil (8/9). Row C: Genovese Basil (5/10). Row D: Holy Basil (2/11). Row E: Italian Large Leaf Basil (8/8). Row F: Lemon Basil (9/10). Row G: Lime Basil (9/11). Row H. Sweet Basil (9/9). Row I: Thai Basil (5/8).


Farm-08L, Farm-08R, Farm-09L, Farm-09R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-10L (Day 26). Row A (1-3): Calendula; Row B (1-3): Osteospermum; Row C (1-3): Sweet William; Row D (1-3): Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-10R (Day 26). Row A (1-3): Calendula; Row B (1-3): Osteospermum; Row C (1-3): Sweet William; Row D (1-3): Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-11 (Day 26). Row A (1-3): Chrysanthemum; Row B (1-3): Iceland Poppy; Row C (1-3): Chrysanthemum; Row D (1-3): Iceland Poppy.


Farm-10L, Farm-10R, Farm-11. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (89.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (55.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Deficit of 34.0 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (2564 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (834 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 1730 kWh.