poppies - David Mathre Photography

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.

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.

Thursday (20-June-2019) — New Jersey

Last Day of Spring. Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The rain continues… It stopped for a bit a little after noon. Went on a walkabout with my Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens. Lots of Poppies and Cosmos flowers. Also some Forget-Me-Not, Bee Balm, Blue Flax, Marigold, Zinnia, and Yellow Prickly Pear Cactus flowers.

Dizzy Troll looking at a Poppy Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Wildflower Meadow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (50.7 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.36 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I did laundry and the Geothermal A/C was running.

Current Weather Conditions

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Thursday (20-June-2017) — New Jersey

Last Day of Spring. Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

It seems that “Nibbles” the Bunny Rabbit is moving in near my Kitchen Wildflower Garden. I’m letting him or her stay for the time being. So far it is not eating the Poppies.

Bunny Rabbit Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)

Bunny Rabbit Behind the Electric Fence. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)

Daily Power Use (50.7 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.36 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I did laundry and the Geothermal A/C was running.

Current Weather Conditions

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Monday (17-June-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I continue to get new poppies blooming every day. The most are red, some are pink, and one was white. The flowers attract tiny hoverflies.

White Poppy. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

White and Pink Poppy. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (54.0 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (38.75 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is down since I adjusted the thermostat to 72°F.

Current Weather Conditions

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Tuesday (26-June-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

I haven’t done the morning dawn clouds for some time as the sun has been getting up earlier than I have. I did notice some colors this morning and shot some pictures before the colors faded. I noticed that the deer found the flowering Yucca plants, and pretty much ate all of the flowers. ARRG!. I have a new high-resolution DSLR camera to test — used for the first time on today’s walkabout for flowers and frogs.

Early Morning Pastel Colored Clouds. Composite of four images taken with a Leica CL camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 18 mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Individual Images in the Slide-Shows can be viewed here.