Dragon fly

A Froggy Sunday Morning

Today: Sunny, High: 74 F, Low: 47 F

As I walk out into the yard the fog is so heavy that every cobweb is perfectly outlined. Some webs sits upon the dried flowers as if to say

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“Here is a different bloom to consider.”

By 11 am the sun will break through and the need to accomplish some much needed tasks is at hand. The sun will dry the heavy accumulation of dew.

SIGH There is LOVE in the air…

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~~More about that on the next Post ~~

Honey Honey

The word mantis derives from the Greek word mantis for prophet or fortune teller. In Europe, the name "praying mantis" refers to only a single species, Mantis religiosa.

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I am not really sure what brought this song to mind when I saw this Mantis…but I hummed it all day.

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Note the word HUM…as Mantis is on the Humming bird feeder…tee hee

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Could be because I recently got the CD, could be because I miss my Honey, Honey…or it just COULD BE ...the way it is

"Honey, Honey" was written by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Stig Anderson, with shared vocals by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. As well as the English version, ABBA also recorded "Honey, Honey" in Swedish, the last official recording by the group in their own language and was released as the B-side of the Swedish "Waterloo" single. In its English format, "Honey, Honey" was released with "King Kong Song" as the B-side.

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Abba

Honey, Honey lyrics

Honey honey, how you thrill me,

ah-hah, honey honey Honey honey, nearly kill me,

ah-hah, honey honey I'd heard about you before I wanted to know some more

And now I know what they mean, you're a love machine

Oh, you make me dizzy Honey honey, let me feel it, ah-hah, honey honey

Honey honey, don't conceal it, ah-hah, honey honey

The way that you kiss goodnight (The way that you kiss me goodnight)

The way that you hold me tight (The way that you're holding me tight)

I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing

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Honey, Honey - Full Track - Mamma Mia The Movie

Praying Mantis

Mantis V Mouse

What is a Praying Mantis? The praying mantids, or praying mantises, are carnivorous insects that belong to the family. There are about 2,000 species of mantids. The biggest praying mantises are the Tenodera and the Archimantis, which are six inches long! The smallest praying mantis is the Bolbe pygmaea, which is only 2/5 of an inch, or one-centimeter. Unbelievably, some scientists agree the mantis is closely related to the cockroach. The name "mantis" comes from the Greek word for 'prophet' or 'soothsayer.' The Carolina mantid is a common insect of Eastern United States. The European and Chinese species were introduced to the Northeastern United States about 75 years ago as garden predators in hopes of overtaking the native pest population.

More Information HERE!

ONE BLOOMING Night/(Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

Three blooms all in one night this year! Always a JOY to see this plant put forth blooms. My plant is 20 years old…and I never tire of the beauty it gives only once a year.

Yup that is a Cicada in the first shot, actually it is the shell. That time of year as well! Night-blooming cereus also spelled sirius, also called Queen of the night or Reina de la noche, are names of several genera and species of nightblooming cactus, ~~~~~~~~ This plant is grown as a houseplant, but prefers a trip outdoors for the summer months. Place the container under a shade tree where it gets filtered light, but not direct sunlight in the afternoon. With a flower so showy, you may think it is difficult to grow, but the opposite is true. It basically takes care of itself. The only thing that would be a problem would be waterlogged soils. It prefers a well-drained soil with organic matter added -- a half-and-half mixture of sand and commercial potting soil should do. The sandy mix is preferred, since this is a cactus. Feed it monthly during spring and summer with any water soluble. You don't want to miss the flowering display, because each bloom only lasts for that one night. By sunrise the flower is spent. I have cut a bloom and put it in a vase of water in the refrigerator where it did last for an extra day, minus the fragrance, but it made viewing somewhat constrictive -- you had to have your head in the icebox to see it!

If you can find someone with a plant, ask for a cutting. They root extremely easily. Take a section of stem roughly two to four inches in length, put it a sandy potting soil, and moisten it. It should be rooted with three to six weeks. It will usually take two to three years before you have a plant that begins blooming, but then stand back and enjoy. Some people find that their plants bloom every year, once blooming begins, while others have an alternate blooming cycle.

Check this Video out!

Are You My Moth ER?

When I saw this I remembered a book I read to our Children…

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It is the story about a mother bird who knows her egg will be in her nest where she left it, so she leaves him alone to go and get something for him to eat. The baby bird hatches. He doesn't understand where his mother is so he goes to look for her. In his search, he asks a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a cow if they are his mother. They each say, "No."

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Then he sees an old car, which can't be his mother for sure. In desperation, the hatchling calls out to a boat and a plane, and at last, convinced he has found his mother, he climbs onto the teeth of an enormous power shovel. But he is betrayed by the behemoth, as it shudders and grinds into motion. He can't escape. "I want my mother!" he shouts.

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But at this climactic moment, his fate is suddenly reversed. The shovel drops him back in his nest, just as his mother is returning home, and the two are reunited, much to their delight. He then tells her about the adventure he had looking for her.

