Tag: Cactus

One-Year Ago (09-May-2016) — New Jersey

Indoor spring nature in New Jersey.

A Brown Marmorated stink bug climbing a cactus. The stink bugs are supposedly vegetarian. The cactus spines are making it difficult for the stink bug to get close enough to suck sap from the cactus. I have observed stink bugs on my cactus plants going back to 2007.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug climbing a cactus. Indoor spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 60 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug climbing a cactus. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 60 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Today (25-April-2017) — New Jersey

I’ve been waiting several days for the remaining barrel cactus flowers to open. I set the plant up in a lightbox and started taking periodic images. Initially, every 5 minutes, then 2 minutes, and finally 1 minute. Ultimately, I plan to make a time-lapsed video.

Troll with blooming barrel cactus. Indoor spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec) +SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Troll with blooming barrel cactus. Indoor spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/30 sec) +SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)

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Today (18-April-2017) — New Jersey

After spending several days outdoors in the sun, the cactus flower closed. I brought it back inside. Next thing I knew there was a Stink bug sucking on the flower. I have read that Stink bugs are vegetarian, and have pictures of them on a grapefruit slice and on my cactus before.

Stink bug on an old cactus bloom. Indoor spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash). (David J Mathre)
Stink bug on an old cactus bloom. Indoor spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash). (David J Mathre)

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Today (16-April-2017) — New Jersey

While the barrel cactus with the big red flower was allowed a few day outside in the sun, one of the other barrel cactus inside and under the LED grow lights decided to bloom. It has many flowers, but they are much smaller.

Barrel cactus with tiny red flowers. Indoor spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/32, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Barrel cactus with tiny red flowers. Indoor spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/32, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Barrel cactus with tiny red flowers. Indoor spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)
Barrel cactus with tiny red flowers. Indoor spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) + SB-910 flash. (David J Mathre)

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Today (14-April-2017) — New Jersey

I took the cactus bloom out to get some real sunlight. I am hoping that the bees will find it. For the last month it has been indoors under LED grow-lights.

Cactus bloom out in the sunlight. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 335 mm, f/5.4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Cactus bloom out in the sunlight. Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 335 mm, f/5.4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

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