Friday (04-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds viewed in the backyard: Female Brown-headed Cowbird.


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

Dragonfly and Brood X Cicada on the deer fence.


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

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, California Poppy, Baby Blue Eyes, Baby Snapdragon, Sweet Alyssum.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


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


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


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (36.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Rain and clouds. A deficit of 17.6 kWh.

Thursday (03-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Lot of images today. Birds, Frogs, Snakes, and Flowers. The Brood X Cicadas are everywhere and continue singing their love song.

Birds viewed in the backyard: American Robin. The American Robin was feeding on a Cicada.


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

Kermit the Bullfrog and all of his relatives in the pond are getting fat fast this spring. Presumably out feeding on the Cicadas.


Bullfrogs in the pond. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Bullfrogs in the pond. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The Brood X Cicada is not feeding, just resting on the flower.

Cicada. (David J Mathre)
Cicada (brood X). Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens. (David J Mathre)

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, California Poppy.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


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


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


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

Patio Garden: Grow Towers and Soft Pots. Seedlings from the indoor AeroGarden Farms transplanted a month ago. Strawberries planted last year, remained outside over the winter. Some of the strawberry plants survived being nibbled on by deer.

Grow Tower 1: Radish, Strawberry, Arugula, Spinach, Broccoli, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard.
Grow Tower 2: Radish, Strawberry, Kale, Dill, Anise, Cauliflower, Kale, Mustard.
Grow Tower 3: Dill, Basil (Sweet, Lime, Lemon, Dark, Culinary, Cinnamon).
Grow Tower 4: Garlic, Strawberry, Basil (Genoa, Holy).
Grow Tower 5: Scallion, Oregano, Basil (Sweet, Thai), Coriander (various).
Grow Tower 6: Garlic, Thyme, Epazote, Parsley (various), Hot Peppers.
Grow Tower 7: Garlic, Sage, Oregano, Mugwort.
Grow Tower 8: Chives, Lemon Grass, Tarragon, Parsley (various), Dwarf Cosmos.
Grow Tower 9: Carrots, Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley, Dwarf Zinnia.
Grow Tower 10: Poppies (Iceland, Red, California, Oriental).


Grow Towers 1-10. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Outer Rim Soft Pots 1-4: Cucumber.
Outer Rim Soft Pots 5-8: Summer Squash.
Outer Rim Soft Pots 9-11: Peas.
Outer Rim Soft Pots 12-17: Zucchini.

Center Soft Pots: Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Golden Harvest Cherry Tomato, Gray Stripe Sunflower, Red Sun Sunflower, Autumn Sunflower, Double Sun Sunflower.


Soft Pots. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (46.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (32.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Rain and clouds. A deficit of 13.7 kWh.

Wednesday (02-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Lot of images today. Birds, Frogs, Snakes, Insects, and Flowers. The Brood X Cicadas are everywhere and continue singing their love song.

Birds viewed in the backyard and near the patio birdfeeder: American Robin, House Finch. The American Robin was feeding on a Cicada.


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

Kermit the Bullfrog and all of his relatives in the pond are getting fat fast this spring. Presumably out feeding on the Cicadas.


Bullfrogs in the pond. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

While working on the back wildflower meadow, I turned over some cardboard and found this Garter Snake.


Garter Snake. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Insects/bugs observed during the day include Cicada (Brood X), Dragonfly, Damselfly, Grasshopper, Cabbage White Butterfly, Water-walker, and tick(?).


Insects and other bugs. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, California Poppy, Sweet Alyssum, Rhododendron, Baby Blue Eyes, Sweet William, Daisy, Blue-eyed Grass, Beardtongue Foxglove, Siberian Wallflower, Evening Primrose, Clematis, Honeysuckle, and Poison Ivy. The Poison Ivy flowers were on a giant 3 inch diameter vine climbing on a dead tree.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


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


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


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


Poison Ivy Vine and Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (51.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (56.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. A surplus of 4.5 kWh.

Tuesday (01-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The Brood X Cicadas are everywhere and continue singing their love song. When when working outside I need to wear my noise canceling headphones.

Cicada. (David J Mathre)
Cicada. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Birds viewed in the backyard and near the patio birdfeeder: Gray Catbird, House Finch. Not many birds visiting during the emergence of the Cicadas. Normally, the Catbirds would be going after my strawberries about this time of the year. Apparently, the Cicadas taste better.


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

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, Rhododendron, Clematis, Baby Blue Eyes, Baby Snapdragon, Sweet Alyssum, Lacy Phacelia.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


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


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (43.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (65.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and a few clouds. A surplus of 22.1 kWh.

Monday (31-May-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, California Poppy, Red Poppy. Red Poppies for Memorial Day.


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (49.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (73.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The sun returned. A surplus of 24.3 kWh.