Oak, Laurel Oak

Okay, so the tree I've been calling a willow next door is actually a Laurel Oak. I got confirmation when a biggish branch came down yesterday in the high winds. There were little acorns on it. So, it had to be an oak. Now, in my defense, there aren't a lot of acorns on the ground or even under the tree. But it's good to have that settled.

My mum is sitting in an old concrete planter on my deck. Since it was going to get cold again tonight, I went out and scooped up leaves off of the deck to tuck in the planter to help insulate the pot. While I was doing that, I spotted a big preying mantis on the deck. She must have been trying to soak up the sun.

Harlequin

Well, the Asian or Harlequin Ladybugs are on the move. There were lots of them swarming the building at work and I've spotted one or two or twenty individuals around the house, outside. These non-native ladybugs are from Russia, Korea, China and Japan. It both hitch hiked on ocean going vessels and was introduced by the Department of Agriculture to control aphids and other scale insects because the native ladybugs had more than they could handle.

Normally, everyone would be thrilled to see ladybugs. Not only are they lucky, but they eat aphids. Unfortunately, these Harlequins have two very annoying habits. The first is hybernation. The local ladybugs go off into the woods one by one and find a nice secluded spot to spend the winter. No problem. Unfortunately, the Harlequins gather in big swarms and seek out cliffs to hibernate in. But North America is lacking in cliffs over much of it! But what looks like a cliff to a ladybug? You got it, buildings! Houses with light colored siding especially! If you're lucky, they just crawl under the siding. If you aren't, they could try and share your living space. And that's a lot of beetles to have as houseguests.

Which brings up the other problem. When they feel threatened, they exude a yellow-orange fluid. This blood stains just as badly as regular human blood. Not to mention the smell.

And there are people with allergies to these out of town ladybugs. Eww.

So, while it's good to know they are there and eating the aphids, there are some problems. I hope they find somewhere else to hibernate than my house.

Oh, and remember when I was lamenting yesterday about having missed out on buying more Hibiscus? Meet Carolina Breeze. Isn't she pretty?

Fog in the Headlights

Wow, the fog was really thick last night. Totally obscured the light pollution from the city. Very weird. But it was clear on the roads. Which is a good thing.

Saw a deer in the development again. Or rather a fawn, so there was a doe somewhere. Thankfully not in front of my car.

My hibiscus is blooming again. We'll see how it does with the transition to inside. Leaves still look good, despite the switch to lower UV. I really should have bought another one this summer. Maybe next year.

Good to be Inside

My hibiscus bloomed Sunday after being brought inside. The bloom lasted a little longer than normal. And a second bud is gearing up to bloom in the next couple of days. I need to trim it back and let it get bushy. But after it stops blooming.

The pansies are actually doing well inside. I haven't had a chance to plant them yet. I'm noodling around the idea of keeping a pot inside to enjoy.

More rain today. This year is the year that makes all others droughts. Year to date rain surplus is going to top 7 inches after today's rain. That's a lot of rain. And only one tropical storm in the mix. No wonder the dehumidifier keeps running.

Wait a Day

Well, I woke up this morning and there was frost. Nearly a full month ahead of last year's November 11th date. *sigh* But the leaf display has been kicked up a notch. Most of the trees are starting to change.

Yesterday I went to the local botanical gardens and took pictures. I'll get them up some day. I also stopped by Home Depot and returned the Weed Eater that was missing a key part, the plug to charge it! They are of course out of stock, so I'll have to order one over the web. *sigh* But, I did pick up two pots of pansies and a mum. Very pretty!

Anatomy of a Morning

Change alarm to 6 am.

Wake up to alarm.

Wander outside to see if first frost arrived.

Be very chilly, but relieved that there is no frost.

Go back to bed.


Well, the temperature dropped into the low 30s, but no frost. Still, the Hibiscus is inside, we'll see how the two flower buds do. I still can't believe it developed two buds while it was chilly out. The amaryllis is in too. That's just waiting for the signal to pull it up to have it bloom for Christmas. Or rather New Years, since I visit my folks for Christmas.

