Benjamin Vogt's Blog, page 41
August 28, 2011
Pieces of Monarchs
Yesterday evening I spotted yet another preying mantis on yet another Liatris ligulistylis. It had a silver-spotted skipper in its clutches, and two feet beneath it torn yellow sulphur wings, and these:
I scanned these in, inspired by bloom day scans of Craig at Ellis Hollow. If you click on and enlarge them they seem even more beautiful in their seeming grotesqueness, the details of hair and scales. This is the second monarch to succumb to a mantis in a week, both males, l...
I scanned these in, inspired by bloom day scans of Craig at Ellis Hollow. If you click on and enlarge them they seem even more beautiful in their seeming grotesqueness, the details of hair and scales. This is the second monarch to succumb to a mantis in a week, both males, l...
August 25, 2011
Mating Monarchs, Goldfinch Pair, & Why Lawn Stinks
Lots of pictures this morning that I've been accumulating. Shall we be off, then?
Most of the garden this morning. A bit overgrown?
L-R: boltonia, miscanthus, switchgrass, indian grass
Why mow your lawn....
... when instead miracles can happen? I've got milkweed, too.
Liatris ligulistylis
Caryopteris 'Longwood Blue'
Wild Senna never stops blooming
Male goldfinch--been years since they've been so active.
td
Most of the garden this morning. A bit overgrown?
L-R: boltonia, miscanthus, switchgrass, indian grass
Why mow your lawn....
... when instead miracles can happen? I've got milkweed, too.
Liatris ligulistylis
Caryopteris 'Longwood Blue'
Wild Senna never stops blooming
Male goldfinch--been years since they've been so active.
td
August 23, 2011
I'm on the Radio
Wednesday evening, 6-6:30 cst, you can hear me live talking about my garden and writing, just link here and on the right you'll find the listen now stream. The program should also be a podcast eventually.
August 22, 2011
Higher Ed and Me
It was only a week ago that I cleaned out the last bit of my office at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It was an office my wife and I shared, one with a south-facing window we had for just one year, after two years of one adjacent to the men's room and another year of being in a small, dark shoebox. I stood there, looking out the window at a metal sculpture, a defoliated tree in winter, and felt the cold artificiality of everything I worked for and sacrificed slide off me. I seriously alm...
August 18, 2011
10 Monarchs at Once
That's how many I counted at one Liatris ligulistylis plant with five stalks, a record. See below.
Only 9, just missed the 10th
Gratuitous garden picture
In about 10-14 days we'll release 20+ monarchs in about a 24 hour period. That's how many are in the "J" today. Still finding a few eggs outside on specific milkweed (I guess there is a pecking order for milkweed positions in the garden).
Only 9, just missed the 10th
Gratuitous garden picture
In about 10-14 days we'll release 20+ monarchs in about a 24 hour period. That's how many are in the "J" today. Still finding a few eggs outside on specific milkweed (I guess there is a pecking order for milkweed positions in the garden).
August 15, 2011
Monarch v. Mantis and 40+ Cats
This male monarch met his demise on a Liatris ligulistylis. Lots of mantis action in the garden this year.
On the other side of things, I have 40 monarch cats in a 10g aquarium, and about 20-30 more soon to join them, for what will likely be a total of around 100 this year--1/2 of last year. We released 7 butterflies today, I think 4 were female (so far this year it's been more males in general, though I'm not keeping copious records--dealing with all the poop keeps me plenty busy).
...
On the other side of things, I have 40 monarch cats in a 10g aquarium, and about 20-30 more soon to join them, for what will likely be a total of around 100 this year--1/2 of last year. We released 7 butterflies today, I think 4 were female (so far this year it's been more males in general, though I'm not keeping copious records--dealing with all the poop keeps me plenty busy).
...
August 13, 2011
The WORST Landscape Advice on Local TV Ever!
Watch this short video that was on a local news program, then read my comments. I just can't believe this is the kind of crap people pay good money for, and then honestly believe it increases their home's value.
Here's the link to the video. Watch it, laugh, sigh, grone, and then come back here.
Ok, these are the issues in order as they came up in the video:
1) The landscaper says that before the job it was just a basic lawn. FYI--it still is! If the owners wanted something more...
Here's the link to the video. Watch it, laugh, sigh, grone, and then come back here.
Ok, these are the issues in order as they came up in the video:
1) The landscaper says that before the job it was just a basic lawn. FYI--it still is! If the owners wanted something more...
August 12, 2011
Book Giveaway
Three days left to enter the book giveaway on Goodreads for my collection of essays, Sleep, Creep, Leap: The First Three Years of a Nebraska Garden. Link here.
You can read an excerpt of the book via my author website under the nonfiction tab, or go to the Amazon paperback listing (book is available on most any ereader, too). Getting some good reviews on Amazon.
You can read an excerpt of the book via my author website under the nonfiction tab, or go to the Amazon paperback listing (book is available on most any ereader, too). Getting some good reviews on Amazon.
August 10, 2011
A Little Prelude
Yesterday was the first time since about the summer solstice that we did not have a dewpoint above 60. And frankly, most of July involved 70+ dewpoints with a daily 110 heat index. As a result, several plants are showing strange spotting.
The monarchs are finally here. The aster and goldenrod buds are nearly formed. Liatris aspera is about to burst open. I even noticed some turtleheads peeking out from their stalks.
Though enduring this summer's heat was awful, its having seemingly passed m...
The monarchs are finally here. The aster and goldenrod buds are nearly formed. Liatris aspera is about to burst open. I even noticed some turtleheads peeking out from their stalks.
Though enduring this summer's heat was awful, its having seemingly passed m...
August 6, 2011
Is It a Lot of Work? Nope.
Earlier this week my wife took her cat to the vet. As soon as he arrives, they put him in a harness (straight jacket) so he can't claw their faces off. This would happen, and has happened.
The receptionist noticed my wife's name and asked if her's was the garden she saw pictures of in the paper a month or two ago. Well, yes, sort of. She asked my wife if I spent a lot of time in the garden, if it was a lot of work. If I was there, I would have fallen over laughing. Then told her to hire me.
...
The receptionist noticed my wife's name and asked if her's was the garden she saw pictures of in the paper a month or two ago. Well, yes, sort of. She asked my wife if I spent a lot of time in the garden, if it was a lot of work. If I was there, I would have fallen over laughing. Then told her to hire me.
...
