Sunday, July 18, 2010

Moved


Moved
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

I made this sculpture several years ago and put it in our west meadow. The weather took its toll and not many people saw it so I rescued it, replaced some pieces, repainted it and moved it to the roadside. Several people have stopped to tell me how much they like it but no one has offered to buy it. Ha!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

From Our Breakfast Table


From Our Breakfast Table
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

As I ate my oatmeal I caught a bit of motion from the corner of my eye. My iPhone was used to record the event. The deer stood and watched us eat for a bit and only left after Fleur-Ange went for her camera. It wandered along the edge of the yard and then took one of our trails as it headed toward the willows round the east pond.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Small-Eyed Sphinx Moth


Small-Eyed Sphinx Moth
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

(Paonias myops) is another of the many moths found in our barn this summer. According to the information I read, the larvae eat leaves of hawthorns and cherries but the adults don't eat at all.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Hot, Hazy, Humid


Hot, Hazy, Humid
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

The heat waves continue . . .

What you don't see is all the mosquitoes!

Monday, July 05, 2010

Michigan Lily


Michigan Lily
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer


These lilies started blooming last week in the RBG's Hendrie Valley. Always a treat! It seems that bright orange wild flowers are few and far between.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Part of our First July Weekend


Part of our First July Weekend
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Our canoe has been in storage for too long. We paddled from Paris to Brantford today with the water levels not too low yet. We only hit bottom a few times and only had to walk once. I lost count of Great Blue Heron sightings. I think it was 6 or 7 plus 3 Mergansers and almost 40 Canada Geese, several kayaks, a few canoes, and a rubber raft or two.

Polyphemus Moth


Polyphemus Moth
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

According to my insect book these large silkmoths only live a few days as adults and do not eat. The larvae eat a variety of leaves from trees and shrubs. It is found in most of southern Canada and the lower 48 of the U.S. We see them almost every year and, yes, I am still in the barn. We have a bug zapper with a black light there and many moths are attracted. Fortunately this one is too big to get into the zapper but many micro moths are not so lucky. It's really for mosquitoes but many other insects are attracted.

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Sheep Sorrel


Sheep Sorrel
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

The camera and I were on the ground for this photo. We have lots of Sheep Sorrel growing in our lawn and in our meadows. I think it is good to eat but we have not added it to the vegetables on the table yet.

The other strange looking flowers in the photo are on English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata.)

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Ctenucha venosa


Ctenucha venosa
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Yes, another moth. They seem to be catching my eye lately. This one is the Virginia Ctenucha. It appears to be very common on our area and is often seen flying about during the daytime.
I found this one while I was out walking the dog this July 1st morning. Because it was only 8 degrees C. (46 F), the moth was not moving.