Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category

Getting ready for spring I am in management mode. I lost quite a few trees to pine beetles last year and three Junipers that I was unable to diagnose correctly.  So in my research for Spring pest management I found myself reminded that not all bugs are bad for the landscape. I pulled out my list of good bugs to remind me who not to eliminate as culprits. In fact, here a list of a few of the “good bugs” that I do not want to get rid of.

Praying Mantis: They have a voracious appetite and are best known for chowing down on mosquitoes, nocturnal moths, bees, beetles, small lizards and even small frogs. I am very happy if they want to munch on my mosquitoes, moths and lizards. I have been overridden with all three.

Praying Mantis

Ground Beetle: Not to be confused with the nasty Japanese beetle that took down my pines. As nocturnal eaters they munch on slugs, snails, cutworms, and root maggots. I have no problem letting these little guys help me out.

Ground Beetle

Green Lacewing: What a gentle looking fellow with such a big job! Known to control aphids, thrips, red mites, small caterpillars and mealybugs that like to munch away on foliage in the landscape! And as with any meal they like to finish off with a drink. They have a nice drink of nectar collected from flowers like Angelica and Sweet Alyssum.

Green Lacewing

Spined Soldier Bug: Ah, that infamous stink bug known for the foul odor it emits when disturbed. But alas, this little guy too, is a friend of the neighborhood garden. It will destroy for you Mexican bean beetles, Colorado potato beetles, hornworms, cabbage loopers and cabbage worms. Easily one of the vegetable gardener’s favorite workers.

Spidered Soldier Bug

Ladybug: I have always loved Ladybugs ever since my childhood. But it wasn’t until I got older that I realized what a friend to the garden they are. They control aphids, mites, and mealybugs. Known as aphid wolves because they feed on small orange-spotted black grubs. What would I do without them!

Ladybug

Braconid Wasp: Sounds like something right out of the dinosaur age but they too, are helpful to the home gardener. They have a stinger that is intimidating to humans. No worries, they are more interested in munching on caterpillars and sawfly larvae thangoing after people. And if you are growing tomatoes thank these guys for keeping horn worms at bay.

Braconid Wasp

Bumblebee: Who hasn’t seen the bumblebee lighting on a dandelion or an azalea blossom. They flit here and there in the flower heads pollinating away. They would rather be busy at their job than stinging humans. So if you get stung it is because they feel threatened in their territory not because they were are you. I love bumblebees because they are reminder that someone is helping me with pollination.

Bumblebee

Beneficial Nematodes: I must confess that I have heard of these little guys forever and yet never took the time to really learn their job. They live in our soil. And they go after those destructive grubs in the lawn as well as the fleas that want to torture your dog. But what I like most about them is that Japanese beetles are susceptible to being destroyed by beneficial nematodes. Lucky for me, they are turned off to the taste of earthworms and ladybug larvae.

Beneficial Nematodes

Tachinid Fly: Another insect that has a name that sounds like it came out of the dinosaur age. They get after caterpillars, gypsy moth larvae and cutworms.

Tachinid Fly

Earthworm: Last but certainly not least is the earthworm. When I see earthworms I know those little mini composters are fast at work. They create the kind of well aerated soil that I like to call black gold.

Earthworm

There are other landscape friends like butterflies, bats and some birds but for now I am going to be on the watch for these insects and encourage them all to come on into the yard and stay awhile.

Note: All pictures have been chosen from outside sources.

On our morning walk Lizzie had her nose to the ground. Usually she follows our trail unfailingly but she took a left instead of a right. This is what we found.

ROSS, ISAAC —Buried at Ft. Toulouse. Served under Marion and received pay. Mrs. Bell Allen Ross in letter to S.C. Salley, Columbia, S. C., states:

Mr. I. Ross died in 1826 at his home one mile north of the old fort site and was buried among some 66 soldiers who had served under Captain Marchand at the Post, and under Andrew Jackson in the campaign of 1813-14. The Military burials at Fort Toulouse were removed in pursuance of an order of the U. S. War Dept. in January 1897 for the reinterment at Mobile. Mr. Ross alone is today in the old French Cemetery there. A marble Marker and a 13. A. R. Bronze marker designates the site. It is 300 yards south of the Colonial Dames Marker in a woody section East of the Coosa River surrounded by property of Hardy Simmons John Crommelin. ROSS, ISAAC—Born 1764, Camden County, S.C., died January 27, 1821, Fort Jackson, near Montgomery, and buried there. Grave marked by Peter Forney Chapter, D.A.R. Pensioner.—General D.A.R. Report, 1930

I am a tree hugging, dirt worshipper. I admit it! If there is a group for tree huggers for example, “tree hugger anonymous”, then I guess I need to belong. Every tree in my yard is special and when I have to make the judicial decision to have one felled it is like losing a family member.

