Brave New World

Brave New World, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

"The enormous room on the ground floor faced towards the north. Cold for all the summer beyond the panes, for all the tropical heat of the room itself, a harsh thin light glared through the winds, hungrily seeking some draped lay figure, some pallid shape of academic goose-flesh, but finding only the glass and nickel and bleakly shining porcelain of a labratory. Wintriness responded to wintriness. . . . .
'And this,' said the Director opening the door, 'is the Fertilizing Room.'"
- Aldous Huxlely
Brave New World
Chapter One: parts of paragraphs 2 & 3.

As 2007 ends, I am reading an old view of the future. Too much of it is here now.

Pattern Blue

Pattern Blue, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Digital Collage

Looking

Looking, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Finally got close enough to see and photograph one of the many deer that wander over our property. (Seven seen yesterday, two today.)

In Dust Real

In Dust Real, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

My goal is to use my Corel Painter more in the future. (OK, it was my goal in the past too but . . . )

Quick Poinsettia Sketch

Quick Poinsettia Sketch, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Merry Christmas!

Looking Into the Mouth of Winter

Looking Into the Mouth of Winter, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Yesterday it was mild with heavy rain. Today it is biting cold, windy and ice is forming everywhere.

Last Autumnal Sunrise

Last Autumnal Sunrise, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Winter Solstice was officially at 1:08 a.m. today.

No Grass to Mow, No Weeds to Pull

No Grass to Mow, No Weeds to Pull, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

This is a photo of our front yard after the 30 cm (12 in.) snowfall last weekend. You can see that I was on my snowshoes but our dog was not.

Portrait of a Deer Hunter as a Young Dog

Portrait of a Deer Hunter as a Young Dog, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Our dog, Calla, and I saw another deer on the trail today and at least one of us was sure there was one more.

A Fox Walked Across Our Meadow

A Fox Walked Across Our Meadow, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

He left only his track and a faint smell. We see fox tracks almost daily during the winter when there is snow on the ground. On a good day, we can see fox, coyote, and our dog tracks all close together so we can compare sizes.

November 30 Botany

November 30 Botany, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Today, November 30, 2007, I found 16 wild flowers still in bloom near Lake Ontario in the area of Hamilton during frequent snow flurries under very gray skies.

Valletta

Valletta, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

When the Knights of Malta were building the fortified city of Valetta in the late 1500's, they dug a deep ditch on the west side of the city to stop attacks from land. The other three sides were surrounded by water and tall rock cliffs with built up walls on top. In this photo, taken from the bottom of the "ditch" one can see "modern" bridges that span the ditch for traffic to get into the city. This photo was taken in March of 2007.
See below for more information on Valetta.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valletta

Goldenrod

Goldenrod, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Turning to seed

Winter Preparations

Winter Preparations, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Getting ready for winter and for art class.

Cardinal

Cardinal, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

This Cardinal seemed extra tame today. Perhaps the cold weather is getting to him already?

November Snowflakes

November Snowflakes, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Obviously there is no snow on the ground yet but it's great to see some in the air. (Let's see, where is that ski wax anyway?)

Blooming from June to October

Blooming from June to October, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

This Silverweed was found near Princess Point along the Waterfront Trail in Hamilton, Ontario on October 26th.

Ivy

Ivy, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

The Poison Ivy is lovely this time of year. Some people pick the leaves for their autumn table decorations. Others like the Poison Ivy white berries better.

Carrion Flower Berries

Carrion Flower Berries, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Some not-so-quick research yielded the following: The young shoots of the Carrion Flower plant may be eaten like asparagus. The roots may be made into a jello like substance and eaten. The "berries" are mostly seed with a tiny bit of flesh around them and are eaten by the following birds and animals that we have seen on our property: Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Pheasants, Wild Turkeys, Cardinals, Catbirds, Crows, Yellow-shafted Flickers, Mockingbirds, Robins, Fox Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Brown Thrashers, Cedar Waxwings, Pileated Woodpeckers, Opossums, Cottontail Rabbits, Raccoons, Foxes, and White-tailed Deer. Looks like a good plant to keep growing here! [From a Dover reprint of "American Wildlife & Plants: A guide to Wildlife Food Habits by Martixn, Zim, & Nelson.]

