Friday (18-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Dark-eyed Junco. The birds seem to be avoiding the patio and birdfeeder.


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

The first indoor hydroponic Pink Poppy flower bloomed this morning. This was only 60 days since I planted the seeds (Red Poppy from American Meadows). The last time I tried this it took 125 days for the Red Poppy flowers to bloom. I was able to capture the opening (and a selfie) for a time-lapse video using a Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens. At a couple of points you can see a spider wandering around on the flower.


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

The California Poppies (Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink-White) continue to bloom in Farm-01L and Farm-08L.


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

Backyard Daffodil and Purple Crocus flowers.


Daffodil and Purple Crocus flowers in my Backyard. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (69.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (59.0 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 10.8 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (15-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Dark-eyed Junco.


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

The California Poppies (Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink-White) are blooming in Farm-01L and Farm-08L. Time-lapse video of a Yellow California Poppy opening and closing.


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

Outdoor Daffodil, Snow Drop, and Purple Crocus flowers. Some of the Daffodils are in my backyard along the road.


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


Purple Crocus and Snow Drop Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (84.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (55.4 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 28.6 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.

powered by Ambient Weather

Monday (14-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow.


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

The California Poppies (Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink-White) are blooming in Farm-01L and Farm-08L. Also a Red Poppy bud. The bud first appeared about 3 days ago. It is still drooping down so not quite ready to open.


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

Poppy Bud. (David J Mathre)
Poppy Flower Bud. Indoor hydroponic garden. Red Poppy Flower Bud (day 4). Indoor hydroponic garden. Image taken with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro proble lens.(David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (84.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (55.4 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 28.6 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.

powered by Ambient Weather

Saturday (12-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal. The birds return on days it snows.


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

Snowy day in March. Monochrome images taken with a Leica Q2m camera.


Snowy Day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Indoor Hydroponic Updates. Bounty-01 (Day 20). Bok Choi doing well. Bounty-02 (Day 55) The Black-seeded Simpson and Rouge d’Hiver lettuce doing well. Harvesting leaves every other day. The Genovese Basil is doing well. I’ve needed to top off the water every day and add fertilizer every other day. Bounty-03 (Day 47). Dill and Genovese Basil doing well. The Italian and Curly Parsley starting to get bigger. Bounty-04 (Day 20): Basil seedlings transplanted from Farm 09R. A1: Dark Opal; A2: Cinnamon; A3: Genovese; B1: Holy; B2: Italian Large Leaf; B3: Lemon; B4: Lime; C1: Sweet; C2: Thai. I have to check the Bok Choi every day for Stink Bugs.


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

AeroGarden Farm-01L (Day 54). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-01R (Day 54). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02L (Day 54). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02R (Day 54). Oriental Poppy, Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy, Red Poppy, Red Poppy, Somn Blend Poppy.


Farm-01L, Farm-01R, Farm-02L, Farm-02R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-03L and Farm-03R (Day 47). Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Mustard Greens. All of the greens are growing fast, and producing large leaves. I am having to harvest the largest leaves to provide light to the smaller plants. AeroGarden Farm-04L and Farm-04R (Day 47). Oregano, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme, and Sage. AeroGarden Farm-05L Day 20. (A1, A2, A3): Dark Opal Basil; (B1, B2, B3); Cinnamon Basil; (C1, C2, C3) Genovese Basil; (D1, D2, D3): Holy Basil. AeroGarden Farm-05R Day 15. (A1, A2, A3): Italian Large Leaf Basil; (B1, B2, B3); Lemmon Basil; (C1, C2, C3) Lime Basil; (D1, D2, D3): Sweet Basil.


Farm-03L, Farm-03R, Farm-04L, Farm-04R, Farm-05L, Farm-05R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-06L (Day 38). Snapdragon (A1); Chrysanthemum (A2, A3); Iceland Poppy (B1, B2); Sweet William (B3), Columbine (C1, C2, C3); Osteospermum (D1, D2); Blue Daisy (D3). AeroGarden Farm-06R (Day 20). Various types of lettuce. Red Sails (A1, A2, A3, B3); Deer Tongue (B1, B2); Black-seeded Simpson (C1, C2); Rouge d’Hiver (C3, D3); Paris Island (D1, D2). AeroGarden Farm-07L (Day 20/32). Golden Harvest Tomatoes. AeroGarden Farm-0R (Day 20/32). Heirloom Red Tomatoes.


Farm-06L, Farm-06R, Farm-07L, Farm-07R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-08 (Day 54). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. The odd plant is Celosia. More California Poppy flowers have opened. Now a mix of light yellow and red-orange. AeroGarden Farm-08R (Day 54). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09L (Day 54). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. One of the Red Poppy plants has produced a flower bud. The last time I tried Red Poppies indoors in a hydroponic garden it took 124 days before it bloomed. AeroGarden Farm-09R Seed Starter (Day 20). Nine different Basil varieties. Row A: Dark Opal Basil (6/9). Row B: Cinnamon Basil (9/9). Row C: Genovese Basil (8/10). Row D: Holy Basil (8/11). Row E: Italian Large Leaf Basil (8/8). Row F: Lemon Basil (9/10). Row G: Lime Basil (10/11). Row H. Sweet Basil (9/9). Row I: Thai Basil (6/8).


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

AeroGarden Farm-10L (Day 33). A1, A2, A3 Calendula. B1, B2, B3, Osteospermum. C1, C2, C3 Sweet William. D1, D2, D3 Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-10R (Day 33). A1, A2, A3 Calendula. B1, B2, B3, Osteospermum. C1, C2, C3 Sweet William. D1, D2, D3 Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-11 (Day 33). A1, A2, A3 Chrysanthemum. B1, B2, B3, Iceland Poppy. C1, C2, C3 Chrysanthemum. D1, D2, D3 Iceland Poppy.


Farm-10L, Farm-10R, Farm-11. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The California Poppies (Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink-White) are blooming in Farm-01L and Farm-08L. Single images and Time-Lapse videos of them opening and closing. Each one lasts about 4 days


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (93.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.4 kWh) from Sense. Solar panels covered with snow. Deficit of 93.0 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.

Friday (11-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Dark-eyed Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco. (David J Mathre)
Dark-eyed Junco. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens. (David J Mathre)

Indoor hydroponic California Poppy flower opening. Time-lapse Video. Images taken every one minute using a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens.

Time-lapse video of yardwork on Red Rover. I needed to prepare for a storm predicted for tomorrow. Rain, snow, heavy wind, and temperatures dropping well below zero. The bulbs in Soft Pots that started to sprout needed to be brought back into the garage. Also, the Garden Shed that I had been storing the tractor implements blew over during the last windstorm. I was able to set it back up, but two of the ground anchors failed. For this upcoming storm, I decided to anchor the shed from within using a pallet of fertilizer.

Daily Electric Energy Used (81.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (58.5 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 23.8 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.


I’ve re-added the feed from my Ambient Weather Station.

powered by Ambient Weather