This past summer my husband and I had to decide to take two down and top another. But the real blow came this month we noticed six of the beautiful pines were either sick, overcrowded or diseased. But alas, as I sat forty feet away on my patio in the quiet of the day I heard those nasty little pine beetles munching away with no disgrace of their shameful habit. I knew we had to do the right thing. And so one fine day my husband and I decided to tour the yard to see what exactly was happening.

What we saw was overcrowding that was causing the pines to weaken as they fought for water and nutrients to supply themselves. We saw two or three that had cracked trunks that were a time bomb waiting for a day to fall doing damage to our yard as well as our neighbor’s yard. And we saw two dead pines munched to death by pine beetles. And so we knew it was time to call our “tree guy”, Glen.

Glen came out and looked at that the trees we had marked. “Yep, and oh yeah”, with a nod. And “right I see why you want that overcrowded one out”. I can tell you this not a case of a worker wanting to make a lot off money of us because he gave us a wonderful deal.

And Glen gave us a lesson in pine trees. We asked him if he would tour our yard to look at all the pines to see if any others were in need in the near future of being taken down. Glen knows his business. I think in his prior life he was a tree whisperer because he knew “everything there is to know about pines but were afraid to ask”. For example, we were concerned about the holes we saw in the side of some trees. He pointed out the difference between a damaged tree and one that really is quite fine. Looks are not everything! Then in a soft and easy southern drawl he began to share stories of trees. Showing us what to look for when a tree has gone bad. How to work on overcrowding and how to keep the tree healthy to keep those darn pine beetles at bay. I felt like we had been visited by a specialist and indeed we had!

Glen built his own house. Had been raised in the tree business all his life and is now raising his son who is lead worker on the jobs. I feel like my trees are in safe hands now.

Trees are fundamentally living creatures hence, why I hug, cry and cavort with them. I had to say good bye to those six trees. But the crew were kind about not hurting surrounding trees. And as a tree hugger I was relieved to hear we had no immediate need to take out anymore of my friends! We know any other weaken trees will be taken care of, finally no stress. We looked out over the yard secure in the knowledge we did the right thing for trees. Okay, gotta go hug a tree now! 

“A stricken tree, a living thing, so beautiful, so dignified, so admirable in its potential longevity, is, next to man, perhaps the most touching of wounded objects.”
Edna Ferber

Halloween is fast approaching. The pumpkins are carved and the kiddies are primed for their junk food fest. But what about the pets? I received this article from my local Humane Shelter. The Director, Rea Cord, faithfully writes a article weekly about the dogs, cats and what have you that show up at the Shelter. I am passing onto you some tips for keeping “Rover” safe and sound this year. My Lizzie dog is spooked by loud noises and anything that is unusual so when I got this information I thought of her. If she freaks out, what about your pet? Hope you enjoy the tips my blogging friends and “Happy Halloween” to you all.

Halloween is a lot of fun for is humans, but poses some special risks to our pets. Pet costumes, scary people costumes, candy, trick or treaters, and parties all have special risks for our pets so we ask everyone to plan ahead to keep your pet(s) healthy and safe.

• That big bowl of candy may be bad for our waist lines, but can be quite dangerous to our pets! Chocolate can be toxic, candies containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can cause problems, and just think of all of those candy wrappers, lollipop sticks and such that a pet might consume! Please keep all candies safely out of reach of your pets and don’t leave Fido unattended with a big bowl of candy at the front door.

• Carved pumpkins with burning candles could be knocked over by a playful pup or curious kitten causing a fire so make sure pets and ‘lighted’ Halloween decorations are not left alone. (You might also want to keep your dog(s) up if you have candle decorations burning outside lest your male dog ‘extinguish’ your fun!)

• And you may think your dog or cat looks cute in a costume, but how does your pet feel? Some pets love playing along while others find it very distressing If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t constrict their movement, hearing or breathing. Also check to make sure there are no dangling pieces that your pet could get caught in or chew on. And if your pet seems distressed, or even allergic, then put your pet’s comfort first and nix the costume all together.

• If you are having a party, probably best to keep your pets in a separate room so they won’t become scared or even protective when they see humans in odd and scary costumes. This will also help protect them from being fed inappropriate food, treats and candy by kind, but uninformed party guests.

