Tag: Star of Bethlehem

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

Saturday (21-May-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Macro images taken in my back yard of a white wildflower, bee in a Rhododendron flower and a newly opened  Maple leaf. After a brief afternoon rain storm, I went out with the same kit as yesterday. I like looking close with a macro lens, especially in the spring when flowers are blooming and the bees are active. I think the white flower is an invasive “Star of Bethlehem” (Ornithogalium umbellatum)

Small White Flower After Rain. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro with a TC-E 20 III (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/22, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Small White Flower After Rain. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro with a TC-E 20 III (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/22, 1/30 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5.
Bee in Rhododendron Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro with a TC-E 20 III (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Bee in Rhododendron Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro with a TC-E 20 III (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/6.3, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5.
Spring Maple Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro with a TC-E 20 III (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Spring Maple Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro with a TC-E 20 III (ISO 100, 210 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and converted to jpg/sRGB with Photoshop CS5.