Bird's Foot Trefoil

Mississuaga does not spray for weeds, and after a month of near drought - this brave little plant forms small patches of green in the brown grass. There are so many more exciting ground cover plants than grass. I'm trying to figure out if I can cordon off a section of our not especially health lawn and turn it into a mini-meadow of wildflowers.

Viper's bugloss

I'm not entirely sure of the origin for the name of this plant. A member of the borage family - it has some historical medicinal uses and can even result in blue hued honey when bees visit it. According to "Wildflower's of Algonquin" it has seeds which look like a viper's head (which was apparently intrepreted by our ancestors as a sign that the plant could treat snake bites) Bugloss - has nothing to do with bugs, but is the name for an oxtoung - which again the flowers were thought to resemble. Thus, Viper's Bugloss.. a neat plant to be sure.

Perfect sunny day

Blue skies, fluffy clouds, warm and breezy - who could ask for better?

Cataract Collage

A tough day of work for sure - just hang out somewhere beautiful, be helpful and take great pictures. Actually - I think my camera sustained minor injuries, but I've got a work around for the problem so we are still in business. The Credit is a beautiful and today was one of those days that is so perfect it hurts. It was warm, but not too hot or humid and with a nice breeze and the colours were amazing. Lots of insects - especially butterflies and dragonflies -and lots of wildflowers and interesting grasses. Its raining now - which the garden below (not to mention our poor burnt grass) will appreciate it for sure. Tommorrow is a fight the computer software day - so back inside the freezing computer lab - but today will keep all that computer time worthwhile.

Garden Collage

Well, here is a quick overview of the garden. I took the pictures after the sun was already failing - so I'll have to try again tomorrow when the light is better. I've really enjoyed playing with the garden - its amazing to watch them grow and thrive.

Striped Leaf-stripper

My last post for today - honest, I'm going to save some for tommorrow - is a monarch caterpiller on Milkweed again. As to how I came to possess so many awesome pictures, well I had a day in the field where I got stuck babysitting our antena for more of the day (hopefully I'm not too burnt). All in all it was an awesome, if not necessarily productive for me personally day. Anywho, I'm off to water the flowers in the garden.

Cheers,

Jennith

Ladybug Bouquet

Milkweed seems to be a well populated plant today - offering many photographic oportunities

The Battle of the Beetles

On top of old Milkweed, the flower now fade
2 Mighty beetles duel without aid
I don't know who will win, I hope no one dies
Unless they are those nasty blood-sucking, black flies

Provinces Visited

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Well, at least I'm well travelled within my own country. Now, I wonder if there is a map for provincial parks visited. I supose I could make on in google maps - later though.

States I've Been To (Stolen from TC)

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I guess that is what happens when you take a school trip to Washington, DC in grade 8.

Delphinium Days

The rain skimmed by us again. Still - hopefully I'll get time to take some more pictures soon because the garden is starting to florish and these early pictures don't quite do it justice. I have 2 small delphinium plants in my perennial garden and the lupine I purchased when it was nearly dead seems to be recovering and shooting up new leaves. The tomotas are starting to put on some serious height and weight and the mortality rate is low so far.

Now if only I had more time just to sit outside and enjoy it, it would be great. There might be a service berry joining the brood soon. I'm a bit worried about the foxglove - it seems to be a bit unhappy with a touch of mildew a it also seems a bit dry. I tried giving it a more generous watering this morning - tonight I'll have to look it up and see if I'm maltreating it. I'm unsure what to do about the digging squirrels who seem intent on digging up the small plants overhanging the edge of my pots. I'm not sure what they are after, but the plants are suffering. I've tucked them back in and added soil on top, but I can't think of what to do to protect them. I guess at least the rabbits haven't caused too much stress so far.

Anywho - must run.

