Busy as bees

The flowers are doing their best to shine in the last warm days. The first is my planter. The next is the last of the hibiscus for the year. I think.

I spotted a hummingbird feeding on the rose, but I was too slow lazy to get up and try for a photo! 

🐸  Moving the froggies: Nov. 19th, 2023 a.m.    –   moved  3        = 144

Every year the green frogs and leopard frogs move into the goldfish pond when temperatures cool down. They are caught and transferred into the frog pond, which is deeper and a more stable winter home. I missed about 7 last year, and they rose to the surface of the pond (dead) in spring. 😢

Jeremiah Bullfrog seems to be keeping them at bay this year. That is a relief. He has grown. He's in for a shock when I have to drain it to find the goldfish!

The insects are flying around like mad. The wasps are busy trying to have last feeds. It makes sitting on patios somewhat treacherous. 

We had a massive rain. The bees under the sidewalk were locked out! I felt badly for them.

The bees under the sidewalk are busy as... bees!

This was fun to photograph. I headed off to the shed to do a lawn tractor run, and found it on the ground. If course I had to show Joe and take a photo. They have poisonous pokey bits, and one must be careful.

This is what they look like stretched out. I found a pair one year. 

This is what the adults look like:

Female Io - Automeris io moths,

Off I went to have a hair cut and chose to drive along highway #7. That might have been a mistake. There have been 3 fatal incidents along here recently. Over the years, people treat this as a 400-series highway, and often do 100+ km/hr. 

It was rush hour, or the hour when contractors rush back to base (3 p.m.). Two vehicles tried to pass me from a left turn lane. What's with this? This guy tailed me from a long distance, and finally did it through an intersection. I was doing 92 in an 80 km zone. (14:39 hours)

This pair, in the Optima truck, tried to pass twice in such a lane. Finally, he made it in a more suitable location. They tailed me several times, trying to peer into my back seat. I have complained to the company. I ought to get a rear view dashcam. (It was 14:43 hours.)

Stay "healthy, active and engaged!"

I am a senior. I don't know when that happened. It seems others should be aware. Apparently, others must look after me, to ensure I stay "healthy, active and engaged!" I can't believe how people talk about us as if we aren't in the room. 

OK, rant over! Here I am being engaged in looking at nature. Peony, Allium with a Swallowtail, and the first roses.

After the first, there were more!

This is one of the Eastern Comma and Question Mark butterflies. They are very similar. They both like the Hops Vine.

Phoebe is nesting under the deck. She was quite keen on the Eastern Comma butterfly who wants to lay eggs in the Hops vine. The butterfly got away! 

butterfly attacked from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Another mystery. There was a small critter  on the sidewalk, I put the camera out there. Look who I found!

Hare tails from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

To quote Barb: "– after 2 days of forecasts that were fabrications..."  <= We had that as well. 

Finally, we had rain! A grand total of 3 storms flying by 45mm, AKA 1.75". 

Our doe still looks pregnant.

Pregnant doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

So does Fred! May 31st, Fred was still nest building📹.  May 28, Fred was caught in the rain📹. 

 

Fred June 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Summertime!

My new header is a throwback to the days on the lake. I forgot to mention it! That is Caitlin on the dock, Isabelle in her carrier, and Josephine walking on the dock. Hard to believe our grandies are ages 13 and 15 now! Thanks, Red, for mentioning it! 

The roses! 

This rose bush has blossomed, as well.

The basil is growing well. It is nestled in with the petunias, lobelia and marigold. 

I had trouble doing a photo, but in the basil was a virginia ctenucha moth. I hatched one, once: New hatchling: Virginia Ctenucha. Can you see it hiding from me?!

We've had a bit of rain over the past week. The pansies Emily holds are soaked. There is no drainage hole. I decided to give her a bridal veil. 

I tried photos of the lilies. It is amazing how the iPhone can grab me two distinct photos.

Joseph Brian stopped on the driveway on his way home. There was a turkey hen with some poults.

They move through irregularly. I saw them out back, but didn't see any chicks. I guess they were lost in the grass. They are wonderful visitors, as they eat bugs, including ticks.

They know enough not to frequent the same areas on a regular basis, that would make them vulnerable. These are photos JB took with his little camera, he roared in the house all excited! They came around to the backyard.

I ran out back with the camera. About 24 seconds in, she gave Fred what for. I think I counted 6 poults.

turkey hen meets Fred from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's going to be another smokey day. I hope everyone manages! 

Flower time!

As I prepare this post, we have glorious rain! Thunder and lightning. 

It cleared off in an hour.

My canna lily was tipping over, it's been hot and dry. 

I've been watering in the cool of the afternoon or morning, depending upon my schedule. It seems to be helping. This morning, 16.5 mm of rain, only 21 mm this whole months. Usually we get more than that.

We have had grandies, and critter posts. Time for some flowers. The petunias in the basket are doing well. The primrose is good, but much of the garden has needed watering.

Clover, the deer, has decimated my hosta, but I have saved the lilies with the fence. Cluny named the momma doe! 

 My other rose bush isn't doing well. It was decimated by the caterpillars last year, but regrew later in the season. I was sure it would come back.

 One out of two ain't bad. Look at my roses! It's a bush that has hung in, after the LDD caterpillars attacked in 2021.

Monday morning the roses were gone, but not the lilies! Hah! Fooled you, deerios. At least I have photos! Isn't nature grand?! 

Caitlin and family are flying from Istanbul to Athens this morning. They took off around 6:20 our time. There is a 7 hour difference. They'll spend several days in Greece before taking a ferry to Heraklion.

Caitlin has a whole spreadsheet of their 3-week travels, with their flights, accommodations, and planned activities. The adventure continues.