Waiting

Waiting, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

The art show is over. (Lots of visitors, few sales.) Now I have time to walk the trails again to see what is happening. Here are Enchanter's Nightshade seed pods waiting for an animal to come along to help spread seeds.

Barn - Art Gallery

Barn - Art Gallery, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

We have again turned our barn into an art gallery for the weekend. Now all we need is visitors and buyers.

Walking The Rock II

Walking The Rock II, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I will have an 8 x 10 print of this in our upcoming art show and sale.
http://www.deanswildflowers.com/Brudenell_Art_Show.html

Sulphur butterfly

Sulphur, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I tried numerous times last year to get a photo of one of these Sulphur butterflies to no avail. I had better luck today. I did not get the photo I wanted and never got it in an open position so I cannot say for sure which Sulphur it is but it is either Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) or Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) or, wouldn't you know it, a hybrid. Without the open wings, and more experience, I cannot tell.

September Wild Flowers

Thought some of you might be interested in my September Wild Flower letter to my regular wild flower group. Here is part of the letter:

Just taking a couple of minutes away from art show preparations to write this September, already, wild flower list. As I have said other years, many people stop looking for wild flowers when summer is winding down but the flowers do continue and there are some plants that do not start blooming until September. Presently, I have 314 species listed for September. About 20 of those have not started to bloom yet and then there are the spring flowers that sometimes bloom again in the fall. Violets, Honeysuckles, and Dogwoods are three groups that come to mind as spring flowers that bloom again in the fall sometimes.

Following is a list of wild or naturalized flower species that have been found blooming in the Hamilton, Ontario area in September. As usual the * means that the flowers are NOT native to our area. (I see that I am not up to date with all the Latin name changes for the Asters. Sorry 'bout that.)