• Please also keep your pets in another room or part of the house if you are opening your door for trick-or-treaters! It would be easy for a pet to escape and we certainly don’t want a pet to be freaked out by scores of children in all manner of costumes resulting in either a lost pet or, worse, a bite.
• And finally please make sure your children are aware that their Halloween Candy should NOT be shared with their special furry friend. Perhaps make a special ‘pet candy bowl’ with small doggy or kitty treats that are safe for them and that your children can safely share while they have their own ‘treats.’

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.” Author Unknown

Humane Society of Elmore County News – 24 Oct ‘11

Rea Cord, Director

There’s an old, old legend, that’s whispered by Southern folks,

About the lacey Spanish Moss that garlands the great oaks.

A lovely princess and her love, upon their wedding day,

Were struck down by a savage foe amidst a bitter fray;

United in death they were buried, so the legend go

“Neath an oak’s strong, friendly arms, protected from their foe;

There, as was the custom, they cut the bride’s long hair with love

And hung its shining blackness on the spreading oak above;

Untouched, undisturbed it hung there, for all the world to see.

And with the years the locks turned grey and spread from tree to tree.

~Legend of the Spanish Moss

Taking my morning walk I looked up into the trees, enjoying the Spanish moss. I have seen the moss for years in the southern United States but I never really thought much about it. I always thought it was a plant that hung on the trees and leached life from them like the dreaded Kudzu that I see around me. But I was wrong. Really wrong.

In fact it is an air-feeding plant found only on specific trees in the Southern States such as cypress, gum trees, elms, and pecan trees. It is not a parasite nor does it live off the trees as I had thought.

Spanish moss is not propagated by seeds. They propagate from the festoons, the decorative chain or strip that hangs from the trees. They are attached to the trees by wind driven fragments or fragments that birds pass along while carrying pieces to make nests.

And I didn’t know that Spanish moss is and was used to fill mattresses and furniture. At one time a thriving market in the South. It is used because insects will not attack the fibre or eat it. And it is resilient.

Now I have a whole new respect for Spanish moss. It isn’t just stuff hanging on trees. It has a life all of its own and we humans found a way to harness this wonderful plant for our use. It can even be fed to livestock, of course, under the right conditions. The livestock can eat it much like they do hay.

I was so excited with what I learned that I have been singing in my head all morning a song by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson, “Seven Spanish Angels”. The trees I saw were wispy, gentle and angelic. The fall breeze was scattering loose leaves all about as the Spanish moss waved alongside. I will never look at Spanish moss again without thinking of what I learned about this resilient plant.

This morning is the perfect weather for a springer. They are hunting dogs by nature. And even though Lizzie is domesticated her “wild dog” spirit is alive and well on fall mornings like this. It is PERFECT springer weather.

I pulled the truck into the parking lot at the park by the river. Lizzie already on alert is moving from front to back looking for a way out. For her it seemed like eternity until I grabbed the keys, phone and potty bag to get started. Then I opened the door and bam! To the end of the leash with every fiber of her being ready to roll.

This is the kind of park that a dog needs to be on a leash so I know I have to pick up my pace to keep up with her until the initial spurt of energy is spent. Usually that only takes five minutes. But not today. Wet, cool ground and suddenly I lock my feet and brace while I feel all my vertebrae lock into place. A squirrel darts directly across our path. Whew! But I did it, I was able to keep my 48 pounds of overloaded springer contained.

I thought to myself, hooray we survived. Thinking we were relaxing now I prepared myself for the park ducks that waddle down to the river. We made that crossing fine. As I round back up hill I feel that we might be okay when just as we reached the last bridge there in our way sits a gauntlet! A cat sitting right in the middle of the path. What to do? I knew after the squirrel this would be suicide to move forward so I doubled back to the first trail and move back in line toward the truck.

Before I headed back around I decided to stop and take a picture of the fall Spider lilies. It is a beautiful morning on many levels.

Finally by now my Lizzie girl began to wind down. We got back in the truck. As I pulled out of the parking lot she stuck her head out the window to catch wind beneath her ears. She stayed like that all on the way home. One satisfied dog.

When we came into to the house she ran to the chair where my husband is sitting watching TV. He is wearing a white shirt, Lizzie is color blind. She leaps in his lap with a satisfied sigh. He says the shirt isn’t too muddy. It was worth the story Lizzie wanted to share. Ah, she thinks, can life get any better than this?