Last week I posted a photo of a caterpillar on my Asclepias Incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) and admittedly did not know what it was. But as I mentioned in yesterday’s entry, so many readers educate me each and every time I post and this time was no different. I was immediately informed as to what it was by so many.

My next step was to do my own research to learn even more. Before I get to that, however, let me share some photos with you:

They are quickly destroying the Swamp Milkweeds as we speak:

And I couldn’t be more thrilled to watch the devastation. It is a sight to behold. Now on to some factoids:

• Females lay eggs on the underside of Milkweed leaves
• The eggs hatch within 3-6 days
• Milkweed is the only plant Monarchs can eat
• Within 9-14 days the caterpillar is 2″
• Monarchs shed their skin 5 times
• The last shedding is when they form their chrysalis 
• Monarchs leave the plant when full grown and find their final locale to ultimately become a butterfly
• The whole life cycle is 9-14 days as they transform from caterpillar to butterfly
• The butterflies then mate 4-6 days after hatching

And once the caterpillar has become a beautiful butterfly, it looks like this:

Ain’t nature grand?
ONG 

This past Sunday, I was enjoying a morning pee like I do each and every morning. The head was still a bit groggy and I was still coming out of my morning stupor. But just like that, I let out a screech heard throughout the house as if I were a tween who just saw the cast of Twilight walk through the backyard. The kids ran for cover behind the couch and my wife was ready to hit 911 on the phone. Why the screech you ask?

Was it from an odd burning sensation down below? Nope, all systems a go there.

Did I spot a burglar breaking into the house? Nope, I am too intimidating for them to even think about it.

My very feminine yelp was due to what I spotted through the window:    

Yep, that is what life has become in my household. After composing myself, I quickly grabbed the camera and starting snapping shots through the bathroom window. I couldn’t have been more excited to see what I assumed was a goldfinch (remember I am  a true amateur in this arena) and I had to have proof of it’s existence.

I then needed to do my research to learn more. That is what I love about writing this blog. It has opened my eyes to so much more and it inspires me to go out and soak all the information in; that and I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of you all. Here’s what I learned:

• The American Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa and Washington.
• Can be identified through it’s short conical bill and short notched tail.
• The male is a vibrant yellow in summer.
• The breeding season is in late July when food is at it’s peak supply. It is also when when the male is at it’s bright color. Now I know why my wife made me wear a yellow parka all the time.  
• The American Goldfinch enjoys the consumption of seedheads (like the Purple Coneflower in the photos) and is agile enough to hang on while consuming the seeds.
• Unlike most men, the male is monogamous and produces one brood per year.
• Prefers open meadow areas.   

Now I know many of you know a lot of this already and I know the American Goldfinch is a commonly sighted bird, but for me it just shows how much of an influence this blog and the readers have on me. The desire for information and learning more outside of my comfort zone.     
 
I can’t state enough positives about the experience of blogging and interacting with the readers. I don’t share my appreciation nearly as much as I should, but the amount of information that is shared in the comments  section is absolutely incredible. I have learned so much from you all and it sure beats having to google for the information all the time. Never in a million years did I anticipate this level of interaction, and for that I am forever indebted to you all (that may have been a bit dramatic but you get the point).

Thank you
ONG     

We just spent the past week “down the Jersey Shore” and there will be a post about that in the next few days (sure to be filled with the usual NJ references). But for now, I will focus on what welcomed me when we returned home.

Some good and some bad.

Either way, it is amazing what develops over the course of a week. Let’s start the pictorial tour:    

An obvious “bad”. I watered everything thoroughly before we left, but it was inevitable that the containers would take a beating and I, like a dope, didn’t make plans for someone to assist with watering before we left.   

On a positive note, the plum tomatoes, fingers crossed, appear to be developing without blossom end rot for the first time. However, since they are also in containers, they were in desperate need of water and I quickly obliged them the minute we returned.   

There are a ton of buds on the Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ (the one that was not pruned as part of the “experiment) and I anxiously await their floriforous (Is that a word?) display.

A whole bunch of new blooms on the Pennisetum ‘Little Karly’. Moi loveth les grasses.

Yes, snuck in another Panicum shot. With my best Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin voice (RIP) … “Isn’t she a beauty?”

Yes, Hemerocallis (Daylily) ‘Happy Returns’ has happily returned. Welcome back you little minx!

Call me crazy, call me nuts, call me obsessive … but this Russian Sage exploded in bloom this past week; it looked sort of ratty before we left. Happy times!