ENGLISH NAMES -- Latin Names
Agrimony -- Agrimonia gryposepala
Alfalfa * -- Medicago sativa
Alyssum, Hoary * -- Berteroa incana
Amaranth, Green * -- Amaranthus retroflexus
Amaranth, Slender -- Amaranthus hybridus
Apple-Of-Peru * -- Nicandra physalodes
Arrowhead, Common -- Sagittaria latifolia
Artichoke, Jerusalem * -- Helianthus tuberosus
Aster, Amethyst -- Aster X amethystinus
Aster, Arrow-Leaved -- Symphyotrichum urophyllum
Aster, Azure (Sky Blue) -- Aster oolentangiense
Aster, Calico (Starved) -- Aster lateriflorus var. lateriflorus
Aster, Flat-Topped -- Aster umbellatus
Aster, Frost -- Aster pilosus var. pilosus
Aster, Heart-Leaved -- Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Aster, Heath -- Symphyotrichum ericoides var. pansum
Aster, Large-Leaved -- Eurybia macrophylla
Aster, New England -- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Aster, Panicled -- Aster lanceolatus
Aster, Purple-Stemmed -- Aster puniceus
Aster, Smooth -- Aster laevis
Avens, Catling's * -- Geum x catlingii
Avens, White -- Geum canadense
Avens, Wood * -- Geum urbanum
Avens, Yellow -- Geum aleppicum
Balsam, Himalayan * -- Impatiens glandulifera
Basil, Wild -- Clinopodium vulgare
Beechdrops -- Epifagus virginiana
Beggar Tick -- Bidens frondosa
Beggar Tick, Swamp -- Bidens tripartita
Beggar Tick, Tall -- Bidens vulgata
Bellflower, Creeping * -- Campanula rapunculoides
Bellflower, Tall -- Campanula americana
Bindweed, Black * -- Polygonum convolvulus
Bindweed, Field * -- Convolvulus arvensis
Bindweed, Fringed -- Polygonum cilinode
Bindweed, Hedge -- Calystegia sepium
Bittercress, Hairy * -- Cardamine hirsuta
Black-Eyed Susan -- Rudbeckia hirta
Bluestem, Big (Grass) -- Andropogon gerardii
Boneset -- Eupatorium perfoliatum
Boneset, Tall -- Eupatorium altissimum
Bouncing Bet * -- Saponaria officinalis
Buckwheat, Climbing False -- Polygonum scandens
Bugleweed, Northern -- Lycopus uniflorus
Bugleweed, Rough -- Lycopus asper
Bugloss, Viper's * -- Echium vulgare
Bunchberry -- Cornus canadensis
Bur Cucumber, One-Seeded -- Sicyos angulatus
Burdock, Common * -- Arctium minus
Burdock, Great * -- Arctium lappa
Bur-Marigold, Nodding -- Bidens cernua
Butter-And-Eggs * -- Linaria vulgaris
Buttercup, Tall * -- Ranuculus acris
Butterfly Weed -- Asclepias tuberosa
Campion, Bladder * -- Silene vulgaris
Campion, Red * -- Silene dioica
Campion, White (Evening Lychis) * -- Silene latifolia
Cancerwort, Roundleaf * -- Kickxia spuria
Cancerwort, Sharpleaf* -- Kickxia elatine
Carpenter's Square (Figwort) -- Scrophularia marilandica
Catchfly, Night Flowering * -- Silene noctiflora
Catnip * -- Nepeta cataria
Celandine * -- Chelidonium majus
Chamomile, Scentless * -- Matricaria maritima
Charlock * -- Sinapis arvensis
Chickweed, Common * -- Stellaria media
Chickweed, Mouse-Ear * -- Cerastium fontanum
Chicory * -- Cichorium intybus
Cinquefoil, Common -- Potentilla simplex
Cinquefoil, Dwarf -- Potentilla canadensis
Cinquefoil, Rough -- Potentilla norvegica ssp.monspeliensis
Cinquefoil, Rough-Fruited * -- Potentilla recta
Cinquefoil, Silvery * -- Potentilla argentea
Clearweed -- Pilea pumila
Cleavers (Bedstraw) -- Galium aparine
Clotbur, Common -- Xanthium strumarium
Clover, Alsike * -- Trifolium hybridum
Clover, Hop * -- Trifolium aureum
Clover, Red * -- Trifolium pratese
