tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6203598837272074112024-03-19T06:59:50.451-04:00My Back Yard & Beyondfrom micro to macroUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-29132873345879380312010-07-03T14:15:00.004-04:002010-07-03T14:20:15.055-04:00Garden critters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzW4MVDMJn7VzIUPffM8XHG62-yTPXAGruzu4XwWqSSYCLM7ivfAulI1FLJ1ZnFTVcsoQHrFdzAdQILh9fHV1RYv_M_yqjvAsv2kdfY823hGRWYDus4pi1GkILi3dkrnex5x_ITjjzN0/s1600/gardenbunny.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzW4MVDMJn7VzIUPffM8XHG62-yTPXAGruzu4XwWqSSYCLM7ivfAulI1FLJ1ZnFTVcsoQHrFdzAdQILh9fHV1RYv_M_yqjvAsv2kdfY823hGRWYDus4pi1GkILi3dkrnex5x_ITjjzN0/s400/gardenbunny.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489745916950847954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm7dtuQ40V1frWSx0Kt1li4DVl6q07IoJfp_mnpQlUDbQq4SaLweFdhCfF6Isi8Pqz5byTZtSE05JACYjPte4h2sDMSgspn8j2wBuc76UMJSq6u037dTXrw-N354h-qtvq0ivprm_dI0/s1600/butterfly.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm7dtuQ40V1frWSx0Kt1li4DVl6q07IoJfp_mnpQlUDbQq4SaLweFdhCfF6Isi8Pqz5byTZtSE05JACYjPte4h2sDMSgspn8j2wBuc76UMJSq6u037dTXrw-N354h-qtvq0ivprm_dI0/s400/butterfly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489745486274119650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEFw3rs8xh_nEXQ1j9jZ30roQHp7jb7Vc-evPUR7w_oGSabCiq2VCUWjnXmXdUSIaPhp3NFWDiJPqv6GISOuBs4LJfPwC3ayvg0yhabVCBkkwT4-bE8Ex8MP5NG8h4x93urWkBxjjQE0/s1600/hog.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEFw3rs8xh_nEXQ1j9jZ30roQHp7jb7Vc-evPUR7w_oGSabCiq2VCUWjnXmXdUSIaPhp3NFWDiJPqv6GISOuBs4LJfPwC3ayvg0yhabVCBkkwT4-bE8Ex8MP5NG8h4x93urWkBxjjQE0/s400/hog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489746229876325762" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-47009157816699574192010-05-16T22:31:00.003-04:002010-05-16T23:03:22.287-04:00Open letter to Silk Soy Milk and the White Wave Company:I had been wondering what was up with my latest carton of Vanilla Silk, which tastes funny. Cloying! Not good AT ALL. So from your Web site I learn that indeed, you have gone and changed the recipe. "<a href="http://www.silksoymilk.com/">The taste you love is more lovable than ever. We've reformulated our most popular Silk flavors, Original and Vanilla, so they now taste better than ever."</a> Why do you think they're so damn popular?! Did we learn nothing from the New Coke fiasco?<br /><br />I have been drinking Vanilla Silk with my cereal EVERY morning for as long as I can remember. Looks like I've gotta find a new breakfast companion. How truly disappointing.<br /><br />(Not to mention that <a href="http://nutiva.com/articles/hey-is-this-an-organic-bait-and-switch-by-silk-soy/">sleight-of-hand with the new "all natural" label instead of "organic"</a>—to account for your new nonorganic main ingredient. What's next? High fructose corn syrup? I expected more from you!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-8265304899438246802010-05-09T13:42:00.002-04:002010-05-09T13:45:00.112-04:00Entomology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmutmfJ3unPyq9BKZMWxNlbK3Wy2F5kBzIsk1rEGPujdE_0yuIItRSlQNTCEUvEFPtIULFbOgxBJgA6-cNLrF9dg4rgbiHvVw8pahvTYtoa1SS0UmZX6gDP73357e6YdtdaSeJY2M5Vro/s1600/spidertomato.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmutmfJ3unPyq9BKZMWxNlbK3Wy2F5kBzIsk1rEGPujdE_0yuIItRSlQNTCEUvEFPtIULFbOgxBJgA6-cNLrF9dg4rgbiHvVw8pahvTYtoa1SS0UmZX6gDP73357e6YdtdaSeJY2M5Vro/s400/spidertomato.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469327333960140722" border="0" /></a><br />Spider on dad's tomato plant. Doing its job.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ztnLRswOnkqQFVfonW1UdDy_ed1jX0AgGr_Kxe88qFPoupD9WuFoYlp67nbOoNlT9zFCSCeyaqT3bpiFNiZTdi5_k6rtu5AzHdddSL1vAUfIOZY5e1Q7L10CFeTSRfse8GXfTGy_kRc/s1600/deadbeetle.