Sandhill Cranes in Florida - November 2013

Sometimes spectacular birds are sighted in unlikely places. About an hour after we saw wood storks near the MacDonald’s parking lot before we got to Orlando, we saw Sandhill Cranes in the cell phone lot where we pulled in to wait for my daughter’s plane to arrive.

They did not seem bothered by the cars driving slowly and parking or pulling out. There was a mother with a young child walking in the parking lot. Neither the birds or the people made any sudden move; a comfortable distance was maintained.

These are large birds and their different postures can make them appear very different. Compare the three birds in the two images below. They are the same three birds!

Zooming - October 2013

The ‘zooming’ post for the month has become one of my favorite posts to create. I enjoy selecting the images and getting them clipped perfectly…the arranging them in the post. My picks from my October photographs are below.

September 2013 Zoom

August 2013 Zoom (garden)

Kitchen Windows

This week it occurred to me that there is been a window over the sink in the kitchen in every house I’ve owned. I’ve always enjoyed the view to the outside from all four - 

• a newly planted peach tree,
• a yard shaded by large oaks where moss was more common than grass,
• a maple tree that shaded the window in the late afternoon while I prepared dinner, and
• now a deck with pots of zinnias, mint, basil, and cardinal flowers.   

Having a window over the sink is not something that I consciously required when I chose these houses, but now that I realize how much I've enjoyed them over the years, I am quite sure my next house will have one too.

Recently, I’ve been standing at the sink while I eat an orange for my morning snack…enjoying the view. Birds seem to show up frequently and sometimes I am fast enough to get the camera and take pictures. The chickadee and hummingbird are my favorites.

Discoveries during Outdoor Chores

Yesterday I was out early - to avoid the heat of the day - to clean out the weeds growing between the house and the bushes. My husband had noticed them when we were re-installing screens on the windows after replacing the screen material. As I was gathering my tools - I noticed something on my long handled pruners. At first I thought it was a large spider; on closer inspection it was a mantis. I went inside to retrieve my camera. The insect moved from the wooden to the green metal part of the handle which made it easier to see his posture. He posed for pictures and hung on with more vigor than I expected when I decided that I really did need to get to work rather than continuing to watch him.

After the contortioned work of cutting the bushes where they would not brush the shutters and pulling the weeds that were growing in the narrow space between them and the brick of the house, I made the first trip to deliver the plant debris to the forest behind the house. As I rounded the corner, I noticed how wonderful the pyracantha berries looked - with some green and some orange. The bush is full of bunches this year and I’ll probably cut some branches for a fall centerpiece when they reach their full orange glory.

There is always something that is changing or new outdoors…and chores often give us enough time to realize it. Outdoor chores provide a great opportunity to slow down and savor the natural world.

Chicory - the Blue along the Roadside

One of the botanical surprises when I move from Texas to Maryland many years ago were the small blue flowers that grew in the weeds at the roadsides: chicory. Sometimes chicory grows between segments of curb; a crack in the pavement is enough to give them purchase. They bloom profusely in our area after rains or heavy dew throughout the summer. Even in the places where the weeds are mowed, the chicory survives. The plants simply grow low - spread out rather than up - and continue to grow new buds and bloom for all the warmer months of the year.

I walked to a weedy area to take these pictures and got an added bonus for the walk: seeing one of the few monarchs of the season. It celebrated while taking a picture of it. The monarch butterflies are not as common in our area as they were years ago. The milkweed plants that they like to lay their eggs on are not seen as frequently either.

Spider Web Drama

Earlier this week, I noticed a garden orb-weaver spider web under the eve of our covered deck. I could see it from above through the window from where usually I sit to create my blog posts. It was dusk and the spider was just completing a meal - the morsel tightly wrapped up in silk. I managed to get downstairs and outside to take a picture before the spider retreated to the cutter support above the web. By the next morning the bundle was gone and the web was repaired.