Clover, White * -- Trifolium repens
Clover, White Sweet * -- Melilotus alba
Clover, Yellow Sweet * -- Melilotus officinalis
Comfrey, Common * -- Symphytum officinale ssp.officinale
Coneflower, Gray-Headed -- Ratibida pinnata
Coneflower, Purple * -- Echinacea purpurea
Coneflower, Tall -- Rudbeckia laciniata
Coneflower, Thin-Leaved * -- Rudbeckia triloba
Corydalis, Pink -- Corydalis sempervirens
Crabgrass, Large * -- Digitaria sanguinalis
Cress, Marsh Yellow -- Rorippa palustris ssp.fernaldiana
Crowfoot, Bristly * -- Ranunculus pensylvanicus
Crowfoot, Cursed -- Ranunculus sceleratus
Cucumber, Wild -- Echinocystis lobata
Cup Plant -- Silphium perfoliatum var.perfoliatum
Daisy, Oxeye * -- Leucanthemum vulgare
Dandelion, Common * -- Taraxacum officiale
Dandelion, Red-Seeded * -- Taraxacum erythrospermum
Dayflower, Asiatic * -- Commelina communis
Dead-Nettle, Purple * -- Lamium purpureum
Dead-Nettle, Spotted * -- Lamium maculatum
Dodder, Common (Gronovius') -- Cuscuta gronovii
Dogbane, Spreading -- Apocynum androsaemifolium
Dogwood, Red-Osier (Shrub) -- Cornus sericea ssp. sericea
Dogwood, Silky (Shrub) -- Cornus amomum
Elecampane * -- Inula helenium
Evening Primrose, Common -- Oenothera biennis
Everlasting, Pearly -- Anaphalis margaritacea
Feverfew * -- Tanacetum parthenium
Fireweed -- Epilobium angustifolium
Flax, Common * -- Linum usitatissimum
Fleabane, Common -- Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus
Fleabane, Daisy -- Erigeron annuus
Fleabane, Lesser Daisy -- Erigeron strigosus
Flower-Of-An-Hour * -- Hibiscus trionum
Forget-Me-Not, Smaller -- Myosotis laxa
Forget-Me-Not, True * -- Myosotis scorpioides
Foxtail, Meadow * (Grass) -- Alopecurus pratensis
Galinsoga * -- Galinsoga quadriradiata
Germander, American -- Teucrium canadense
Goatsbeard, Meadow * -- Tragopogon pratensis ssp.pratensis
Goatsbeard, Yellow * -- Tragopogon dubius
Goldenrod, Blue-Stemmed -- Solidago caesia
Goldenrod, Canada -- Solidago canadensis
Goldenrod, Early -- Solidago juncea
Goldenrod, Gray -- Solidago nemoralis
Goldenrod, Hairy -- Solidago hispida
Goldenrod, Lance-Leaved -- Euthamia graminifolia
Goldenrod, Late -- Solidago gigantea
Goldenrod, Rough-Leaved -- Solidago patula
Goldenrod, Stiff (Hard-Leaved) -- Solidago rigida
Goldenrod, Tall -- Solidago altissima
Goldenrod, Zigzag -- Solidago flexicaulis
Ground Cherry, Clammy -- Physalis heterophylla
Ground Ivy * -- Glechoma hederacea
Groundnut -- Apios americana
Groundsel, Common * -- Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel, Sticky -- Senecio viscosus
Harebell -- Campanula rotundifolia
Hawkweed, Field * -- Hieracium caespitosum
Hawkweed, Orange * -- Hieracium aurantiacum
Heal-All -- Prunella vulgaris
Hedge Nettle, Rough -- Stachys tenuifolia v. hispida
Hedge-Parsley, Upright * -- Torilis japonica
Henbit * -- Lamium amplexicaule
Herb Robert * -- Geranium robertiaum
Hog Peanut -- Amphicarpa bracteata
Honeysuckle, Amur * (Shrub) -- Lonicera maackii
Honeysuckle, Northern Bush (Shrub) -- Diervilla lonicera
Horehound, Black -- Ballota nigra
Horehound, Water -- Lycopus americanus
Horse Balm -- Collinsonia canadensis
Horseweed -- Conyza canadensis
Hyssop, Yellow Giant (Catnip, G.H.) -- Agastache nepetoides
Indian Tobacco -- Lobelia inflata
Indian-Pipe -- Monotropa uniflora
Jimsonweed * -- Datura stramonium
