Author Topic: What's in your backyard? (Read 19179 times)

krissel · « **on:** June 17, 2007, 10:02:02 PM »

My Dad took a picture of this dragonfly (?) on his steps. Anyone see anything like it before?
Looks a lot like a signalman on a ship.

[attachment=378:dragonfly_copy.jpg]

sandbox · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2007, 01:42:18 AM »

We had one in our yard today but it didn'y look like that, it's called a "Common Whitetall" I think.
Nice shot!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...n_whitetail.jpg

Gregg · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2007, 07:43:33 AM »

In our back yards; earwigs! More of 'em than cicadas.

In my back yard Saturday; an orphaned baby bird. Kept walking at me and squawking. I thought it was defending its turf. After awhile, I decided it was a cry of distress. My wife gave it some water from the end of a (disconnected) hose. But, there wasn't much we could do. Other birds flew down after I was inside, but they left it to fend for itself. By the next morning, it was gone.

krissel · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2007, 02:47:44 AM »

Here are a few of the inhabitants of my yard lately.

Early morning visitors:

[attachment=381:doe_two_fawns.JPG]

This little guy was scampering about:

[attachment=382:baby_chuck.JPG]

When he got scared he ran back to join his siblings:

[attachment=383:baby_woodchucks.JPG]

Paddy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2007, 01:19:09 PM »

I take it a vegetable garden is more or less out of the question, Kris?

(or not for the humans, at any rate!)

We've had raccoons, a rabbit, squirrels and various birds but the only real nuisance is a red-winged blackbird that attacks us! We assume that there is a nest nearby, but he'll fly right at your head (when you're not looking, of course) and the rest of the time sits on the telephone wires scolding us. He goes absolutely ballistic when the cats are out and dive-bombs them too; not something they're used to! They've taken to creeping through the perennial beds rather than crossing the open lawn.

gunug · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2007, 01:36:36 PM »

At work I've got the nice lawn we laid out for my son's Eagle project; at home we've got a patio that slants towards the house and pots full of marigold plants!

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2007, 03:57:08 PM »

Quite a few birds. Frogs are scarce as, uh, frogs teeth? Lack of rains may have a lot to do with that! At least one mole/vole. Haven't seen the ground squirrel yet but it's getting rather 'bushy' back there. Something is attacking one of the plants we put into a couple of pot/planters, we're finding little pieces of it on the ground around the pots!

The pond has cleared up well, water lilies are doing great, split the four roots into 9 pots last Spring. Had eleven blooming today! All the fish made it through the Winter in good shape, the two smallest/youngest actually seemed to gain weight even tough they don't really eat when the water is less than 50°.

jcarter · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2007, 08:31:48 PM »

I think I got a photo of the hummingbird moth today, yet its hard to see, lets see if I can size it up a bit, he was in the Rhody beside our front door.
And I might as well put the new Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard ferry picture in at the same time.

kimmer · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2007, 11:45:30 PM »

Love the dragonfly, kris. Thank you dad for me.

ABD, your pond is really ... blooming.

The 3rd one (with the bloomin' lilies) would be a great desktop! (hint)

My backyard has rhodies, some in bloom, some not. I'll see if I can get a pic tomorrow.

On a recent trip we saw a bear! He was only just across the road in someone else's backyard. He looked at us. We stopped and looked at him, and I sat there mentally yelling at myself for leaving the camera at home! He wasn't more than 300 ft or so from us.

We took a drive the other day and I got some wildflowers ... but I also got these 2 shots.

[attachment=392:bee1.jpg] [attachment=393:bee2.jpg]

jcarter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2007, 06:53:27 AM »

I love the way our forum handles the pictures now.
Jane

Gregg · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2007, 07:42:03 AM »

QUOTE(jcarter @ Jun 20 2007, 06:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love the way our forum handles the pictures now.

Yes, that makes loading faster, and gives you the option of using a magnifying glass, or clicking to enlarge the image.

John, you need to fix that patio... or do you ice skate out there in winter?

I had a similar problem at the end of a small retaining wall around our lilac bushes on one side of the yard. (The orphaned bird I mentioned was hanging out a the other lilac bushes.) I removed the bricks and put some pea gravel under the low side. But, that's a much simpler problem to fix than an entire patio, especially if it's poured, not paved!

gunug · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2007, 12:56:24 PM »

This is technically the side yard of my workplace and I was out there looking for Italian Wall Lizards that like to sun themselves:

sandbox · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2007, 05:28:00 PM »

Fresh Flowers
Petunia Hibiscus Frangipani

Texas Mac Man · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2007, 08:09:11 PM »

This was our backyard in the spring. The white & pink flowering trees are dogwoods. The red tree on the right is a Japanese maple.

Cheers, Tom

jcarter · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2007, 08:17:23 PM »

So beautiful! These trees are what thrive in Southern New England, and here you are in Texas.
Yes, Texas is one huge state and you have some high elevations that aren't as hot and tropical, from what I see on maps.
Great picture, must be a lovely climate for you year around.
Jane

Edit, add,
Here is our yard in May, and May is cold and the trees and plants are struggling to put out leaves and flowers,
http://www.jcarter.net/flowertime/may-flowers1.html

News:

Author Topic: What's in your backyard? (Read 19179 times)