A gathering – no social distancing here – of immature Oncopeltus fasciatus – Large Milkweed Bugs. Quite an impressive collection – the orange sttod out from a distance and I at first thught I was seeing an unusual flower until I got closer.
This dates back to 2014 and was taken in a National Trust property near Cambridge called Anglesey Abbey. I had forgotten all about the droptes flying off the dogs wagging tail – someone was having a good time!
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In spring and late summer/autumn there is a ten minute moment at the end of the day when the setting sun shines at a low angle between houses across the street and illuminates the trees in our garden. It’s hard to capture thIs transient effect, but this is close to it. Goes well with a glass of something.
The larger-than-it-looks plot beyond the young trees is the Garden at Fritz (the young trees are part of the Orchard at Fritz) is a volunteer scheme to grow vegetables for local food banks. When I am not taking photographs that often where you will find me – a therapeutic and useful activity for older people … younger people too if they would like to join us but sadly, they for the most part (there are exceptions) are not interested in helping the less fortunate members of the community. At least not if it means getting their hands dirty.
Very early morning beside the river – this town gets lots of sweaty joggers, with or without dogs, which is fine but where’;s the fun? This young lady plodded past me and then plonked down on the distant bench beside the river to read book – a much better lifestyle balance I think. Reward for effort.
Maybe a century ago this was cleared farmland as the collapsed dry-stone wall in the foreground indicates. Now it has reverted to typical mixed forest of the region – full of birds and interesting creatures.
IN the arboretum near the quarry – this tree must have fallen many years ago and now the remnant stump has been thoroughly worked over by insects and woodpeckers to an almost lace-like state.
Last year we rescued this wild New England Aster from a nearby roadside just before the verge was cut down to ground level. Planted in the lawn it got its roots down and flowered at just below waist height – about where they usually reach. This year its flowers are level with my eyes so I guess it likes its new home.
A late flowering native plant, attractive to insects but a sign that summer is winding down at last. Still hot out there but fall is not many weeks away.
Some fourteen years or so ago we visited southern Arizona and took the opportunity to walk up the Chiracahua “Sky Island” in search of birds. These mountains rise from the hot desert floor but as you ascend the climate changes, the air is cooler and every 200 or so feet of height gained puts you into habitat typical of other parts of the continent – at the summit the wildlife and vegetation is closer to that of Canada than the southern deserts. This was the view from the summit … I recall that is Mexico in the distance.
The Monarchs are finally starting to appear around the garden and in town. This one making the most of nectar form our New England Asters.