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ztnLRswOnkqQFVfonW1UdDy_ed1jX0AgGr_Kxe88qFPoupD9WuFoYlp67nbOoNlT9zFCSCeyaqT3bpiFNiZTdi5_k6rtu5AzHdddSL1vAUfIOZY5e1Q7L10CFeTSRfse8GXfTGy_kRc/s400/deadbeetle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469327218345822450" border="0" /></a><br />Dead beetle. But shiny and somehow beautiful.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-50099753537888366812010-04-07T20:59:00.004-04:002010-04-07T21:08:07.631-04:00Daubenton's bat on the huntAmazing BBC video of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p08Y0oRAX3g">the Daubenton's bat hunting insects</a>. So cool how it scoops up prey with its tail membrane.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-66704396249077063482010-04-06T16:15:00.007-04:002010-04-06T16:42:34.785-04:00How would "clean coal" help miners working in horrific conditions?The death of 25 workers in a West Virginia coal mine, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/west-va-coal-company-deadly-explosion-fined-millions/story?id=10293691">owned by a company fined for repeated severe safety violations</a>, is yet another reason why "carbon capture and storage" technology (aka "<a href="http://gardenshare.blogspot.com/2008/07/walker-caterpillars-billboard-lies.html">clean coal</a>"), <a href="http://gardenshare.blogspot.com/2008/12/chasing-unicorns-and-clean-coal.html">even if it existed</a>, would "solve" only a fraction of <a href="http://gardenshare.blogspot.com/2008/12/coal-sludge-clean-and-sparkly.html">the nightmares associated with our addiction to coal</a>. It would have no impact at all on the dangers caused by extraction of raw material—including miner fatalities, sludge disposal, destruction of mountaintops and water pollution.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-80999780720883902892010-04-05T13:33:00.002-04:002010-04-05T13:44:51.686-04:00Park Seed files Chapter 11<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV1zdyC7sGrROpaD9czrZKJG8mTDcvFz86TAh7zSlNADPUEGHeiiGINK6pXa3jDclOtn6zwhAUgSISVGEx4iXHjmqothn_X1jJNBx8rjxumTsSeJzuIgGShDeX3VN233XzA2Ep1-Ombg/s1600/world-s-top-seed-companies_002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV1zdyC7sGrROpaD9czrZKJG8mTDcvFz86TAh7zSlNADPUEGHeiiGINK6pXa3jDclOtn6zwhAUgSISVGEx4iXHjmqothn_X1jJNBx8rjxumTsSeJzuIgGShDeX3VN233XzA2Ep1-Ombg/s400/world-s-top-seed-companies_002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456708102247708338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fifty percent of the seed sales in the world <a href="http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/world-s-top-seed-companies">are rung up by Monsanto and Dupont</a>. How long will it be before Monsanto has all of the world's seeds in its dirty, greedy pockets?<br /><br />I received this press release from Park Seed/J&P today:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">On Friday, April 2, 2010, the Geo. W. Park Seed Company, Inc., Park Seed Wholesale Company, and the Jackson & Perkins Company voluntarily filed to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of South Carolina. Customers should not be affected by the filing. Park Seed/J&P’s Greenwood, SC, business office, Garden Center, Call Center, and websites are open and functioning normally. Shipping and receiving areas are continuing their daily operations, delivering products to gardeners around the country as their hardiness zones open for the Spring.