Earlier this week, I noticed a garden orb-weaver spider web under the eve of our covered deck. I could see it from above through the window from where usually I sit to create my blog posts. It was dusk and the spider was just completing a meal - the morsel tightly wrapped up in silk. I managed to get downstairs and outside to take a picture before the spider retreated to the cutter support above the web. By the next morning the bundle was gone and the web was repaired.

A few days later - again at dusk - I noticed a larger insect struggling in the web. It appeared that it had already been bound in silk but was still very much alive. I saw the spider come down from to the moving bundle. By the time I got outside, the struggling insect had torn away some of the silk and had grabbed the spider. I watched the struggle wondering whether the insect or spider would survive. It didn’t take long before the answer was known: a small bundle that was the remains of the spider fell away.

The aptly named assassin bug was the survivor.

Cicada Found in the Grass

I found a recently dead cicada in the grass beside the garden. I picked it up to exam more closely. It is an annual cicada - not one of the red eyed 13 or 17 year periodical ones. It got a little dirt from my grubby glove but is otherwise is good condition - a worthy object for photography.

There is a surprising amount of color. Behind the head is a black and orange pattern. The eyes are green and there is a lot of green in the head and on the upper parts of the legs.

The joint of the wing with the body is rimmed with green.

The wings have sturdy veins but are otherwise clear. They had collected some moisture from the grass.

Now that I’ve finished photographing it - back outside it goes. It will be a little jewel in one of the flower pots on the deck.

Cardinals in the Desert

A male cardinal survey the yard from a particular bush every morning we were in Tucson in June. He stayed around long enough to be photographed. The favored bush had seeds that the cardinal particularly enjoyed. One morning he was content to simply gorge.

The next morning he brought a female friend and proceeded to offer her part of the bounty.

The last morning he ate quickly then posed - back and then with upraised tail - before he flew off for the rest of his day in the desert.

In the Mood for Classes Again

This time of year I always am looking forward to classes starting again. It’s been a lot of years since I finished my formal schooling but I’m still in the annual rhythm that was established when I was in school then reinforced by my daughter’s school years (and she is still in graduate school).

Coursera lets me indulge….and it’s even better for my needs that a tradition class because it is

• Free
• The material can be viewed any time and any place that is convenient - as long as reasonably good internet connectivity is available.

The only challenge for me is - I am interested in so many of the offerings that it is hard to choose. I’ve decided I can handle 4 but will have to be very organized to keep up during any travel weeks during the courses. The courses that I have selected that start over the course of the next month are:

• A Brief History of Humankind from Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Animal Behavior from University of Melbourne
• New Models of Business in Society from University of Virginia
• A History of the World since 1300 from Princeton University 

I’m always impressed with the number of partner organizations (mostly universities but some museums are showing up now as well). The quality of the courses is generally quite good. There may come a time when I want to experience an old fashioned class with the teacher and students all in the same place at the same time- but, until then, I am thoroughly enjoying Coursera!

Hummingbird at the Cardinal Flower

A few days ago - l looked out onto the deck from my kitchen window and saw a hummingbird enjoying our cardinal flowers. The bird stayed there long enough for me to sit in the breakfast area and take pictures through the window.

Ruby throated hummingbirds spend the warm months in Maryland and I was pleased that the bright cardinal flower had attracted the attention of this female. She was a blur of activity - holding still at each flower for a very short time before moving to the next one. After making the complete round of the flower spike, she flew up to rest for a few a seconds on an empty plant hanger then flew off into the cloudy day.

There are more spikes of the cardinal flower forming so I am looking forward to her return.

Great Blue Heron

There was a Great Blue Heron that seemed to be posing on a platform in the small lake at Clark Gardens. At first it was a still as a statue. 

I sat down on a bench to watch. The heron moved its neck slightly then turned toward me as if acknowledging my presence - a silent communication that seemed to say ‘be still.’ 

About a minute later, the heron went to alert. He’d seen a fish in the water. About 30 seconds later, he jumped into the water - went completely under. He got his fish and was back on the platform very quickly. The slide show below shows the heron recovering his good grooming while swallowing the fish. This is a time when I wished - after the fact - that I’d been using the video feature on the camera rather than just taking pictures!

