in the yard

Summer is Here

Rae Spencer2 Comments

The thermostat insists that it is not as hot this week as it was last week, but I’m not convinced. The difference between high-nineties and triple digits is barely perceptible. Both are too hot for comfort.

Even so, the yard remains active. A new dove nest is taking shape, a new wave of dragonflies has arrived, and a clutch of praying mantises have hatched in the ginger lilies.

(I believe this is a Yellow-sided Skimmer.)

While chasing this praying mantis through the ginger lilies, I stumbled across a young katydid. Both creatures were very wary of the camera. It didn’t help that I tend to be too clumsy for stealth.

Fourth of July Rose

Rae Spencer5 Comments

We purchased this rose almost a decade ago. In my memory of that day, the rose’s label reads “Fireworks”.

Last year, during an early attempt at blogging, I tried to find an online reference for fireworks roses. None existed. Turns out, our fireworks rose is a climbing Fourth of July rose.

What trick of memory switched the labels in my mind? And what of all my other memories? Are they equally flawed?

Lightning

Rae Spencer13 Comments

Here in the mid-Atlantic, the heat wave has spawned severe thunderstorms two nights in a row. Last night, the lightning was so spectacular that I couldn’t resist trying to catch a few frames.

(This last one convinced me that I had taken more than enough pictures…)

Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly

Rae SpencerLeave a comment

This little Eastern Amberwing dragonfly doesn’t seem to mind the heat, which has me cowering in my air-conditioned office.

I tend to procrastinate, so today is the kind of day I dread. I’m trapped indoors, face to face with a heap of unfinished manuscript submissions and bookkeeping chores. Of course, I could always read a book. Or take a nap. Or both…

Naming the Weeds

Rae Spencer3 Comments

This weed has always grown in our yard, but I never bothered to look it up because I assumed it was wild strawberry. The little red fruits seemed so distinctive. Yesterday, as I searched for a link to include with this post, I realized that the yellow flowers are all wrong. Wild strawberry should have white flowers. After reading more online and consulting my old wildflower guide, I now believe this is Indian Mock-Strawberry.

(I would love a little help with this one. Please comment with corrections or confirmation!)