Friday (15-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird.


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

Outdoor flowers of the day. Fancy Daffodils, Tulip, Common Meadow Violet, Grape Hyacinth, Snapdragon, and Calendula. The Tulip is the first to bloom this year. The Snapdragon and Calendula are from the indoor Hydroponic Farm. The roots are too big to remove from the tray.


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (71.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (79.1 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Surplus of 7.4 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (12-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal.


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

Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. Orange, Yellow and white Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule). Pink Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas). Red Turkish Tulip Poppy (Papaver glaucum).

Pink Corn Poppy. (David J Mathre)
Pink Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Indoor hydroponic garden. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and Sigma 70 mm f/2.8 macro lens. (David J Mathre)


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


Turkish Tulip Poppy. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Outdoor flowers of the day. Many Daffodils still blooming. Several other flowers/wildflowers in the yard including Claytonia virginica (?), an unidentified tiny white flower, Blue-eyed Grass, Grape Hyacinth, Lilac (buds soon to flower).


Daffodils. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Outdoor Springtime Flowers and Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (71.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (67.7 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 4.2 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather

Saturday (19-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Canada Goose, Black Vulture. 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.

Day 2 images of the first indoor hydroponic Pink Poppy flower.


> Pink Poppy Flower. https://www.davidmathre.com/gallery/20220319-pp/G000078XK.cfOQ.M/C0000UHcW1Qofguc”>PhotoShelter Gallery.

The 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.

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.

Indoor Hydroponic Updates. Bounty-01 (Day 27). Bok Choi doing well. Bounty-02 (Day 62) The Black-seeded Simpson and Rouge d’Hiver lettuce doing well. Harvesting leaves every other day. The Genovese Basil is doing well. I’ve needed to top off the water every day and add fertilizer every other day. Bounty-03 (Day 54). Dill and Genovese Basil doing well. The Italian and Curly Parsley starting to get bigger. Bounty-04 (Day 27). A1: Dark Opal; A2: Cinnamon; A3: Genovese; B1: Holy; B2: Italian Large Leaf; B3: Lemon; B4: Lime; C1: Sweet; C2: Thai. I have to check the Bok Choi and Basil every day for Stink Bugs.


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

AeroGarden Farm-01L (Day 61). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-01R (Day 61). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02L (Day 61). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02R (Day 61). 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 54). Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Mustard Greens. 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. AeroGarden Farm-04L and Farm-04R (Day 54). Oregano, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme, and Sage. AeroGarden Farm-05L Day 27. (A1, A2, A3): Dark Opal Basil; (B1, B2, B3); Cinnamon Basil; (C1, C2, C3) Genovese Basil; (D1, D2, D3): Holy Basil. AeroGarden Farm-05R Day 27. (A1, A2, A3): Italian Large Leaf Basil; (B1, B2, B3); Lemmon Basil; (C1, C2, C3) Lime Basil; (D1, D2, D3): Sweet Basil.


Farm-03L, Farm-03R, Farm-04L, Farm-04R, Farm-05L, Farm-05R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-06L (Day 45). 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 27). 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 27/39). Golden Harvest Tomatoes. AeroGarden Farm-0R (Day 27/39). Heirloom Red Tomatoes.


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

AeroGarden Farm-08L (Day 61). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. The odd plant is Celosia. More California Poppy flowers have opened. Now a mix of light yellow and red-orange. AeroGarden Farm-08R (Day 61). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09L (Day 40). A1, A2, A3 Chrysanthemum. B1, B2, B3, Iceland Poppy. C1, C2, C3 Chrysanthemum. D1, D2, D3 Iceland Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09R Seed Starter (Day 27). Nine different Basil varieties. Row A: Dark Opal Basil (6/9). Row B: Cinnamon Basil (9/9). Row C: Genovese Basil (8/10). Row D: Holy Basil (8/11). Row E: Italian Large Leaf Basil (8/8). Row F: Lemon Basil (9/10). Row G: Lime Basil (10/11). Row H. Sweet Basil (9/9). Row I: Thai Basil (6/8).


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

AeroGarden Farm-10L (Day 40). A1, A2, A3 Calendula. B1, B2, B3, Osteospermum. C1, C2, C3 Sweet William. D1, D2, D3 Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-10R (Day 40). A1, A2, A3 Calendula. B1, B2, B3, Osteospermum. C1, C2, C3 Sweet William. D1, D2, D3 Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-11 (Day 61). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. One of the Mixed Red Poppy plants has produced its first Pink Poppy Flower. The last time I tried Red Poppies indoors in a hydroponic garden it took 124 days before they started to bloom.


Farm-10L, Farm-10R, Farm-11. 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 (47.2 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 23.4 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.

powered by Ambient Weather

Friday (18-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Dark-eyed Junco. 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 first indoor hydroponic Pink Poppy flower bloomed this morning. This was only 60 days since I planted the seeds (Red Poppy from American Meadows). The last time I tried this it took 125 days for the Red Poppy flowers to bloom. I was able to capture the opening (and a selfie) for a time-lapse video using a Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens. At a couple of points you can see a spider wandering around on the flower.


Pink Poppy Flower. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The 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.

Backyard Daffodil and Purple Crocus flowers.


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (69.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (59.0 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 10.8 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.

powered by Ambient Weather

Wednesday (16-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, American Robin. The birds seem to be avoiding the patio and birdfeeder.


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

The California Poppies (Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink-White) are blooming in Farm-01L and Farm-08L.


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

Outdoor Daffodil, Snow Drop, Purple Crocus, and Vinca Minor flowers. The Purple Crocuses and some of the Daffodils are in my backyard.


Daffodils. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


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


Snow Drop and Vinca Minor flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (69.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (58.9 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 10.9 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.

powered by Ambient Weather