<br /><br />According to a company spokesperson, “The horticulture industry is challenging and highly seasonal in the best of times. As the general economic situation declined starting in 2008, demand for luxury, non-essential purchases dropped sharply. All of our brands experienced significant decreases in sales for core products, including roses, perennials, and garden-inspired gifts. This created cash-flow issues that worsened with each passing season. Despite deep cost-cutting and numerous attempts to execute supplier payment programs on our own, we simply could not meet our short- and long-term operating cash requirements. Seeking court protection and restructuring is clearly our best option for returning to a position where we can focus on delighting our customers and resuming sound relationships with our supply chain partners.”<br /><br />The companies are currently functioning as a “debtor in possession,” under the leadership of a court-appointed Trustee. The companies have 120 days following the filing to prepare a plan that contains a new capital structure for the company and that treats all creditors equitably. The Park Seed Company/Jackson and Perkins management team is confident that this experience will ultimately strengthen the business and lead to long-term success.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"># # #</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Geo. W. Park Seed Company, Inc. (ParkSeed.com) has been providing innovative, top-quality gardening products to generations of American gardeners since 1868.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Founded in 1872, Jackson & Perkins is America’s premier name in roses and garden-inspired gifts (JacksonandPerkins.com).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Park Seed Wholesale has everything needed to run a small to medium-sized greenhouse, nursery, or growing operation. Since 1870, Park Seed Wholesale (ParkSeedWholesale.com) has been known for delivering world-class products with downhome, friendly service.</span><br /></span></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-60546233944204238802010-03-30T23:21:00.002-04:002010-03-30T23:26:07.918-04:00More bloodroots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlMRnPm6-ff_RucqkqnToPU0JEBhpWmRNAcLD9bHe-KuECMlIDgBRrWBv_v20NWh4hUxKUJ8zv0gvKvgJLASrSlL2fvCoZupJJBAPFWuONt8SbodrM4EDErFhLinUO72rStqznNcQgQY/s1600/bloodroots.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlMRnPm6-ff_RucqkqnToPU0JEBhpWmRNAcLD9bHe-KuECMlIDgBRrWBv_v20NWh4hUxKUJ8zv0gvKvgJLASrSlL2fvCoZupJJBAPFWuONt8SbodrM4EDErFhLinUO72rStqznNcQgQY/s400/bloodroots.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454634023126372834" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-25899199307498859862010-03-30T23:02:00.005-04:002010-03-30T23:20:17.388-04:00Bat killers sentencedTonight I went out to discover that another bat has rejoined the first. It is so comforting to shine the light up into the bathouse and see them resting safely, side by side. I guess you can call me sentimental, but I have very tender and protective feelings about the bats that have found refuge in our bathouse.<br /><br />I was pleased to learn that at least one of the two men who slaughtered 105 Indiana bats (this species has been on the Endangered Species List since its inception) in a Kentucky cave in 2007 <a href="http://dailyme.com/story/2010031900002130/bat-killers-sentenced-federal-court.html">received a jail sentence of eight months</a>. In case you decide to read about the case, I should warn that the details are graphic. It's heartbreaking but also heartening that at least the perpetrators were prosecuted successfully.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-38867148416042759192010-03-30T22:57:00.001-04:002010-03-30T23:02:26.813-04:00Oakleaf hydrangea, 'Little Honey'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeqYdzKosjqYH4FTaxEuNp66Oeu3QJv-gn7DKxT28U3hRqDTLcEU6aP0_HUnHmMiNzNCOjIzAUYAWpBUcqaHBkg1_CuQ0qq0l8EYgePPsWGfuRDeUpfHNP8Tkis4QC6bi-fKxKtmIKGQ/s1600/hydrangealittlehoney.