Jennith

Soaring speedily

Here we are another day in front of the computer - typing, thinking, reading, writing..... I spend more time with my computer than I do with all the people I see put together and what do the socialogists say about this.. I'm sure they'd say its bad. Granted with the humidity outside nearly shocking - even I probably wouldn't venture outside to do more than water the plants, although it is supposed to rain again this afternoon..... I decided to work from my brothers house today. Its quiet and cool - without being freezing like school and there is a pleasant humm in the background from the fish tank.

I envy that bird though.... Right now I wish I could just do something that involved physical movement - running, walking, flying, hiking - heck even riding a stationary bike would make me less crazy than this constant sitting still. So a few sit ups and maybe a couple of bounds up and down the stairs and back to the math with me.

Butterfly on a limb

Butterfly on a limb
In the shade of the forest dim
At the edge of the sedge
Where it meets the hedge
That is the place for him

The other rescued Dragonfly

So the rest of my story for the weekend... work work... see my grandparents... water the garden.... oooh and play games for the first time since Gabe headed east for the summer. :D It should be fun :D.

Other exciting upcoming events....

In 2 weeks I'm heading up to Silent Lake for the first time ever to do some hiking and canoeing... :D and in 3 weeks I will be heading north and east again for the long anticipated wedding of M and I. M, a friend from my teaching days up north, got together with I (well, slowly and sort of) while were were up north... so its kind of special - both because I'll be seeing a really good friend and truely neat person again, but also because I feel like I was part of them getting together - even if all I did was a whole lot of listening... so exciting pictures in the next few weeks :D. I'll be hanging out with another co worker from that time and place in my life and her boyfriend. - it should be a blast.

So... now all I have to do is work my but off so that I can escape with a free conscience and enjoy my few days of road trip and squeeze in a bit of visiting and random camping.

Cheers,

Jennith

Dragonfly Rescuers Downstream

This sharp looking jewelwing and his partner (or rival) were nearly spider-lunch - however, I decided to intervene on account that anything that eats things that bite me deserves to live and while the spider would eat the mosquitos too - hunger might make him try harder and build more webs. I just don't think I wanted to seemt them struggle and die. I've watched a spider take and wrap a fly.. its facinating, but not what I was in the mood for today.

Today was a survey day, so I spent most of it in a pleasantly semi-shaded woodland near a most spiffy looking stream. Not bad - and the equipment didn't throw us any curve balls that we couldn't sort out. Not too bad...

Cheers,

Jennith

Me Like Leafsnack

Here is a hungery, hungery looking caterpiller

Doll's Eyes of Death

Here is a striking, but poisonous plant found while wandering the wilds of Mount Nemo - Red or White Baneberry (I'd guess red with the longer stalks).

Muskrat Munchings

Here 'e is again :D

Muskrat Madness in Norval

My first siting of a muskrat and it was all but in the village of Norval. This guy was busy doing muskrat stuff on the shores of Silver Creek near highway 7. :D

Foxglove Fling

Digitalis or not, no one can deny that they flowers are impressive. :D

This is the end of today's garden tour... more soon. The geraniums are all about to burst into new flowering ... I'm sure that'll will be worthy of photographing.

Jenn out

A lily a day makes bees say Hooray!

Note the hosta in the background.

Graceful Arching Hosta Flowers

I don't even remember the name of this one, but it has small deep green leaves.

:D

Hosta Star

I think this is the Elegans Hosta (I should have written this down - I guess I'll just have to become a hosta expert).

Stamen-centered star
Posied - translucent-edged rays striped
White and lavender

Mysterious Mint??

I'm not sure what plant this is, but an art teacher mighy appreciate the patterns in this photo.

Milkweed Madness

Butterfly Nursury
A charming mobile nodding
Stars - Sap grants safety

Dragonfly on a Blade of Grass

This one I don't even know the name of but he sat still for me long enough to get a few shots.

Dragonfly Launching From Credit River Branch

Sometimes my job affords me the chance to photograph dragonflies. This isn't the sharpest picture, but he was about to move, so what can you do about focusing. Found a few beautiful new spots and dirt roads tucked away in in Southern Ontario.