Crumbly Acres flora and fauna

We had a storm go through yesterday. Happily it passed by the time the Canada Day stage show and fireworks were ready to go in Ottawa. They had fireworks on the lake a km away – I could hear them. At least we'd had rain.

Front yard

I was out front putting up my red ribbons for Canada Day July 1st, and spotted a Ctenucha Virginica on the coreopsis. 

🦌 Across the highway, a pair of deer were watching me hang ribbons. 

Back further, were our two bucks who hang out together. The long weekend traffic was awful. The stores were packed, according to JB, parking lots full.

 

deer june 30 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

🐦 Can you see them? I could, sort of, against a smoky, cloudy sky. BIRDnet knew what I suspected. Three birds: Gray catbird, cedar waxwing, and brown thrasher. I think the thrasher landed on the hummingbird feeder, but it was quick.

The rose-breasted grosbeak likes the hummingbird feeder, as well. He's more of a frequent flyer!

rose-breasted grosbeak from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Front garden

In the front garden, evening primrose:

I have done pretty well plucking lily bugs off of the lilies. Can you see the second one hiding under the leaf? A snail watches.

The deerflies stick to my hat. So do the leaves!  Guinivere is astonished.

Backyard

Moving to the back, the pink Bridlewreath spirea and rose campion. 

I knew the House Wrens were about ready to go. You could see them in the port hole! 

 

house wren from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After this they flew off. They took off into the forest, and have been hanging around the property. 

House wrens bushes from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I had to clean out the Bluebird nest box, well- christened by the House Wrens,  and a wee spider. I pulled all the sticks out. After I filled the water fountain, I rinsed it off with the hose as there were bugs and bird poop.

I think three of the four phoebe eggs have hatched.

It's harvest time!

We've been watching, in awe, at the power of nature in the maritimes. It is tragic. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador are a wreck. Wreckhouse Press has some amazing photos of the devastation. The power of Mother Nature is phenomenal. There is so much anxiety and devastation to the infrastructure. It will take weeks to recover from hurricane Fiona. I feel so badly for people there. There is a huge response, however, and crews have come in from other provinces, as well as the US, to help with recoveries. 

 

Here at home we went off to buy some veggies at our local farm. Traveling over the bridge, I see it is coming along. A new sidewalk, as well.

This has upset a lot of folks, but the work has to be done. 

This is the Autumn harvest! Shannon and family are so creative. 

I brought my loot home.

We had an overnight visitation. My gourds, in Peter's wheelbarrow, were scattered. The little scarecrow mercilessly flattened! 

My little mealworms, meant for the froggies, were eaten. Not only that, but the oatmeal and flour mixture was eaten as well! I haven't heard the frog again, I'm thinking maybe he was singing in the bathroom window outdoors, not in. We shall see.

You can't blame them. They are hungry and know they have to fatten up for winter.

The leaves and the trees are turning.

All those lovely yellow flowers, coreopsis, have gone to seed. I've pulled them out to tidy up.

 

The bees are getting a bit lethargic. 

The caterpillars are still on the fuschia. 

My rose bush is coming through. The first photo was on Sept. 21st and then Sept. 24th! 

The Canna Lily is still on fire!

 I'm carefully deciding when to bring in the fishies. This is the forecast for two weeks from now. I'll have to fill the aquarium about 3 days before the day. This warms up the water, and gives me time to see if all the equipment is working. 

This is for Oct. 2nd => Oct. 8th. It looks promising! (Famous last words!) There are days I've been frozen trying to net the fishies.