Tag: New Jersey

Sunday (20-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Last week I noticed something attached to the Cosmos stalk. I didn’t know what it was. Today, I found out that it was an egg sack as I came across a Praying Mantis laying her eggs.

Praying Mantis egg sack. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1000, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis egg sack. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1000, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 500, 112 mm, f/4, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 500, 112 mm, f/4, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Praying Mantis laying eggs. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 1250, 112 mm, f/8, 1/70 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It rained most of the day so not much sun. Overall a net deficit of 58.5 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (21.7 kWh), Kitchen (3.4 kWh).

Weekly Electric Energy Used (410 kWh) from Sense and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (192 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 218 kWh.

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Sunday (20-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Daily walkabout with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens and 1.4x teleconverter. I was looking to see what survived he frost we had a couple nights ago. There are still some Cosmos, Marigold, Lemon-Mint, and Larkspur flowers. The Burma Water Gourd vine is also still blooming. I see a couple of gourds have set, but don’t expect them them to get much bigger than they are. I also found I still have some late season strawberries.

Click on the above image to access my Photoshelter Gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (64.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It rained most of the day so not much sun. Overall a net deficit of 58.5 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (2.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.6 kWh), Computers and Servers (21.7 kWh), Kitchen (3.4 kWh).

Weekly Electric Energy Used (410 kWh) from Sense and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (192 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 218 kWh.

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Saturday (19-October-2019) — New Jersey

DR Power Lawn and Leaf Vacuum.

Some assembly required. Recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera for a four minute time-lapse video.

Daily Electric Energy Used (72.0 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (37.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun than yesterday, but getting colder. Overall a net deficit of 34.1 kWh. Geothermal HVAC to heat the house (6.2 kWh), Laundry (4.7 kWh), Hydroponics (22.5 kWh), Computers and Servers (20.7 kWh), Kitchen (2.7 kWh).

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Friday (18-October-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic AeroGarden Farm XL. Setup and Planting.

The three new Farms were assembled yesterday. Today I set them up with deionized water (~10 L/tray) and plant food (16 mL/tray). I then planted Bok Choi, Edible Flowers, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Swiss Chard, Kale, Hot Peppers, eight varieties of Basil, and Arugula. Each of the trays was programed for the type of plants, and the LED lights lowered to just above the tray for the germination process. All recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera for a time-lapse video.

Daily Electric Energy Used (58.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (33.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A bit more sun than yesterday, but getting colder. Overall a net deficit of 24.7 kWh. Closing the windows, and switching the Geothermal HVAC on to heat the house.

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Friday (18-October-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Hydroponic AeroGarden “Classic 6” Flower Gardens. Week Two.

At two weeks it was time to add additional plant food, and top off the water for the two “Classic 6” gardens. In the first one, everything but the Dianthus has sprouted. In the second one, everything but one of the Purple Snapdragons has sprouted.

AeroGarden "Clasic 6" Great Room 01 at Day 14. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Phlox Mix; Position 04: Orange Gazania; Position 05: Yellow Coreopsis; Position 06: Dianthus. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden “Classic 6” Great Room 01 at Day 14. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Phlox Mix; Position 04: Orange Gazania; Position 05: Yellow Coreopsis; Position 06: Dianthus. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden "Clasic 6" Great Room 01 at Day 14. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Purple Snapdragon; Position 04: Lavender; Position 05: Dianthus; Position 06: Purple Snapdragon. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden “Clasic 6” Great Room 01 at Day 14. Position 01-02: Celosia (Rainbow Fire); Position 03: Purple Snapdragon; Position 04: Lavender; Position 05: Dianthus; Position 06: Purple Snapdragon. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (58.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (33.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A bit more sun than yesterday, but getting colder. Overall a net deficit of 24.7 kWh. Closing the windows, and switching the Geothermal HVAC on to heat the house.

Current Weather Conditions

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