Species Orgyia leucostigma

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White-Marked Tussock Moth

Hairy with 3 long black tufts and 4 pairs of short, thick tufts that may be white or yellow. Body is yellow with a black stripe and red spots. Grows to approx 1 1/4 inches and feeds on many trees. Found in the eastern areas. SUPER SITE Check it out!

Happy Almost Monday!

Stuff is POPPING out Everywhere ;)

Flee!

Flee fly flow!

Vista,

cumala, cumala Vista.

Oh, no, no, no, not the Vista

Eeny-meeny-desimeeny...

A new Lilac Lilacs that have been here since this home was built @ 120 years ago Lilacs I transplanted from the Niece of the original owners lived in what is now our home

Lilacs over Sarah's Koi Pond

Poppy

Iris almost ready to burst forth

Ferns

YUMMY! Check it out!

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Facts on Fiddleheads

Shrimp and Fiddlehead Medley

Purple asparagus originated from a region around Albenga, Italy. This "cultivar" is known as Violetto d/Albenga. Although the spears are of deep purple color, the ferns are actually green. The farmers in Albenga region propagate the plants using seeds from open pollination. Seeds are usually collected from vigorous female plants producing large spears. ~~

Purple hybrids produce larger spears but fewer in number per plant than the green hybrids Green, White and Purple!

To keep the purple in asparagus, add acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to its cooking water. The acid anchors the red pigment, anthocyanin. If you don't do this, the color fades to green--a bit extravagant, because you pay a premium for the purple. Dishes that maximize purple asparagus's color maximize its value, as in the purple, white, and green asparagus platter and the citrus salad. To keep the purple in asparagus, add acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to its cooking water. The acid anchors the red pigment, anthocyanin. If you don't do this, the color fades to green--a bit extravagant, because you pay a premium for the purple. Dishes that maximize purple asparagus's color maximize its value, as in the purple, white, and green asparagus platter and the citrus salad. ~~~~~~~~

Purple Asparagus recipes

Spring Tabbouleh Recipe

used it raw here.

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Blueberries the kids called them boo babies the picture shows the blossom that sure looks like pantalets to me

Sweet Shrub Scientific Name

Calycanthus floridus

Common NameSweet shrub; Sweet Betsy, Carolina allspice

SWEET SHRUB (Strawberry Bush, Sweet Shade)Sweet Shrub is native to the Appalachian stream banks of the Smokies, where it is also known as Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Bush, Sweet Shade, and Bubby Blossom. Women used to place the flowers in their bodices as a perfume, hence the name "Bubby Blossom". Sweet shrub was once commonly found as an ornamental around colonial homes, especially south of the Mason-Dixon line. Several large bushes can fill a small yard with the combined fragrance of strawberry, cantaloupe, spiced apple, and burgundy wine. Sweet shrub has a distinctive maroon-red flower about 2" across. It is pollinated by small beetles that were the first pollinators of flowering plants and were instrumental in the evolution of flowering plants, long before bees and flies appeared on the scene. When the flower first opens it has the fragrance of spiced apples as it opens over a period of 7 to 10 days. Flowers first appear in mid-March with a flush of flowers in April, and a trailing out through May. Even the leaves are fragrant when rubbed, and in the fall they turn a sunny yellow. In colonial times the cinnamon-flavored bark was used as a seasoning. Sweet shrubs are ideal for planting close to the house near a window where the fragrance may drift indoors. Plant additional plants by a favor-ite path or sitting area. Will flower splendidly in full sun, but is best adapted to light shade. Flowers in 2 to 3 years from seed. Medicinal: Useful for damp spleen. An excellent herb for moving stagnant chi. The leaves, twigs, and buds have diaphoretic properties. An emmenagogue, and possibly has some anti-viral activity.

The seed pod

Camera Critters ~ Mayfly

Join Camera - Critters HERE!

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I feel ALMOST certain that I have a picture of a MAYFLY upon my Poppy

Mayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera (from the Greek ephemeros = "short-lived", pteron = "wing", referring to the short life span of adults). They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Paleoptera, which also contains the dragonflies and damselflies. They are aquatic insects whose immature stage (called naiad or, colloquially, nymph) usually lasts one year in fresh water. The adults are short-lived, from a few hours to a few days depending on the species. About 2,500 species are known worldwide, including about 630 species in North America. Common names for mayflies include "dayfly", "shadfly", "Green Bay Flies", "Canadian soldier", and "fishfly" [1].The mayfly belongs to group 1 taxa, or pollution–sensitive animals. This means if mayflies are in or around the water, the water should be of a good quality.

