Showing posts with label bog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bog. Show all posts

Monday, February 27, 2023

loosey goosey

 The sandhill cranes have been migrating through over the past few weeks, so Todd and I drove down to Goose Pond in Linton, Indiana to see if we could spot any.

It was slow going at first.  Lots of lakes and bogs...



...some slight evidence that birds had been around...


...but no birds, other that those that a local wag had provided.


Finally, we found a little enclave where a group of cranes were congregating.  




Beautiful birds and the perfect weather for exploring!  

Back on the home front, warming weather is bringing out some familiar faces.

Minnows!


My spirea looks dead...


...unless you look closely.


There's enough tiny green for mini bouquets.  These were made with hairy bittercress, vinca, and Persian speedwell.  It's nice to have a little bit of color around the house again!  


Our hyacinths, daffodils, and other spring bulbs haven't produced any flowers yet.  We've had some chilly episodes that are slowing down their progress...but the frogs are singing, green is appearing all over, and I'm sure it won't be long until they pop!  I've been spending as much time outside as possible with Claudia supervising from the shadows.


The kittens, too, are watching...


...when they aren't helping with other activities, like testing out my yoga mat...


...or advising me about a certain lack of attention in the kitchen.


Looking forward to warmer days ahead.  Have a great week!  



Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Farm-tastic!

More lovely days in the town where even the graffiti makes us feel right at home:


It's wonderful to have so many great places to hike close by.  We've gotten into the delightful  habit of a leg-stretching stroll at least every other day.  There's so much to see.  Beautiful butterflies...



...including this aptly-named great spangled fritillary.


Check out those spotted eyes!


I also saw a banded tussock caterpillar making his way across a leaf...


...and these sawfly larvae were making short work of a leaf of their own!


Sawfly larvae are very destructive.  A group of sawfly larvae can skeletonize a leaf in no time, and even adult sawflies prey on plants! 

This was a fun discovery: the corpse plant (Monotropa uniflora).


It lacks chlorophyll and does not get its energy from the sun.  Instead, it uses its root system, and a has a parasitic relationship with a certain fungus, from which it draws nutrients.  Because they don't utilize sunlight, they can be found in some very dark places! 

We stumbled on this really colorful bog yesterday, full of birds and odd, spiky flowers.  I can't wait to go back with my binoculars!


We even found a nearby park with a pond where we can indulge in goz love!


More great news:  we're under contract to buy a 5-acre hobby farm!  I'm so picky and I don't like contemporary house styles, so I was absolutely thrilled to find this great A-frame.  It needs massive updating...carpet removed, walls repainted, cabinets knocked out, lighting replaced.  But I think it will be AMAZING. 



Two of the acres are fenced in and animal-ready!


The view from my future office deck:


The barn!


The deal isn't done until the deal is done, so right now I will say that I'm thrilled to be under contract and hopeful that there are no problems and we'll close as planned in early September.  I'm already planning a fruit orchard, massive vegetable and flower gardens, a chicken coop, climbing roses up the side of the house (A-frames just beg for climbing roses!), and a beautiful red door and window boxes full of red geraniums to offset all of that drab brown! 

Stay tuned!

Monday, November 13, 2017

Bogs, Ponds, & Dog Yawns

It may be cooling off, but we still have a few insects around!  This cluster of Niesthrea louisianica (or the scentless plant bug) cluster on a hibiscus pod. 


A leaf-footed bug heads for safer territory.


We're still seeing lots of geese...


...and ducks.


Birds are really out and about lately!


We haven't seen any herons for a while, but their shaggy nests are pretty obvious.


This weekend, when it was blustery and 40 degrees, I couldn't wait to get outside and hike.  It's been so hot for so long, and it feels like I just can't soak up enough of these cooler temperatures. 

Beautiful bogs...



...and berries.





Borga likes to hike...


...but she is pretty worn out on the way home.


Back at our house, the leaves!  The leaves!!





Our turks are back, too.  Every morning, they scurry out of the way as I'm pulling out of the driveway. I see them at night, too, picking around in the meadow.


Our kittens love the colder weather and react by moving into full hibernation mode. Unless a certain someone, annoyingly, wakes them up for a photo op.  ;) 


Have a great week!