Last night I cut the back lawn. No sight of Perseus the Toad, but then it was too chilly for toads, and there wasn't any sun. Man, I'd forgotten how nice it is to mow the lawn and not be drenched in sweat afterwards. Although, it does seem like the grass is settling in for winter. I didn't need to empty the bagger as many times as I did. I was also very careful while mowing the strip that is going to be a garden next year. That's where I've been spotting Perseus and she might have been dug in there.

Green Leaves

With the rain this morning, there were lots of warnings on the radio about the slipperiness of wet leaves of pavement. Possibly because there were already several reports of cars that rolled over in the morning traffic report.

But despite that, most of the trees around here are green. There are only a few early birds that are beating the rush. We haven't had the big cool down to force a display. That may change this weekend, but we're kinda limited to drips and drabs most years.

Masked Bandit

My neighbor stopped me the other day and warned me that there was a raccoon in the neighborhood. She was particularly concerned because I put out birdseed so early in the morning. I'm not alarmed, I don't keep my trash outside (I only produce one bag a week.), and if I actually saw a raccoon on my deck, I wouldn't go out. My dad confirmed that there is a raccoon in the area when he walked the dog. He spotted fresh tracks in the mud.

Zeppe and I spotted the toad again yesterday. I think the one in the back yard will be called Perseus, while the one out front is Aggie. This time the toad was sitting in the shade of a dandelion leaf. That dandelion didn't get pulled. Also, no pictures, I'm trying not to harrass this toad with flash photography. There's been a lot of willpower rolls not to pick it up either. I just keep remembering how Aggie cried when I picked her up.

Visitation

Well, that was a nice weekend. I finished cleaning, just as they arrived. Only thing that needed done was to change a battery in the bedroom clock, oh well. It was nice to see them. And there was ACTUALLY talk of them coming down again. Especially to tramp through the woody area out back. (It was a little too swampy this weekend from all the rain that fell Friday and Saturday.)

This is big, my parents have visited exactly once since I moved to DC in 2002. (Once before while I was moving, but that was just a great big 6 hour round trip to cart stuff.) They usually don't visit because it is a production, and there wasn't much to do because my mom's health problems would prevent going into the city because of the sheer amount of walking. (She had her hip replaced last year due to bone necrosis and still has extreme arthritis in her spine.) But they like the community and park enough to want to come back!!! Yea!

They also brought down the old wooden rocking chair that they've had since I was a baby. It needs a LOT of work, since it had been outside a season or two along the way. Not sure if I'll be able to finish it before winter comes or not. Sanding here I come!

The Name Game

It is an interesting phenomenon. Goldenrod is becoming a popular garden plant. Nurseries are actually having sales on them. Is it possible that is finally getting past the stigma of blooming during ragweed season? Have the pollen-casters gotten the point across that goldenrod uses pollinators instead of flinging it's pollen about willy-nilly like ragweed? No, not really. Nurseries seem to be hiding it's identity behind latin-fication. That's right, they're selling Solidago! Just kinda makes you chuckle, doesn't it?

Oh, and speaking of ragweed. A very limited trial of a Hay Fever vaccine has shown positive results. That is very interesting science. Especially if the treatment can be expanded to other pollens allergens. Right now, it's still showing results at 2 years. Very promising.

A House Under the Lily Tufts

Since it was beautiful yesterday, Zeppe and I moved stuff from inside the basement to the shed, and then removed a few weeds. As it turns out, there was a toad trying not to be noticed underneath my lily turfs. I guess I should have put out a water bowl. There's definitely enough slugs, crickets and spiders for him to eat.

The squirrels are also digging all sorts of holes in the mulch. I have to pat it all back down every time I go out. And it seems that the back yard needs mowed again! I mean it should have been mowed a couple days ago, and I mowed last week! Eek!

Indian Summer

Indian summer is a meteorological term that genearlly refers to a warm period after the first frost of the year. Usually this varies depending on the region. But is traditionally in October or November. Although, some regions that lack frosts or exceedingly late frosts, call the transition period from summer thunderstorms to calm autumn weather an Indian summer.

To be honest, it's going to be gorgeous the next two days. Highs in the 80s, after lows in the 40s last week is scrumptous. Lazy, hazy, clean up the shed for company weather. Too bad it won't last past Thursday.