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Click to enlarge so you can see the Mayfly

YouTube has This Video of a MAYFLY …how awesome is that? Mayflies of West Virginia

Sky Watch Friday ~ Ootheca

Dateline ~~ Friday’s edition ~~ Check it out at

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Tom’s Place for Sky Watch Friday

In the spring I look at the trees making sure the progression of leaf buds are coming along, especially on the trees we planted last year. Deep within hoping they made it. While doing a walk about I noticed, on an overcast day…what appears to be a cocoon of sorts.

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Sleuthing ~~ What’s That Bug? Camera in hand then a dash for the Audubon Book on Insect 's …double confirmation using site from the Internet I have concluded that is is highly likely we have a CASE.

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In Fall, the female builds cocoon out of something like paper mache and lays her eggs inside. The cocoon over-winters and the eggs hatch out in spring. The frayed material dribbling out of the left side of a cocoon indicates a successful hatchout.

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Ootheca ~ a case or capsule containing eggs, as that of certain gastropods and insects.

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Origin: 1850–55

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I am guessing it is a Mantis home

~~Taxonomy ~~

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More Information and Pictures Here!

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...I think it is a wonderful work of Art...

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~~ ~~Mother Nature is Awesome! ~~

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Have a Splendid Weekend

I got tickled today

Last night the wind HOWLED…………………There was a WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT last night TO 4 PM EST MONDAY\

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Frequent Gusts Of 25 To 35 Mph There Is The Possibility Of A Stronger Gust... In The 40 To 50 Mph Range

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Well hello and Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So late this afternoon I thought I would take a nap. Now naptime is good if I get 30 minutes at least.

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The sky looked cold, the wind had died down and the sun decided to peek out as it began setting in the West. I closed the blind to the Skylights. Nestled under the covers, started to doze off…

~~~~~~~ Ummmmmmmm odd sound…tried to dismiss it…

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Ummmmmmmmm there it is again, wonder if my Sweetie had the radio on and had the volume WAY down?

~~~~~~ Dozeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Voices YES it was voices, NO must be the Radio voices not REAL voices…

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Nodding off again…LOUDER they became. Finally I checked the radio. It was not the radio. Then I tried to distinguish where the sound was coming from… I moved a plant on the Headboard of the bed…I heard the sound again.

~~ Ummmmmmmmmmm

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Ya think some flies want to settle in for the winter? Nope that was not it, um behind the Headboard?

~ Nope.

~~ Finally all was quiet again…I snuggle under the comforter… I heard it again, this time I was certain there were TWO of them

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One with a larger deeper sound … I looked up at the skylight

~~~~ Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm Ya think when I closed the blind I trapped some bugs?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NAW! No way

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I settle back down knowing full well I will not rest until I figure this out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ SIGH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Undo the blind, saw NO BUGS…BUT…

```````````````````````````````````````````` THE SOUNDS STOPPED ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And I got up ;(

Sap-Feeding Insects

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One day bummed out then TODAY I found the sense of humor…HA under da ROCK!

~~~~~~~~~~ I remember one year when our children were little and the Seventeen Year Locusts came out…we used the old Peanut Butter buckets to gather the shells. Of course there was a prize for the most found. But then they all got a prize of some kind.

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The sounds was deafening like a Chain saw conventions. A few years ago when they were due to emerge again our eldest son and I wrapped our newly planted trees as well as some other ones with aluminum foil. We were told if we put the shiny side out the Cicada was less likely to harm the tree. Well it MIGHT have helped a TAD… the larva was not on the young tree when we planted it… Still there could have been some drifters. ;(

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BUGS Cicada Dog-day Cicada (Cicadidae family, superfamily Cicadoidea, suborder Auchenorrhyncha),

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Locust or Cicada

~~~~~~~~ Cicadas are related to leafhoppers and spittlebugs. In parts of the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States they are known as "dry flies" because of the dry shell they leave behind. The name is a direct derivation of the Latin cicada. (In classical Greek it was called a tettix, and in modern Greek tzitzikas.)

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~~~~~~~ Dog-day Harvest fly singing

~~~~ MINUSCULE - NAP TIME:

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's the basic cicada life cycle: Hatch from eggs laid in tree branches; drop to the ground, burrow about a foot deep; hang out for 17 (or 13) years; climb back to the surface; fly around, make a lot of noise, mate and die. Rinse, repeat, ad infinitum.

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U S Midwest readies for emergence of 17-year cicadas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Seventeen Year Blues" to the tune of the Rolling Stones

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"Miss You" They've been living b'lo ground

Now they're nearing their rebound

Yeah, we miss you

By late May they'll all emerge,

Sooner if they feel the urge

Yeah, we miss you

By the zillions gonna swarm

Four weeks is bout the norm Oh, cada why you wait so long

Won't you come on! Come on! Is this real or hocus-pocus?

Are they cicada or locusts?

Yeah, we miss you

Ten plus seven they've had to wait

Just to court a bit, then mate

Yeah, we miss you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Song FUN!!!!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ But as FOOD??? YIKES! Funny to eat what bugs ya! Cicadas as Food: Summer’s Low Fat Snack?

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