Friday (08-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal.


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

Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. A pink and white California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). A Pink and white Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). A yellow and a white Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule). A red Turkish Tulip Poppy (Papaver glaucum). Some yellow Pot Marigold (Calendula).


Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

A pesky Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) got itself covered with yellow pollen from an Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule). As it gets warmer outside, the stink bugs and lady beetles that spent the winter in the house, now want to get outside.


A Poppy loving Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (71.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (72.6 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Finally, a day with a surplus (1.1 kWh).

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Monday (04-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, House Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird.


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

Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. Pink Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Red Turkish Tulip Poppy (Papaver glaucum). Even though I got up before 05:30 when the LED grow lights for the AeroGarden Farm go on, the Pink Poppy that was ready to open last night, the flower was already open. I still started taking images for a time-lapse video. A couple of observations. The LED grow lights for the new version of the AeroGarden Farm turn on gradually (simulating Sunrise?). Also, you can see a red Turkish Tulip Poppy opening in the background during the time-lapse video. I will try again tomorrow, even earlier, as I can see at least three poppy buds straighten up.


Indoor hydroponic poppy flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The outdoor flowers all seem to be yellow. The first Dandelion — will soon be time to start mowing the lawn. A small patch of Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna), supposedly an invasive weed in the front yard, and lots of yellow Daffodils.


Outdoor yellow flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Belle Mead Coop delivered two truckloads of leaf compost (12 m^3) and one of black tree mulch (6 m^3). The leaf compost will be mixed into the wildflower meadow beds that need to be prepared. That, along with completing the deer fence, and planting the fruit trees will be keeping me busy all spring. Images taken with a Leica Q2 monochrome camera.


Belle Mead leaf compost delivery. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (81.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (57.8 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 23.6 kWh.

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Friday (01-April-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Turkey Vulture, American Crow, European Starling, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow.


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

Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. White and yellow Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule). California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Pink Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Calendula (Calendula officinalis) — common name Pot Marigold. An orange Iceland Poppy started, but didn’t completely open. I opened some windows today, and the indoor temperature dropped a few degrees that may have contributed to the slower opening.


Indoor hydroponic flowers of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (70.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (42.7 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 27.9 kWh.

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Thursday (31-March-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, European Starling, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal.


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


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

Daily Electric Energy Used (80.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (21.0 kWh) from Sense. Clouds and rain. Deficit of 59.9 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (2029 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (1257 kWh) from Sense. Deficit of 772 kWh.

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Monday (28-March-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, European Starling, American Robin, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal. It’s cold out there and the birds return.


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


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


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


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


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

Indoor Hydroponic Flowers. The California Poppies continue to produce flowers. A new yellow Icelandic Poppy joined the white Icelandic poppy. Also a white Poppy with pink lace bloomed (probably a Red Poppy). Unfortunately, both started opening before the LED Hydroponic Farm lights went on at 05:30 AM. So the time-lapse video today is the later part of the flower opening. The flower bud for a Turkish Tulip Poppy is ready to open. So I will have a camera ready to capture it tomorrow morning (before the Hydroponic LED lights go on).


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


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


Pink and White (Red) Poppy Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (104.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (45.1 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds, but much colder. Deficit of 59.6 kWh.

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