Is that your boat, Casey? Looks like some interesting equipment.

Ivy-leaf geranium "Contessa Purple"

Susan I don't own a boat.

Damage to our trees from the cicadas! It's been a noisy 6 weeks, but now they're gone ..

Love that table, Nicole. Worth the fix up!

Asiatic lily Amarillo

OOOPS! I messed up! Wrong pic, this is Asiatic Lily unknown.

This is Oriental Lily Amarillo. Old pic, but it looks the same this year

Here are the tomatoes I'm growing this year. Small, orange, but tasty. They are like peanuts once you start snacking. The bush is a terrible monster threatening everything around it.

The Party Boat that my niece got married on this weekend.

views from the boat

Beautiful, Bob!

From today's hike...pretty views.

Blue Ridge Parkway in April...probably looks better with leaves, but this was our only chance to see it.

The cantilevered bridge.

This was my "cruise" ship when I went to Alaska in 2004. There were 7 guests and 4 crew members. Trip of a lifetime!! This wooden yacht once belonged to the William Morris Agency.

Joanmn your first pic is the Linn Cove Viaduct I believe? That is an awe inspiring scene with or without greenery, and I understand there is a hiking trail beneath it. Have traveled the Parkway by motorcycle in spring, summer and fall. Everyone should experience it at least once.

To: susansv

Are you certain that damage to the tree was due to cicadas? Cicadas stay underground for a number of years and then come out to emerge from their shells with wings to sing, mate, lay eggs, and die. I'd need to check, but I do not think they eat much during the winged and noisy phase.

The females do cut slits in twigs and deposits eggs therein. When the eggs hatch, the larvae drops to the ground to begin the cycle anew. I suppose that slits in small twigs could cause the leaves to wither. Maybe you can enlighten us about this.

I was similarly skeptical a few years ago when people were saying that the 17-year cicadas damaged many trees the previous time they were here. I reasoned that since adult cicadas don't eat anything, how could they possibly damage a tree. However when the massive brood emerged, the resulting damage looked exactly like susan_wv's image.

As you say, the females do cut slits in twigs and deposits eggs therein. When the eggs hatch, larvae drops to the ground to begin the cycle anew. The key is when the 17-year cicadas emerge, there are lots of them -- as many as 1.5 million per acre. Each female proceeds to lay about 500 eggs choosing branches that are about 1/4 inch in diameter. Consequently in heavily affected areas all of the branches of that size are completely covered with slits to that point that the branch dies.