Joe-Pye Weed, Spotted -- Eupatorium maculatum
Knapweed, Black * -- Centaurea nigra
Knapweed, Brown * -- Centaurea jacea
Knapweed, Spotted * -- Centaurea maculosa
Knotgrass, Common * -- Polygonum aviculare
Knotweed, Japanese * -- Polygonum cuspidatum
Knotweed, Pink -- Polygonum pensylvanicum
Knotweed, Virginia (Jumpseed) -- Polygonum virginianum
Lady's Thumb * -- Polygonum persicaria
Leafcup, Small-Flowered -- Polymnia canadensis
Lettuce, Tall White -- Prenanthes altissima
Lettuce, White -- Prenanthes alba
Lettuce, Wild -- Lactuca canadensis
Live-Forever * -- Hylotelephium telephium ssp.fabaria
Lobelia, Great -- Lobelia siphilitica
Loosestrife, Purple * -- Lythrum salicaria
Loosestrife, Swamp -- Decodon verticillatus
Loosestrife, Yellow (Swamp Candles) -- Lysimachia thyrsiflora
Madder, Wild (Bedstraw) * -- Galium mollugo
Mallow, Common(Cheeses) * -- Malva neglecta
Mallow, Indian * (Velvetleaf) * -- Abutilon theophrasti
Mallow, Musk * -- Malva moschata
Marjoram, Wild * -- Origanum vulgare
Mayweed * -- Anthemis cotula
Medick, Black * -- Medicago lupulina
Medick, Hyrid *(Yellow Alfalfa) -- Medicago X varia
Mercury, Three-Seeded -- Acalypha rhomboidea
Milkweed, Common -- Asclepias syriaca
Mint, Wild -- Mentha arvensis
Motherwort * -- Leonurus cardiaca ssp. Cardiaca
Mountain Mint, Virginia -- Pycnanthemum virginianum
Mullein, Clasping-Leaved -- Verbascum phlomoides
Mullein, Common * -- Verbascum thapsus
Mullein, Moth * -- Verbascum blattaria
Mustard, Black * -- Brassica nigra
Mustard, Dog * -- Erucastrum gallicum
Mustard, Field * -- Brassica rapa
Mustard, Hedge * -- Sisymbrium officinale
Mustard, Indian * -- Brassica juncea
Mustard, Tumble * -- Sisymbrium altissimum
Mustard, Wormseed * -- Erysimum cheiranthoides ssp. cheiranthoides
Nettle, Hemp * -- Galeopsis tetrahit
Nettle, Stinging * -- Urtica dioica ssp dioica
Nettle, Tall -- Urtica dioica ssp.gracilis
Nightshade, Bittersweet * -- Solanum dulcamara
Nightshade, Eastern Black -- Solanum ptychanthum
Nightshade, Enchanter's -- Circaea lutetiana ssp.canadensis
Nipplewort * -- Lapsana communis
Obedient Plant -- Physostegia virginiana
Orach -- Atriplex patula
Ox-Tongue * -- Picris hieracioides
Parsnip, Water -- Sium suave
Parsnip, Wild * -- Pastinaca sativa
Pea, Everlasting * -- Lathyrus latifolius
Pennycress, Field * -- Thlaspi arvense
Peppergrass, Field * -- Lepidium campestre
Peppermint * -- Mentha X piperita
Periwinkle * -- Vinca minor
Phlox, Garden * -- Phlox paniculata
Phragmites (Grass) -- Phragmites australis
Pickerelweed -- Pontederia cordata
Pigweed * -- Chenopodium album var. album
Pilewort (American Burnweed) -- Erechtites hieracifolia
Pimperel, Scarlet * -- Anagallis arvensis
Pineapple Weed * -- Matricaria discoidea
Pink, Deptford * -- Dianthus armeria
Pitcher-Plant -- Sarracenia purpurea
Plantain, Common * -- Plantago major
Plantain, English * -- Plantago lanceolata
Plantain, Red-Stemmed (Pale) -- Plantago rugelii
Pokeweed -- Phytolacca americana
Purslane * -- Portulaca oleracea
Queen Anne's Lace * -- Daucus carota
Ragweed, Common -- Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Ragweed, Great -- Ambrosia trifida
Raspberry, Purple-Flowering (Shrub) -- Rubus odoratus
Raspberry, Wild Red (Shrub) -- Rubus idaeus
Rocket, Dame's * -- Hesperis matroalis