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - June 2013

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was already getting warm by the time we got there on a morning back in June. The barn owl (picture to left) held by a volunteer at the entrance was a popular for stop for everyone. Behind the volunteer was a display of plants - and lizards doing pushups.

There was a desert spoon (picture to right) in bloom as we made our way toward the animal exhibits. We got to the bear’s enclosure just as it was being released from its night quarters. It went to the waiting pile of food - gobbling the watermelon first and leaving the apple and peanuts for later snacking.

The saguaros were displaying their bright red fruit but several of the barrel type cacti were blooming. Butterflies were enjoying the bird-of-paradise flowers. The teddy bear cactus did not look at all cuddly. I only managed one good picture in the hummingbird house; they were moving too fast most of the time but the one with the iridescent purple throat stopped to pose.

This museum is an easy place to enjoy. There is always something that has changed since the last time - a new blossom, an animal or bird doing something different. Post from the same place back in March 2013: birds, plants, seahorses

Clark Gardens in Texas

Clark Gardens is located between Mineral Wells and Weatherford, Texas - a short side trip from the Interstate 20. What a treasure to find on our way back to the Dallas area from Tucson!

The high point of the visit for me was watching a Great Blue Heron stationed on a platform in one of the ponds. I’ll do a later post with more of my pictures. My sister insisted initially that the bird was a statue and it did stay very still for a long period of time - until it moved into this hyper-alert stance.

We were the only visitors to the garden on the day we were there. This jewel is not well-advertised. We probably would not have seen the snake on the pavers of the formal garden area had there been more people around. We simply walked way around him - letting him soak in the warmth of the June day.

I always enjoy water lilies but the added bonus I observed in this garden was a dragonfly laying her eggs in the pool.

I’ve included a slide show with the best of my other pictures. The model trains were a very pleasant surprise. They are depicting trains that were common to this part of Texas….and the use of natural materials to build the trestles and scenery around them was enchanting.

Clark Gardens is a place I’ll want to visit again. 

Cardinal Flower in a Big Pot

I received a cardinal flower as a gift late last week. I decided almost immediately to put it in a pot since it likes to be kept very wet - wetter than any area stays in my yard. The plant was already beginning to droop in the small pot from the nursery because the water drained away so quickly.

I bought a large pot for the deck that I could keep soggy even in the hottest weather. The shells from South Carolina went into the bottom. Next - every partial bag of potting soil, vermiculite, and sphagnum moss in the garage went into the pot (what joy to finally be using up all cobwebby bags!). The plant was positioned in the pot - and watered.

I’m looking forward to the plant beginning to bloom….anticipating hummingbirds and butterflies.

Gleanings of the Week Ending July 13, 2013

The items below were ‘the cream’ of the articles and websites I found this past week. Click on the light green text to look at the article.

Authentic Happiness - Start with the home page of the Director of the Positive Psychology Center at University of Pennsylvania and then look through the site for information and do some or all of the well-being questionnaires.

Urban Observatory - Compare various aspects (like population density, senior population, traffic, etc.) of three large cities (16 of the largest cities in the world to select from) by looking at them side by side.

Powerful African Wildlife Bursts out of lively Landscapes - Enjoy the art of Karen Laurence-Rowe from Kenya.

The Joy of Old Age (No Kidding) - Read Dr. Oliver Sacks thoughts on becoming 80 years old - his mercury (element 80) year.

Technology Foresight - Think about the ‘Futuresaurus’ timelines coming out of Imperial College technology foresight event and posted by Richard Watson on his blog. I was intrigues by the items projected to disappear.

Watch North American City Skylines Sprout In 3-D Video, From 1850 To Today - Cube Cities combined commercial real estate data with Google Earth to provide these videos of midtown Manhattan, Chicago, San Francisco, Calgary, Downtown Los Angeles, and Toronto,

A View from The Overlook: A Virginia Farmer - I could not resist adding this post about Mount Vernon from National Parks Traveler to this week’s gleanings. I enjoyed my visit to the place a few weeks ago.