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeqYdzKosjqYH4FTaxEuNp66Oeu3QJv-gn7DKxT28U3hRqDTLcEU6aP0_HUnHmMiNzNCOjIzAUYAWpBUcqaHBkg1_CuQ0qq0l8EYgePPsWGfuRDeUpfHNP8Tkis4QC6bi-fKxKtmIKGQ/s400/hydrangealittlehoney.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454627616614479602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />New leaves unfurling.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-90146294769438164202010-03-30T22:53:00.001-04:002010-03-30T22:57:25.912-04:00Species tulip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxRtbGWyrEdcy9hjeFgtUmmeXoixmFVxMRW5Xv5G9nKIrYWnj6sS7KVzkYU5nI8lC6RCZNDtFLqMZcikFgbSlYFJqsa0yJPje3lVStQ24RZF4jx_8EhfvevZiOK5D1rN-XCjH9gHk1Io/s1600/whitetulip.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxRtbGWyrEdcy9hjeFgtUmmeXoixmFVxMRW5Xv5G9nKIrYWnj6sS7KVzkYU5nI8lC6RCZNDtFLqMZcikFgbSlYFJqsa0yJPje3lVStQ24RZF4jx_8EhfvevZiOK5D1rN-XCjH9gHk1Io/s400/whitetulip.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454626164468219330" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-46222436657086216612010-03-25T22:31:00.000-04:002010-03-25T22:39:04.150-04:00Blooming today: toad trillium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYG5PvlvhKrtp6rBx_u2ikz_mSF1cun-HqJlvcv_FJEhtwvoD6jFTcyzn9qKuT1fqKtjzSVlknOmBfMYz1GKQN3dTwzv8qmsy5Y2zi3XZhLR39l0_YNcSL3E8h0veyotTFHHouMFUNdI/s1600/trillium+cuneatum.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYG5PvlvhKrtp6rBx_u2ikz_mSF1cun-HqJlvcv_FJEhtwvoD6jFTcyzn9qKuT1fqKtjzSVlknOmBfMYz1GKQN3dTwzv8qmsy5Y2zi3XZhLR39l0_YNcSL3E8h0veyotTFHHouMFUNdI/s320/trillium+cuneatum.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452766223307716674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Trillium cuneatum</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-24063805548606755422010-03-22T08:15:00.000-04:002010-03-22T08:15:00.123-04:00Mmm, I can't wait.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36kIQ9n5eiEb8MhbQORZxnflOOMvXEYMXNOzN1FWTewiJSd8i5KSI6QvFYjsJLXs0HpfWw6iAghr3jslF21zFDd_1gr-dTSu0VYO9ASQAs9w4vbVSDf7tXjFJ1jQAVmKuA7AVPjU1Ocw/s1600-h/amishtomatoes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36kIQ9n5eiEb8MhbQORZxnflOOMvXEYMXNOzN1FWTewiJSd8i5KSI6QvFYjsJLXs0HpfWw6iAghr3jslF21zFDd_1gr-dTSu0VYO9ASQAs9w4vbVSDf7tXjFJ1jQAVmKuA7AVPjU1Ocw/s400/amishtomatoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451300519847372514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo: <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/tomato-seeds-amish-salad-C12314">Happy Cat Organics</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-89510781075624564232010-03-21T18:08:00.002-04:002010-03-21T18:47:14.581-04:00You didn't really want to read the sign anyway, did ya?Tulip magnolias trump historical markers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYCfaaFgPq9aah2Bi55z0F2DgiTOx0Teu7Gsu8ioqP_qY9bShXe9yA2DOo4D3-nkhp1U8OsOmGZV8rlCciCfRXXf3h9h0NG74csbTN84La7yWL5wYzuOIHVSO003R8T7Itg0Tx71yVwM/s1600-h/historicalmarker.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYCfaaFgPq9aah2Bi55z0F2DgiTOx0Teu7Gsu8ioqP_qY9bShXe9yA2DOo4D3-nkhp1U8OsOmGZV8rlCciCfRXXf3h9h0NG74csbTN84La7yWL5wYzuOIHVSO003R8T7Itg0Tx71yVwM/s400/historicalmarker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451213349327518674" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-24718721409953339152010-03-19T13:03:00.004-04:002010-03-19T13:16:02.689-04:00Happy 77, Mom!Gave Mom a pot of sweet alyssum for her birthday. Also a set of <a href="http://www.radiusgarden.com/">ergonomic garden tools</a>. She turns 77 today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDd69pYRCkqsvWid9Ld2zdjw0U6-MWv9czjKrVRhZlbDIL2vx8n7m_cmc4qhS2gCvuNLwS4Y6Jm_MMa_Wr8fnnslAe_z9m4Cz4YCVZpQYnnI68jA8KN25pMVvDKGKMuHLkPACu4vdS8Y/s1600-h/momstpattys.