Thursday (14-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird.


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). Red, Pink, White with Pink Trim Corn Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas). Red Turkish Tulip Poppy (Papaver glaucum).


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


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.

Lady Beetles and Stink Bugs have awakened after their indoor hibernation and now that it is warmer want to get outside.


Indoor Lady Beetle and Stink Bug. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (65.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (59.2 kWh) from Sense. Sunny with some clouds in the afternoon. Deficit of 5.8 kWh.

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Friday (25-March-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Downy Woodpecker, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco. Same birds as yesterday. I put out some black oil sunflower seeds to see if some of the others return.


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

One of the Icelandic Poppy flowers bloomed today. I didn’t quite get the beginning of the opening for a time-lapse video. In the video you can see a Lady Beetle moving about. After spending the winter indoors, they seem to be looking to get back outside.


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (73.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (37.6 kWh) from Sense. Cloudy. Deficit of 36.1 kWh.

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Wednesday (09-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, Blue Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal. A few more birds than yesterday.


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

Another one of the Lady Beetles spending the winter indoors was on a hydroponically grown Rouge d’Hiver leaf. Image taken with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens.


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

Time-lapse video of Calendula seedling. Images taken every one minute with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens (24 mm, ISO 2000, f/40, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and time-lapse video created with PhotoShop CC (1080p, 12p).

Daily Electric Energy Used (88.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (43.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Deficit of 45.5 kWh.

Sunday (30-January-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day on a snowy day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal. A whole flock (~100) of the Red-winged Blackbirds descended on the patio and birdfeeders.


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.


Flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Hydroponic Updates. The Bok Choi in AeroGarden Bounty-01 continues to be the fastest grower (although one plant seems to be a runt). In Bounty-02 the Rouge d’Hiver and Black-seeded Simpson lettuce are growing well, along with the Genovese Basil and Dill. One Thai Basil is growing, the other one remains small. In Bounty-0 the two transplanted 14-day Genovese Basil and Dill are doing well. The other 6-day herbs have not sprouted yet. Bounty-04 with the seed sprouting tray at day 6 has some seeds sprouting: Swiss Chard (0/5); Kale (5/5); Collard Greens (5/5); Spinach (0/5); Mustard Greens (4/5); Oregano (1/5); Rosemary (0/5); Tarragon (2/5); Thyme (5/5); Sage (3/5). About half of the poppy seedling in Farm-09R were moved to Farm-08L, Farm-08R, and Farm-09L.



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



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

Found another Stink Bug nibbling on the Bok Choi seedlings. Also, a Lady Beetle. I’m not sure if the Lady Beetle was also nibbling on the leaf, or looking for Aphids.

Stink Bug. (David J Mathre)
Caught another Stink Bug feeding on a Bok Choi seedling. Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)



Lady Beetle on a Bok Choi leaf. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (127.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The solar panels still covered with snow. The supplemental resistance heating kicked on at night as the outdoor temperature dropped below 10°F. Deficit of 127.2 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (770 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (143 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 627 kWh.