Disruptions: How Driverless Cars Could Reshape Cities - I like the projections of driverless cars being available by the end of the decade!

Stanford students capture the flight of birds on very high-speed video - Watch the video - the birds are amazing. The high speed video provides a window into flight that we cannot get with our unaided eyes!

10 mindblowingly futuristic technologies that will appear by the 2030s - How many of these seem plausible to you? Back in the 1960s - many thought we’d have a colony on the moon by 2013. With technology, know-how is not the only requirement.

Blazing Stars as Insect Magnets

My bulb project from April 2012 is quite lush this summer. The Blazing Stars are almost always full of bees, butterflies, and hummingbird moths. There are more plants this year and the heights seem more varied. And - best of all - the deer do not seem to find them palatable at all! The slide show below captures my favorite visitors to the Blazing Stars for the past month or so.

Feathers

A feather on the ground always catches my attention. I learned to be on the lookout for them when my daughter was young and carried an old bread bag that contained her feather collection with her on every outing. It was surprising to me how frequently we found a feather to add since I had never really looking for feathers before. Now - almost 20 years later - I still find myself noticing feathers. These days I simply photograph them and leave them wherever they are -

Battered in beach debris

Pristine in the sand....matted on harsh concrete

Fluffy on a tile floor...Arcing on top of the water

On the top of water - held aloft in relative dryness....and beginning to get wet

Standing at attention in the rocks

What is it that is so fascinating and appealing about feathers? 

• Is it their relationship to flight
• Or their shape
• Or their structure - the central bib and fine barbs
• Or simply that they are so different from any part of us? 

Brookside Gardens ‘Wings of Fancy’

One of the Brookside Gardens conservatories is currently dedicated to the annual live butterfly exhibit - ‘Wings of Fancy.’ It was very warm on the day we were there. The butterflies were very active but I didn’t linger as long as in previous years.

Butterflies are calming and invigorating at the same time. They are calming because they are so beautiful in their coloring and shape and the way they move. A better name for them would be ‘flutterbies’ to describe their motion. They are invigorating because they are in motion most of the time on warm days. Many of them open and close their wings even while they rest.

But they are short-lived creatures. Their wings become battered in a short while even in the relative protection of the conservatory. We know their life cycle: egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly - with the near magical metamorphosis taking place in the chrysalis phase. Enjoy the slide show from my walk through the 2013 Brookside Wings of Fancy!

Tucson Sunsets and Bats

The sunsets from our rental house in Tucson were pretty spectacular in June because the monsoon season was close enough for interesting cloud formation (but not rain). It was comfortable to sit outdoors watching the colors crescendo and then fade. It was not as hot as it is now in Tucson and there had not been rain yet so there were no mosquitos.

The other phenomenon at that time of day in Tucson in June is the emergence of bats from the overpasses at dusk. On one of the last days we were in Tucson we decided see them emerge at a place where there is a walkway under the overpass. We heard sounds as we walked underneath. Was that the bats moving? It turns out that it was but we didn’t see them. They were far up in the nooks and crannies of the overpass. We watched for a few minutes - waiting. And then the first bats took to the air. More and more emerged and flew off in both directions in clusters. They were off to enjoy ripe Saguaro fruits. It was all over in about 5 minutes. Walking back to the car, the pile of monsoon clouds was reflecting the last of the daylight.

Madera Canyon

Madera Canyon is about 30 miles south of Tucson and 30 miles north of Nogales in the Santa Rita Mountains. It is in the Coronado National Forest - a pleasant addition of trees to the cactus and scrub of the Sonoran Desert. We took an easy hike and ate a picnic - with almost no one else around - when we visited Tucson a few weeks ago. There was no water in Madera Creek; nonetheless, the birds were plentiful as we had anticipated. They were so quick that we didn’t get many pictures until we stopped at a gift shop and found benches overlooking bird feeders. It was a great finale to the outing.