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDd69pYRCkqsvWid9Ld2zdjw0U6-MWv9czjKrVRhZlbDIL2vx8n7m_cmc4qhS2gCvuNLwS4Y6Jm_MMa_Wr8fnnslAe_z9m4Cz4YCVZpQYnnI68jA8KN25pMVvDKGKMuHLkPACu4vdS8Y/s400/momstpattys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450393774253875362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEaV-nl6_J_sPX7OJVeV4R_g_zEjV0c2X12GbOr80GvqqCpSfZ0liwx1UoqM9j0VgxZwpANrTBse6IbO77S64QpoYAE1F3KCLMHS8bGRpVv211Tfg66oWpKTB4q-bLayPiEX5KahlbU4/s1600-h/alyssum.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEaV-nl6_J_sPX7OJVeV4R_g_zEjV0c2X12GbOr80GvqqCpSfZ0liwx1UoqM9j0VgxZwpANrTBse6IbO77S64QpoYAE1F3KCLMHS8bGRpVv211Tfg66oWpKTB4q-bLayPiEX5KahlbU4/s400/alyssum.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450392087998718594" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-51202589194309516302010-03-18T19:38:00.006-04:002010-03-18T20:05:55.864-04:00Smooth earth snake or rough earth snake?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m5nNeJ3A7cjxlpMncfuEoXU5HWz6kRgDPVPWhGFieSlx9NDTlXARg4EphC9yq8KSP9e0nfH8FodFkLVAthEYnp4_HSJvFq84wXXhGRBjFMZDdwEgR6PbUK_DcFDxyrAhyphenhyphencithJrWYNk/s1600-h/snake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m5nNeJ3A7cjxlpMncfuEoXU5HWz6kRgDPVPWhGFieSlx9NDTlXARg4EphC9yq8KSP9e0nfH8FodFkLVAthEYnp4_HSJvFq84wXXhGRBjFMZDdwEgR6PbUK_DcFDxyrAhyphenhyphencithJrWYNk/s400/snake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450123021750630706" border="0" /></a><br />I see one or the other in the garden frequently. This one was under a clay pot I moved yesterday. I've never been able to tell a rough earth snake (<span style="font-style: italic;">Virginia striatulata</span>) from a smooth earth snake (<span style="font-style: italic;">Virginia valeriae</span>). The field guide descriptions are so similar. This one certainly felt smooth. However, according to <span style="font-style: italic;">Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia</span>, the rough earth snake often has "a pale band across the top of the head." It certainly seems like this one does (click image to zoom). I could ask one of my herp friends but I like to try to figure things out on my own first.<br /><br />The field guide also says, "The smooth earth snake differs from the closely related rough earth snake by having usually smooth dorsal scales in 15 rows throughout the length of the body as opposed to keeled scales in 17 rows." Do tell! I'll have to count them next time. ;-)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Update: After looking at the definition of "keeled scales" I feel comfortable pronouncing this specimen a rough earth snake.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-85531374751286617562010-03-17T15:04:00.005-04:002010-03-17T15:20:57.343-04:00March 17 gardenApparently this newspaper blew out of the recycling bin and into the garden. Is someone trying to tell me something?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pSHgyQoJUkagpAWySG-U1q0Mj8G_XKs9qBeuIXIYqSClQmP18VxH-vTAHpgYnxjnrp_sgU-TTLAPKlbwGiG6cohN2GeGXoIy8TgpbE3TOVtGTdl8jFtAUGrF3hZKjkv4p0zR46yLvQY/s1600-h/newspaper.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pSHgyQoJUkagpAWySG-U1q0Mj8G_XKs9qBeuIXIYqSClQmP18VxH-vTAHpgYnxjnrp_sgU-TTLAPKlbwGiG6cohN2GeGXoIy8TgpbE3TOVtGTdl8jFtAUGrF3hZKjkv4p0zR46yLvQY/s400/newspaper.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449683313268015186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Red buckeye, <span style="font-style: italic;">Aesculus pavia</span>, second year flowering.