Sunday, June 30, 2019

Spooky old house


This old house looked very spooky with the angels in front and Spanish moss all over the trees.  I thought it was situated in an old graveyard, but it just turns out to be owned by an eccentric lady who likes to collect things.


The angels reminded me of the weeping angels from Doctor Who.  (don't blink!)


It's really a beautiful old house set on a quiet street in Hatteras Village on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.


The Spanish moss on the old live oak trees made it even spookier.


Saturday, June 29, 2019

Friday, June 28, 2019

Tiger swallowtail



Who says you have to be a Monarch butterfly to enjoy milkweed.  This Tiger swallowtail spent a lot of time fluttering around the milkweed patch.





Thursday, June 27, 2019

Medicine Mama's


I pass this trailer often, and finally decided to investigate.


It's a traveling CBD store.  The website shows that they sell chocolates, gummies, lollipops, oils, honey, balm, soap, t-shirts, mugs and dog treats among other items.


North Carolina farmers are looking to hemp to replace tobacco as a cash crop.  Medicine Mama is doing her part.




Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Shower time


During a sudden hard downpour, this mourning dove decided to take a shower.


I looked out and thought she had a broken wing.  She kept lifting up her wings one at a time and stretching them out.


She was just enjoying a little clean up.


Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Eutrophication?



This pond was totally covered in green.  
These were little plants, so maybe not technically eutrophied.  (see here)
There were no water birds in sight.



But the dragonflies were everywhere.


Monday, June 24, 2019

Here we go 'round



Here's another tree turned into a children's song.  
The Mulberry!
And the song...here  or a more adult version, here.





Sunday, June 23, 2019

Butterflies galore


It's hard to think that orange might be a camouflage color, but this Variegated Fritillary seems to make it work. (see here)


These Pearl Crescents weren't worried about being spotted.  They were busy gathering together for some unknown reason.  (see here)


So here's your quiz...Which butterfly is this?  


And this one?




Saturday, June 22, 2019

Purple Martin apartments


These bird houses were very busy with Purple Martins flying in and out.


I think that each couple has their own home in the colony.


The birds swooped in, crawled into their home, and then zoomed back out.


Friday, June 21, 2019

Milkweed for Monarchs


The milkweed was growing well at the Prairie Ridge Eco station.  There were lots of butterflies, but it took us a long time to find the queen of all.


We finally found one monarch. I hope she lays some eggs on all the milkweed waiting for her.


Thursday, June 20, 2019

Way down yonder in the Paw-Paw patch


Instead of importing bananas, why don't we grow Paw-paws?  They sound delicious.  See here.


It's a pretty little shady tree.
Who remembers the paw-paw song?
Here for the lyrics, here for the song (if you can stand it)

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Gold


Every year I look across to the neighbor's yard, and there are little spots of yellow on their purple flowers.  


The goldfinches love to eat the flowers.  We've tried to lure them across the street to our feeder, but they just like the purple flowers.


There are 4 in this picture, but when I got too close and scared them out, at least 10 flew away.



Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Monday, June 17, 2019

Ominous Clouds


These clouds looked like they were looming over the neighbor's house.


Saturday, June 15, 2019

Shady Walk


It was a hot day, and almost everyone was hibernating in the air conditioning.  Abbot's creek greenway was a welcome place for a shady walk.


Even the creek was moving slow.



Friday, June 14, 2019

Mountain bike fun


Green Hills Park has a mountain bike skills area.  It looks like a lot of fun.  And practicing here means they're not eroding the trails for everyone else.


Thursday, June 13, 2019

Green Hills County Park


Raleigh is not known for it's hills, and it's definitely hard to find a place to see the big sky.  But here at Green Hills park you can see both.  Why?  Green Hills is the new name of Landfill Park.  Each of the hills is a completed landfill.  


Might be a good place to see the sunset.


Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Heronry


On a hot day,  this heron was panting and calling.  


From underneath we could see that she was sitting on her nest,with her partner next to her.


Another nest was in the next tree.  A little colony.




Monday, June 10, 2019

Ducklings


Watched over by their mom, these ducklings spent most of their time eating.




Sunday, June 9, 2019

Forgotten


Two shoes sitting on a post in a deserted playground.  Someone went home without their shoes!


Saturday, June 8, 2019

Red bugs


I found a cluster of these little critters on my creeping Jenny plant.  They look pretty cute, but...they are Leaf footed nymphs.  When fully developed they ravage gardens sucking the life out of vegetables.  Good thing a soap and water spray kills the nymphs easily.  See here