Rocket, Sea -- Cakile edentula
Rose, Rugosa * -- Rosa rugosa
Saint Johnswort, Common * -- Hypericum perforatum
Saint Johnswort, Dwarf -- Hypericum mutilum
Scorpion-Grass, Blue * -- Myosotis stricta
Shepherd's Purse * -- Capsella bursa-pastoris
Silverrod -- Solidago bicolor
Silverweed -- Potentilla anserina
Skullcap, Mad-dog -- Scutellaria lateriflora
Skullcap, Marsh -- Scutellaria galericulata
Smartweed, Nodding -- Polygonum lapathifolium
Smartweed, Water (P.Amphibium) -- Polygonum amphibium
Smartweed, Water (P.Punctatum) -- Polygonum punctatum
Snakeroot, White -- Ageratina altissima
Snapdragon, Dwarf * -- Chaenorrhinum minus
Snowberry -- Symporicarpos albus
Snow-On-The-Mountain * -- Euphorbia marginata
Sow Thistle, Common * -- Sonchus oleraceus
Sow Thistle, Field * -- Sonchus arvensis
Sow Thistle, Spiny-Leaved * -- Sonchus asper
Spearment * -- Mentha spicata
Speedwell, Water * -- Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Spurge, Cypress * -- Euphorbia cyparissias
Spurge, Leafy * -- Euphorbia esula
Spurge, Petty * -- Euphorbia peplus
Spurge, Spotted* -- Chamaesyce maculata
Stickseed, Virginia -- Hackelia virginiana
Stitchwort, Lesser * -- Stellaria graminea
Stonecrop, Ditch -- Penthorum sedoides
Storksbill * -- Erodium cicutarium
Strawberry, Field -- Fragaria virginiana ssp.glauca
Strawberry, Woodland -- Fragaria vesca ssp. americana
Summer-Cypress * -- Kochia scoparia
Sunflower, Common * -- Helianthus annuus
Sunflower, Pale Leaved -- Helianthus strumosus
Sunflower, Thin-Leaved -- Helianthus decapetalus
Sunflower, Woodland -- Helianthus divaricatus
Swallowwort, White * -- Cynanchum vincetoxicum
Tansey * -- Tanacetum vulgare
Tea, Oswego -- Monarda didyma
Tearthumb, Arrow-Leaved -- Polygonum sagittatum
Teasel * -- Dipsacus fullonum ssp.sylvestris
Thistle, Bull * -- Cirsium vulgare
Thistle, Canada * -- Cirsium arvense
Thistle, Globe * -- Echinops sphaerocephalus
Thistle, Nodding * -- Carduus nutans
Thistle, Scotch * -- Onopordum acanthium
Tick-Trefoil, Large-Bracted -- Desmodium cuspidatum
Tick-Trefoil, Pointed-Leaved -- Desmodium glutinosum
Tick-Trefoil, Showy -- Desmodium canadense
Touch-Me-Not, Pale -- Impatiens pallida
Touch-Me-Not, Spotted -- Impatiens capensis
Trefoil, Birdsfoot * -- Lotus corniculatus
Trumpet Creeper -- Campsis radicans
Turtlehead -- Chelone glabra
Valerian, Garden * -- Valeriana officinalis
Vervain, Blue -- Verbena hastata
Vervain, Purpletop -- Berbena bonariensis
Vervain, White -- Verbena urticifolia
Vetch, Cow * -- Vicia cracca
Vetch, Crown * -- Coronilla varia
Vetch, Hairy * -- Vicia villosa
Vetch, Slender * -- Vicia tetrasperma
Violet, Canada -- Viola canadensis
Violet, Downy Yellow -- Viola pubescens
Virgin's Bower -- Clematis virginiana
Wallrocket * -- Diplotaxis muralis
Wall-Rocket, Narrow-Leaved * -- Diplotaxis tenuifolia
Water Lily, Sweet Scented -- Nymphaea odorata
Water Pepper -- Polygonum hydropiper
Water Plantain, Large -- Alisma plantago-aquatica
Willow Herb, Hairy * -- Epilobium hirsutum
Willow Herb, Purple-Leaved -- Epilobium coloratum
Willow Herb, Sparse-Flowered * -- Epilobium parviflorum
Wintergreen -- Gaultheria procumbens
Witch Hazel (Shrub) -- Hamamelis virginiana
Wood Sorrel, Yellow -- Oxalis stricta
Wormwood, Sweet * -- Artemisia annua
Yarrow * -- Achillea millefolium ssp.millefolium