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQEZsUorcS45yWcNDYwgLTflX7byjxrrO5SdBQRe9O7pHNns21mr14z75CDkah-YTVi6vtRMqang_oCOcXo7is1RZhNjMJyeX6NMY9aLq9fdDCOKg3aEdsrfsVE3EqLbS2hxDTMprtCs/s1600-h/buckeye.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQEZsUorcS45yWcNDYwgLTflX7byjxrrO5SdBQRe9O7pHNns21mr14z75CDkah-YTVi6vtRMqang_oCOcXo7is1RZhNjMJyeX6NMY9aLq9fdDCOKg3aEdsrfsVE3EqLbS2hxDTMprtCs/s400/buckeye.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449682244785896338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bloodroot, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sanguinaria canadensis</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3djiulUroPUOWFvj_D1l_u2aVYOvrKG9l6Y2xeH_h3DQKCuyHmv744cGmJLaP9UFMq1VfttHOh8Ja_VDs1aw3cS8sfUHeY6NHiq2OsV4zCuQiX5B0CUTutu-YSNCzWntsLmrchewtre4/s1600-h/bloodroot.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3djiulUroPUOWFvj_D1l_u2aVYOvrKG9l6Y2xeH_h3DQKCuyHmv744cGmJLaP9UFMq1VfttHOh8Ja_VDs1aw3cS8sfUHeY6NHiq2OsV4zCuQiX5B0CUTutu-YSNCzWntsLmrchewtre4/s400/bloodroot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449681455977209010" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-8897288062210551632010-03-16T19:47:00.002-04:002010-03-16T19:51:29.566-04:00Somebody please, tie my hands and steal my walletI can no longer be trusted anywhere near a seed rack or seed catalog. I don't know when to say when.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-30921605105631328842010-03-14T09:00:00.002-04:002010-03-14T09:00:07.762-04:00Fun with letters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkau5bg1oaMAxVmTyr3EqQY8eKuVdgIbME-LhmmW3UTwx6flmTwHhKNsPqPV3hiagg7_Enjy3jZfTowIl8xnrOQP0ya01Ti-8ox1PfWmgAcd4W55mqtixCyubpNiqcGn6pBVzXozuKbw/s1600-h/rudabagors.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkau5bg1oaMAxVmTyr3EqQY8eKuVdgIbME-LhmmW3UTwx6flmTwHhKNsPqPV3hiagg7_Enjy3jZfTowIl8xnrOQP0ya01Ti-8ox1PfWmgAcd4W55mqtixCyubpNiqcGn6pBVzXozuKbw/s400/rudabagors.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448373145636575570" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-18680391555545522752010-03-14T09:00:00.001-04:002010-03-14T09:00:00.285-04:00Farmers Market, March 13thLimeade from my favorite stand. Mmmm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayCeIRzPjMjhUhT2f0a1TeXowor5YjAQSrjYoXyrEuRiH6IhDshquqhgypb_MzB_XSf48kAaoDf_Wv5RF0sXSF5riJS-R2JEEJyTaO00CpO1fuxCXYRE_lY_rmSCb44oM8eTTSes-6XQ/s1600-h/makinglimeade.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayCeIRzPjMjhUhT2f0a1TeXowor5YjAQSrjYoXyrEuRiH6IhDshquqhgypb_MzB_XSf48kAaoDf_Wv5RF0sXSF5riJS-R2JEEJyTaO00CpO1fuxCXYRE_lY_rmSCb44oM8eTTSes-6XQ/s400/makinglimeade.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448371778478866434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv2MaQldGRb08YFUMzWFxo_lxmDVk_frAzer4Ydedu8O3hUe3gxSEmGDLjddndJZoxGloRg2ynBnFOzPoQM7vPR4oJ6c02h8jQoRTFGZF6aa0AxWbxsjicBJ5ore3v0i2LHfzRNT3hqE/s1600-h/citrus.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv2MaQldGRb08YFUMzWFxo_lxmDVk_frAzer4Ydedu8O3hUe3gxSEmGDLjddndJZoxGloRg2ynBnFOzPoQM7vPR4oJ6c02h8jQoRTFGZF6aa0AxWbxsjicBJ5ore3v0i2LHfzRNT3hqE/s400/citrus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448371241732234818" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-82804944703361550672010-03-13T13:56:00.008-05:002010-03-13T14:10:15.724-05:00You might be a gardening geek, if ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9i2fbXq3IaLgRzB1KRDIZMXTiJlWxSXzLwupxbOz5lsJtXOsndY0Uz4wQ__jw2JWqsrTXIbf8rc7lTAkBReinPtOuhoHirXcj1fJr5PSBWe4Z5PwP7ABTOASkeRCDwz6yXXjxHGwgAY/s1600-h/Tomato-Cherry-Sungold_lg.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9i2fbXq3IaLgRzB1KRDIZMXTiJlWxSXzLwupxbOz5lsJtXOsndY0Uz4wQ__jw2JWqsrTXIbf8rc7lTAkBReinPtOuhoHirXcj1fJr5PSBWe4Z5PwP7ABTOASkeRCDwz6yXXjxHGwgAY/s200/Tomato-Cherry-Sungold_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448196911323754018" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2009/07/you-might-be-gardening-geek-seed.html">The Seed Edition</a>.