OT: In Italy sometimes it snows
Melissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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bart bart
3 years agoAlana8aSC
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoRelated Discussions
OT : what insects are active in snow ?
Comments (9)There are two insects that I often see in the late winter. Springtail (sometimes called snow fleas....but they aren't really fleas) are usually smaller than your description and most "spring" along, unlike your scurrying description. Once I set my light colored pack down by a tree and when I turned to pick it up a few minutes later it was gray from all the springtails covering it. I've never seen so many springtails in one place ever again. And in case you care, many scientist no longer consider springtails insects for various reasons. Stoneflies are often seen on top of the snow also. There are some species that are similar to your description, but the ones I see most often are larger and generally fly instead of scurry. The adults are usually near unpolluted streams where they spend the first part of their life as nymphs that live underwater. Trout feed on them and good fly fishermen know stoneflies well. It always surprises me to see these critter out in the snow. Their dark bodies absorb some heat from the sun and help to warm them. They usually are out when temps are above freezing, but it seems like I sometimes see them moving even after temps drop. They amaze me with their resiliance...See MoreSlightly OT - Spring in the NE
Comments (16)Madonna, stay safe. Here they are projecting rain and sustained winds of 30 MPH, with gusts up to 50, but no tornadoes, thankfully. As long as the power stays on, we're good, and even if it goes out it isn't so cold that anything would freeze (except me, LOL). Those little repairs and issues just nag at you, don't they? Hugs to you, and good luck with that battery charger! PWM, I will try, but I doubt he'll stay long, sightings are rare this far south. The DNR says that there have been several sightings, as young owls fly further in search of food, apparently this odd weather has messed up the food supply. So, I've seen him three times, hunting for mice mostly likely, and since I don't have a barn cat at the moment there's an ample supply. Cell phones don't work here so I just have a little trac phone, no camera/phone, and so have never had a camera with me when I've seen him. DNR also told me that because of their unusually remote existence, they don't seem to have the same fear of humans as other owls, so people actually see them. Unfortunately, sometimes they run awry of humans, as they shot 9 of them two years ago at the Grand Rapids airport, about 50 miles south of me. (sigh) http://michiganradio.org/post/grand-rapids-airport-faces-unprecedented-influx-snowy-owls My nephew got this picture on his trail cam last fall, just behind the house, definitely not an owl, but a nice big bobcat. I think that's a raccoon he has for lunch... And this picture was taken while sitting at the computer, it was right outside my window, I think it's a partridge. Last fall and through the winter I regularly saw a flock of hen pheasants with a couple of roosters. Now I haven't seen them for a month or so, I'm hoping they are still here and safe, as the pheasant population was pretty much decimated here. I'd love to see them come back. Annie...See MoreOT: spring, the woods, drought
Comments (9)Alana, I hope both you and your daughter improve in health and wellbeing. We've got a bit of difficulty going on here, too, though nothing too grave at the moment. Bulbs in my garden are sharply divided into two classes: those critters eat, and those critters leave alone (with an exception for the highly poisonous autumn colchicums that the porcupine devoured). Hyacinths (and tulips) fall into the edible class. I can keep mine because most of them grow in a single small bed surrounded by buried sheet metal that prevents burrowing mice from getting to them. It's a sad case, as hyacinths love it here and seed, as I know from finding plants growing out of bounds. This is also why I gave up tulips, along with their getting virus: though I stopped purchasing tulips, I still have some stout and lovely survivors coming up years later. Having our and the neighbors' cats patrolling the area may help, as these days I rarely find mouse damage. Anyway, if hyacinths do well for you, I would consider the possibility that the bulbs were eaten. Have you dug where you had planted them? Are there mushy bulbs, killed by disease? Or top growth wilting, and the bulb it should be attached to missing? If you can grow once-blooming old roses, I would think your climate would be reasonable for hyacinths. Good luck with your new batch! I mainly like the whites, blues, and blue violets, but the pale yellow is also a favorite. Alana and oursteelers, thanks for the kind words. I enjoy writing these posts, but it's certainly pleasant to know others like reading them as well. Bart, good to hear from you. I have one word: TREES. We've always planted them, with mixed success, but since the awful year 2017 I've been focusing on getting all our major paths in the garden planted with trees and large shrubs, and substantial clumps of shade scattered through the whole area. It's not easy, not just planting the trees, but creating conditions that encourage them to grow. Almost all the garden started as meager grassland, and I not rarely feel that trees simply don't want to grow here. Well, try, try again. I have a growing suspicion that light shade is the new sunny: that there won't be many plants that actually prefer full sun in our world. This is perhaps nosy of me, but I've often wondered what your garden looks like: I've never been able to form a mental picture of it. Good luck with your watering, and may your plants grow! I know I'm lucky to have DH's help....See More(OT) Hey, it's almost February! Garden report
Comments (5)Wow - as usual Melissa, I am overwhelmed with all of the things you accomplish on your property and various gardens within it. Such a great general project - to make changes that will improve the entire property, gradually, into the future. Glad to hear that it is working, although that active land slump from your neighbors' does sound like it deserves your immediate attention. There is always something which suddenly cries out for action, isn't there? Sounds as if in general, your efforts are being rewarded. It is so encouraging to hear about all of your efforts and the results - thanks for sharing. It makes me realize (again) how lucky we are here on our 1/3rd of an acre. Last Winter and so far this Winter we had/are having plenty of rain, for a change (16 inches in my town since Oct 1). Almost at "normal" as of this YTD. Tomorrow they say another storm will come in and dump an additional inch or so. So far this year we have been getting rain 2-3 times a week, but only one "gully washer", a week ago when it rained 2 inches in 4 hours. So, no flooding or real problems around here. My early blooming flowers such as paperwhite bulbs, and 'Crimson Glory', (a medium tall bearded iris from the 19th century), as well as several tea and china roses, are all starting to bloom. Also the trees and large bushes - our native acacia are just starting, as is the Japanese quince planted by my DH's ancestors in our garden. Common yellow oxalis, which is thought to be an invasive "thug" by many, has been a lovely carpet of leaves all over the garden for 2 moths already, and this week has exploded in yellow flowers all over that carpet. It dies down to nothing by the time the roses are in full bloom (here in March/April), and I not only do not mind it, I love it - sort of a living mulch. I have not seen it hurt the roses, or anything else. The foliage is easy to pull up if I am trying to clear it away from somewhere (and am too impatient to wait for it to disappear on schedule), and makes a great addition to the compost pile. I can remember when I was a child we called it "sour grass", and delighted in chewing on the stems. Here's hoping you get some rain again this Winter! I actually got tired of it last week, although I said nothing - when we had 5 years of drought, I promised myself I would never complain about rain again! Jackie...See Morejerijen
3 years agooursteelers 8B PNW
3 years agoSheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoMelissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years agoK S 7b Little Rock (formerly of Seattle)
3 years agobart bart
3 years agojacqueline9CA
3 years agoSheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
3 years agoVaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
3 years agosummersrhythm_z6a
3 years agoMelissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years agoMelissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agobart bart
3 years agoRosefolly
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agobart bart
3 years agoSheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
3 years agoMelissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agosummersrhythm_z6a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agosummersrhythm_z6a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agooursteelers 8B PNW
3 years agosummersrhythm_z6a
3 years agoMelissa Northern Italy zone 8
3 years ago
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