Tag: Grape Hyacinth

Saturday (02-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

More birds at the feeder today. In the morning: Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, and Chipping Sparrow. In the afternoon: Northern Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Carolina Wren. The Carolina Wren actually was on the roof with a grub in its mouth. It was also calling out letting folks know it had a grub. I’m not sure if it was trying to attract a mate, or to get a young bird to fledge and get out of the nest. In the afternoon, I mowed the lawn for the first time this year. The grass was getting to be ankle high. I hadn’t mowed earlier because a tire on the lawn tractor was flat. While mowing, I noticed a number of small wildflowers already blooming. I haven’t planted andy wildflower seeds yet this spring, so these are either native, or have self-seeded from last year. Later in the afternoon, I went for a walkabout in the yard to document the early May flowers: Johnny-Jump-Up, Blue Forget me Not, Grape Hyacinth, Plum Tree, Siberian Wallflower, Five-Spots, Prunella Vulgaris (also known as Self-Heal, Heal-All, and Woundwort), Baby Blue Eyes, wild Violet (Viola), Jack in the Pulpit, Lilac, California Poppy, Allium bud, Star of Bethlehem, Strawberry, Yellow Tulip.


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


Birds in the Afternoon and Early Evening. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Carolina Wren with a slug. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Carolina Wren with a grub. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)


Early May Backyard Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Early May Backyard Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (45.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (69.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny, but the power was out for a couple of hours in the afternoon. A surplus of 23.6 kWh.


powered by Ambient Weather

Monday (20-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Tufted Titmouse and American Goldfinch at the bird feeders. I was amazed at how fast the American Goldfinch emptied the sunflower seed bird feeder. An American Robin was looking for worms. Although some robins stay for the winter, I think this one is a spring migrant after spending the winter in Florida. Lots of spring flowers are out. Grape Hyacinth, Tulip, and Daffodils. The Japanese Maple tree now has red leaves. Another of the local Raccoon pack wandered into the Havahart trap on my patio. This one didn’t figure out the Houdini trick to escape and had to spend the night in jail. After being processed, it will need to find a new home away from my patio and Victory vegetable garden.

Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Robin. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Robin. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Spring tulips that survived the winter and deer. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


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

Backlit spring red Maple leaves. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backlit spring red Maple leaves. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Not Houdini. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.0 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (46.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 13.6 kWh.


powered by Ambient Weather

Wednesday (15-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout. Lots of Spring flowers: Grape Hyacinth, Daffodil, Dandelion, Violet, Plum Tree, Maple Tree, Pear Tree, and Tulips. The Grape Hyacinth bulbs were planted last spring — supposed to have been planted the previous fall. I thought the deer were nibbling the plants as they started to emerge this spring, but now are in full bloom. The section of Daffodils along the street on the west side of the house is now four years old, and keeps getting better. Only about half of the Tulips from last year on the patio remain. Deer nibbled on the accessible plants as they emerged.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Row of Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/6.4, 1/850 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Daffodills in bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/6.4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Dandelion and wild Violet flowers. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/680 sec). (David J Mathre)


Tree Flowers. Images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Tulips. Images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed in my PhotoShelter Gallery. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.8 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun (some clouds). A surplus of 20.5 kWh.



powered by Ambient Weather