<br />My favorite is:<br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">"You open any “junk” drawer in your house and find one or two or bunches of seed packets. Bonus points if you can look around where you are right now reading this post and see at least one seed packet."</blockquote>May Dreams Gardens has got my number!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-84937563078787715342010-03-12T19:15:00.003-05:002010-03-12T19:38:21.608-05:00Houston, we have guano!For a week now, I've been checking the white towel I put on the ground beneath the bathouse. Today I saw guano! I just went outside (7:15 p.m.) and shone the flashlight up into the house to confirm occupation. "My" bat is back! Added to historical data:<br /><br />First occupation of the season<br />2010: March 12<br />2009: March 7<br />2008: April 12<br />2007: June 15 (house erected April 12)<br /><br />I like to note which chambers the bat(s) occupy through the season. As is typical, the bat is now in the chamber closest to the house wall (south-facing brick wall, lots of radiant heat). There are four chambers total. When the weather starts to warm, I've observed the bat(s) shifting to the second or third chamber. My house is large enough to accommodate a nursery colony but it hasn't happened yet. :-( I think what I have every year is a bachelor bat. One year there were two bats for a brief time, but other than that I have Mr. Solo. I'll take what I can get.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-24337330142248127972010-03-11T19:07:00.003-05:002010-03-11T19:12:51.604-05:00Baby fruit batsI am suffering from serious <span style="font-style: italic;">awwwww</span> overload.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrNn09s2-074EWVkSfnQRUnQtYqXdsG1DP-xEDlpvhBdy419qFOncWIoSaEYRzDyvATJZOGOOGO722znx4o98r7LN8AhOOUt54X_-NzYziKQYcHHeaiSBs2zIpPlPNSfq78NuRR5JxUQ/s1600-h/babyfruitbats.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrNn09s2-074EWVkSfnQRUnQtYqXdsG1DP-xEDlpvhBdy419qFOncWIoSaEYRzDyvATJZOGOOGO722znx4o98r7LN8AhOOUt54X_-NzYziKQYcHHeaiSBs2zIpPlPNSfq78NuRR5JxUQ/s400/babyfruitbats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447532647126197618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6COH-sCyx9DEbScmowsSTloPckuboa63EEmEWfMHsxe5ESQKT5cUmSP3UvGsxD2dtzKwOBGxnlDuVPbU5vUVwJH3MvHUVHdnOx3tciMM9kNwgD91dtkmqxGIoW1GR8afNus8-AV3NCI8/s1600-h/batsbottles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6COH-sCyx9DEbScmowsSTloPckuboa63EEmEWfMHsxe5ESQKT5cUmSP3UvGsxD2dtzKwOBGxnlDuVPbU5vUVwJH3MvHUVHdnOx3tciMM9kNwgD91dtkmqxGIoW1GR8afNus8-AV3NCI8/s400/batsbottles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447532537430459090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Explanation <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Baby-Fruit-Bats-Or-Flying-Foxes-Rescued-After-Storms-On-Gold-Coast-In-Australia/Media-Gallery/200812115171340">here</a> and <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/abandoned-baby-bats-need-help/story-e6freoof-1111118184321">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-33646757898322294722010-03-11T00:11:00.000-05:002010-03-11T01:34:15.905-05:00It's a tomato! It's a carnival ride! It's both!