Now this rocks! Found close to ten of these on my Butterfly Weed plants. I was going to research exactly what these are but figured you will all know immediately upon seeing it. Because you are that awesome and smart. 

The Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ berries changed from green to a dark purple and that makes me a joyous person. Please come and enjoy all of God’s creatures.

The Boltonia ‘cultivar unknown’ is beginning to bloom. Woo friggin hoo!

This is growing out of my my topsoil pile (still to be used in the yard) and I have no idea what it is? Please … do tell what it is.  

I am not ready for it yet, but the Viburnum ‘Shoshoni’ is showing the first signs of changing to it’s beautiful autumn color.  

The Helenium buds have formed and this will be the first time I will witness their blooms.

I would like to extend a personal vendetta against the mutha f’n rabbits who munched on all of my Lobelia ‘Fried Green Toamtoes’. Consider yourself warned! 

And last but not least, one random bloom on the Physocarpus ‘Summer Wine’. Ahhhh … hearkens me back to the late Spring when so much was in bloom … and there was plenty of water.

Be prepared for a NJ shore post (sans Snooki) in the next few days.
ONG

I recently turned a $25 gift card from The Home Depot into two Hibiscus ‘Kopper King’ plants. They were sitting in hiding between hundreds of tired looking Arborvitaes and figured “It’s not like I’m going to spend the money on anything else in this store. I couldn’t fix a leak or patch a wall if my life depended on it.” So the decision was made.  Let’s give these babies a try.

I found the perfect location for these plants and was all ready to plant them when a very vital and critical decision came into play. Keep the gigantic, otherworldly and beautiful blooms on the plants …

… or be the smart gardener and cut off the blooms so the plants could focus their efforts on root growth. The plants will already be stressed being planted in the heat of summer (my bad) so removing the blooms will not exhaust them completely trying to maintain those flowers. Plus, the exhausted plant is much more prone to insects and diseases.  
             

The classic long term versus short term benefits debate. So I figured, let’s try both and experiment a bit. Let’s get all scientific and shit. Plus, it’s not like the appeal of this plant is all about the blooms. I love the large, dark colored leaves.   

So plant #1 remained as is with the buds and blooms attached:

and plant #2 had all of the buds and blooms removed: 

We will track this experiment closely and I am hoping to see visual proof that the removal of buds and blooms really does benefit the plant in the long run as expected. This sort of reminds me when scientists closely monitor two twins who are raised under different circumstances. Well maybe not … but you get the point.

Later
ONG 

Over the past few weeks, I have developed into an amateur bird chaser. Like the paparazzi chasing Lindsay Lohan, I am running in all sorts of directions, hiding in odd places and cursing like a sailor when I miss the perfect shot. Here are a few I managed to snap quickly today:

I have no idea what types of birds these are, but will research them and continue to build my mental library.

But this is not my tale for today.

The tale is where these birds led me.

I live on about three acres of land in rural NJ (yes that does exist) and about 1/3 of the land is “wild” or “wooded”. Here is the view out of the back door:  

It is my own little nature preserve. For reasons unknown, I have ignored this gem since we moved in about six years ago. Maybe it is the poison ivy or the ticks, but the truth is, I have been so focused on the “man made” aspect of my gardens that I have ignored this beauty that nature has provided free of charge.     

Well that all changed today as I chased down the birds like a scorned lover. They led me to the back of the property and when I got there it all hit me like a ton of bricks. Dude, you dumb ass, how have you not taken the time to enjoy this? Enough of your perfect little OCD driven garden beds, soak this all in and realize it was all here before you arrived and will be here long after you’re gone. So I did:

I don’t know the botanical name or the preferred conditions of any of these. And that felt good. It  is pure visual enjoyment, and I loved how it all comes together in beautiful, perfect chaos.

And even better, are all of the creatures that live amongst it all. I could hear a bunch of unidentified animals scurrying about as I approached (most likely birds and rabbits) but also know there are snakes, deer and the occasional fox back there. Some more photos:    

I even spotted this American flag while on my travels:

OK, I may be pouring it on a little thick with that, but I felt deeply moved today and hope I can take that feeling and energy to my own gardens. Enjoy what nature has provided and let chaos reign when it wants to.

Finally, just as I was ending my foray into the wild (well, my backyard) and as if on cue, the dark and ominous clouds approached and a nice storm has arrived just as I am writing this post: 

Good day mates
ONG