International Rock Flipping Day

International Rock Flipping Day #1, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I had not realized how few wild rocks were on our property. I think we will have to visit the Hamilton escarpment area if we want to move more rocks.

Well, we did not make it to another location; however, . . .



. . . and then I realized I had rocks in the house that could be flipped.



There are two more photos on my blog after the geode. See the link at the right.

Archy

Archy, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

This is one of my new outdoor sculptures set up for my annual art show and sale coming up soon. Have a look at this site if you are interested:
www.deanswildflowers.com/Brudenell_Art_Show.html

Sun Soon

Sun Soon, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Watching

Watching, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I got to see the first half of the lunar eclipse this mornig before the sun came up.

Doomed

Doomed, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

A slow death was in store for this Tomato Hornworm. According to information from David L. Wagner's Caterpillars of Eastern North America, "Caterpillars are attacked by a braconid wasp (Cotesia congregata) that lays dozens of eggs within each larva. When fully mature each wasp larva tunnels to the outside of the caterpillar's body and spins a whitish cocoon. The host caterpillar is doomed, consigned to a slow death that may not follow for weeks."

Katydid

Katydid, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I am continually amazed at my ignorance. I had no idea that there were so many kinds of Katydids!
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/katylist.htm#Subfamily%20Phaneropterinae
Meanwhile, I think this is an angle-wing katydid called the Greater Angle-wing (Microcentrum rhombiflollium). What do you think?

Below are two more views of the same insect:

Up a Tree

Today, as I was walking along a woodland trail in the Royal Botanical Gardens in nearby Hamilton, I heard a voice from high above. It was a tree trimmer who was complaining about the heat during her climb. The two men below had no sympathy for her as she had claimed the right to climb this tall oak to use a chainsaw and cut off dead limbs. I just stood back, way back, and took a few photos. I would not have liked to be that far up a tree and certainly not with a saw. I don't like chainsaws much even on the ground.

Soldier Beetle ?

Soldier ?, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Beetle found on Queen Anne's Lace flower in our west meadow.

Mandala

Mandala, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

The Mandala is coming into being, more and more everyday. As I look back at Tuesday's photo, I see that there is lot more to the mandala than meets the eye. As wonderful as the mandala is to look at, some patterns of sand, under the top level, are completely hidden.

Visitors

We have Tibetan monks visiting Brantford and making a sand Mandela.



Photo by Églantine.

FBO Outing

Églantine and I were out with the Field Botanists of Ontario yesterday in the area of the Halton Hills. One of our finds was Laetiporus sulphureus. It's common, and more colourful, name is "Chicken of the Woods."

Two Deer

While on our Monday evening wild flower walk, we kept seeing deer. I think we saw at least 12 by the end of the walk and we were only a couple hundred metres from a four-lane highway on two sides and a residential area on the other two in a small bit of meadow and forest.

Odonate Count

Églantine and I went out on an odonate count at the Hamilton/Burlington Royal Botanical Gardens yesterday. We were looking for dragonflies and damselflies.



Some of the dragonfly hunters were more excited about the hunt than others.



I think the official count will come out later this week or maybe next week but we did see quite a few and held some in hand for closer looks and identification. This one was a female Easter Amberwing.

Strange Cloud Formation

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy comes in several forms and there seems to be some debate over even the Latin name. Some authorities put it in the genus Rhus and some in the genus Toxicodendron. Some stop with the species name radicans while others split it into two varieties or subspecies, negundo or rydbergii. On the ground it may present itself as a creeping vine, a very small ankle high shrub, a taller, hip high shrub, or a vine that climbs high up in trees and sends out "branches" that may be up to a metre (3 feet) long.

Yesterday, on a Field Botanist of Ontario outing, we saw the largest shrub variety of poison ivy that I have ever seen. It was located by the shores of the Niagara River a few hundred metres downstream from the Whirlpool Rapids growing on a large rock. It was large enough that a footpath, used by fishermen I suppose, went under it. (I bet they are puzzled as to how they got poison ivy on their necks.)



Yes, all those wonderfully green leaves across the bottom of the photo and the shrub like branches below them are part of the poison ivy plant.

Time for Morning Walk

Our dog, Calla, is eager to explore the new day.

Sunflower Time

Getting Drier

Eastern Tailed-Blue

We seem to have more butterflies than usual this summer.

Planets

If you look closely, and use some imagination, you can see the rings of Saturn going from upper left to lower right on the planet to the right. Meanwhile, Venus is just too bright to show that it is actually a crescent. Through my telescope I could see the cresent of Venus and the rings of Saturn but my camera just couldn't cope with the telescope and could not quite capture the same scene with it's own telephoto lens.

Oh, they were in the west just after sunset and were quite close together on July 1, 2007.

Skipper on Milkweed