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTzJMHbtoTPlA7kkcWR9nI7mUYM-UPF_ceAT3KutkTC0EFa_YLOazQGRY6vJRNO41YcbKXG9X4HAL6m3cXNNAaYm9LXqC0ix9QmtqngCvJBLCBd1EaXvhpC2pfqVc-axjlEROvEp5D1g/s1600-h/1898SalzerFerrisWheel2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTzJMHbtoTPlA7kkcWR9nI7mUYM-UPF_ceAT3KutkTC0EFa_YLOazQGRY6vJRNO41YcbKXG9X4HAL6m3cXNNAaYm9LXqC0ix9QmtqngCvJBLCBd1EaXvhpC2pfqVc-axjlEROvEp5D1g/s400/1898SalzerFerrisWheel2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447250123814884258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This groovy image is one of many that gardener and tomato guru Craig LeHoullier <a href="http://nctomatoman.topcities.com/SeedCatalogScans.htm">has scanned from vintage seed catalogs</a>. Some lovely color covers in there too.<br /><br />If you love tomatoes—I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">all kinds</span> of tomatoes—you might dig <a href="http://nctomatoman.weebly.com/">Craig's Web site and blog</a>. He is the co-host of <a href="http://tomatopalooza.org/">Tomatopalooza</a>, an heirloom tomato-tasting held in Raleigh, N.C., each July. I went in 2005 and can't believe I haven't made it back since. The date's not set yet for this year—watch Craig's blog for updates!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-54437792810081740202010-03-10T12:11:00.005-05:002010-03-10T12:19:47.732-05:00Welcome, spring 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BfE5DXUq86LYFnDNobXR0kyXaLThEitiZGjFIVbx0SW6yH5zR2mD4NXgzPIQ6lRJGeb2ynCcWDIPM5Gs5Ac0dJebUdvwYXX30gY5wK8VWV3XjTSsxhZQ15VJ0pyxtV8E3ZhrPcU8Jns/s1600-h/mahonia.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BfE5DXUq86LYFnDNobXR0kyXaLThEitiZGjFIVbx0SW6yH5zR2mD4NXgzPIQ6lRJGeb2ynCcWDIPM5Gs5Ac0dJebUdvwYXX30gY5wK8VWV3XjTSsxhZQ15VJ0pyxtV8E3ZhrPcU8Jns/s320/mahonia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447055714305133970" border="0" /></a><br />Mahonia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrO_O4vgjoLy1YfGwM8WMD68drO-T9X1t6osmXbI_ydJJhUEY8o0QiKqfG9Rs3POHcRBwtVgQLgLl7BJORJNHX5syXj9XWYVZqfIYI98UlmPfIcVgfDj4xbqqGaVJ5bEpQECi9cv9Cbq8/s1600-h/crocus.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrO_O4vgjoLy1YfGwM8WMD68drO-T9X1t6osmXbI_ydJJhUEY8o0QiKqfG9Rs3POHcRBwtVgQLgLl7BJORJNHX5syXj9XWYVZqfIYI98UlmPfIcVgfDj4xbqqGaVJ5bEpQECi9cv9Cbq8/s320/crocus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447055305725694562" border="0" /></a><br />Crocus<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0EO3XG02rSCxq4t97HDcdJVuEIhzOtJeZXiX1eY-sgRBFepg12V5SyNYpBRFxsojqJaTNMHIxAxNO3_RVkSnaQnY5ip54FrJA6YQyN2s5p8ag6ayReCsgcDFInT2XzCjGlz2TTVWMFo/s1600-h/sedum.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0EO3XG02rSCxq4t97HDcdJVuEIhzOtJeZXiX1eY-sgRBFepg12V5SyNYpBRFxsojqJaTNMHIxAxNO3_RVkSnaQnY5ip54FrJA6YQyN2s5p8ag6ayReCsgcDFInT2XzCjGlz2TTVWMFo/s320/sedum.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447054969413100466" border="0" /></a><br />Sedum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_VfXf5wmSv_oRFVKJcsywF_dcqsQDKEtNIkgmHLR3U2V-kUQwSmuFogIASRLAXzow42ZViv2cs-8Qf_A1VU3Di9XFe85RXEfBfFiI2w4kNc22_Zt1g40uZ4Y4HmgRnqa1hKM19r5Hgc/s1600-h/viola.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_VfXf5wmSv_oRFVKJcsywF_dcqsQDKEtNIkgmHLR3U2V-kUQwSmuFogIASRLAXzow42ZViv2cs-8Qf_A1VU3Di9XFe85RXEfBfFiI2w4kNc22_Zt1g40uZ4Y4HmgRnqa1hKM19r5Hgc/s320/viola.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447054449104531906" border="0" /></a><br />ViolaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620359883727207411.post-90794580740208740842009-08-10T23:42:00.002-04:002009-08-10T23:43:25.196-04:00LOLsquirrel<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/08/07/funny-pictures-dis-new-shampoo/"><img class="mine_4816296" title="funny-pictures-squirrel-loves-new-shampoo" src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2009/07/funny-pictures-squirrel-loves-new-shampoo.jpg" alt="funny pictures of cats with captions" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/">Lolcats and funny pictures</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2