来年は、こんな景色をまた撮りに行けますように。

Another sparrow image today. Yesterday's post featured a White-crowned Sparrow, today's species is the White-throated Sparrow.

Normally this species has a much whiter throat than the picture above shows, and that is because this one is of the 'tan-striped' variants, having a buff-on-brown face pattern instead of the typical white-on-black coloration.

White-throated Sparrows also have a yellow patch between their eyes and their beak, often seen quite clearly and is a key marker of this species. But again, the yellow on the bird above is hard to see.

They are usually found on the ground, feeding among the leaves and debris, and flitting through the bushes and ground cover.

I found this one hopping around in the mulch. It paused for two seconds to look at me, giving me a chance to fire off a couple of decent shots.

As you can see, my yard could use a good weeding. That's coming soon. Weeding, mulching and the works. With such a mild winter the weeds are growing faster than I can manage them. This dove is taking advantage of the cedar roots that lead to the little magical fairy garden mentioned in an earlier post. Those roots are used by so many creatures, they were a great habitat enhancement.

Have a wonderful day and happy snapping.

Fuel tanks at Kinder-Morgan, early morning, behind mountains of mulch (yep, mulch).

Scatter bark mulch on the garden and stand back to see what pops up to surprise you. I certainly got more than I bargained for with my bark mulch.

Steam rising from mulch piles

Pine needle forest floor. Withlacoochee State Forest, Citrus County, Fl

Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Texas

This clump is all alone on the side of a large mulch pile!

Watkins Regional Park, MD

This is a close-up photo of condensation inside a bag of mulch. There is a pareidolia portrait in the center part of the image, defined by the folds in the white plastic.

We intentionally killed our lawn last year. I can’t justify watering a lawn when the Colorado river is dying and grass is terrible for pollinators and the environment. We’re xeriscaping, and there’s a non-profit that delivers truckloads of mulch for free. Our lot is huge. We’re ordering another truckload.

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Polaroid 450 Land Camera

690 Film

Polaroid Cloud Filter #516

I love this, in every way.

I had just received the cloud filter in the mail after winning it in an Ebay auction and the only film in my 450 at the time was the 690. I was too eager to wait and try it with black and white film, so this is the result and I love it, even if the cloud filter suggests you only use it with black and white film.

A young Golden Retriever enjoys the view from atop the mulch pile the local Audubon Society stored.

Lemont, Illinois 41.680144, -87.999118

October 28, 2024

From the satellite view, barges are tied up at this site. And I did a tiny amount of research and discovered that mulch is delivered by barge. This must be the place! TILT

BTW, if you're curious about the machine, as near as I can tell from google image search, it's a 5th wheel dolly. Heck, two TILTs in one day!!!

COPYRIGHT 2024, 2025 by Jim Frazier All Rights Reserved. This may NOT be used for ANY reason without written consent from Jim Frazier. 20241028cz7-0354-2500

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. -- Students from Milton Hershey School spent a spring day volunteering at Fort Indiantown Gap on Saturday, April 14th. One group worked on landscaping projects, such as mulching and planting grass around the museum. Another group cleared brush to improve woodland habitats near Memorial Lake. FTIG is very appreciative of their efforts and thanks them for doing a great job. (Photo by Tom Cherry/released)

Moby’s enjoying his daily lounge.

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this is mark mulching the berry patch

Three small mushrooms working to make compost and mulch covering the yard's sewer lateral replacement, become soil. Go!

... little did I know ... hundreds of them are in various beds

Luftbild von der Ausbringung von Folien auf dem Gemüsefeld

From trash, to plant food!

Labrador, dog, rural

There is a huge pine tree population in South Louisiana. Pine needles are very popular with gardeners.

Lines of plastic mulch (used to accelerate seed germination) in a field near Midleton this morning. (Phone pic converted to mono using the Hypocam app.)

Giant and Tiger Swallowtails have started returning to the backyard. The males always seem to show up first and they flit about furiously looking for a lady. This Giant beauty decided to take a break and fuel up so if a lady does drop in he will be ready to swoop her off her wings. Unless this is a lady that snuck in... I have a difficult time telling the giant boys from the girls unless the wings are open.

Daily butterflies at this time:

Monarchs 5 - 12

Gulf Fritillary 1 -5

Zebra longwing 1 -5

Goldrim 1 - 5

Sulfur 3 -15

Giant - 1

Tiger - 1

Skippers / Other 4 - 12 observed

Spring maintenance also begins... Wow, there are a lot of oak leaves to rake and set out at the curb for the yard waste guys. I used to use oak leaves as a natural mulch but mosquitos love that so I don't do it anymore. The yard waste guy probably don't appreciate me in the spring but I sure appreciate them.

Of course I have a lot more to maintain than just fallen leaves. It's time to cut everything that needs a trim. I keep saying I am going to hire someone to assist me but I never follow through with that. I'm afraid they will not be as careful as I am when it comes to inspecting items prior to cutting them. I don't want a chrysalis to get accidently tossed out. And I am accustomed to watching my step in the yard so I don't step on a caterpillar that is on a journey, but others might not watch their step. Apparently I'm a worrywart when it comes to the critters in my yard.

Company will soon be here and I want everything to be beautiful :) If I were a Genie I could blink my eyes and all would be perfect. Then again, I would not get to spend the time in the yard so that might not be a good thing :) I love my yard time. Perhaps I should recruit my company to carefully assist.

May your day be beautiful and your wishes come true. Happy snapping.

Laying down some plastic mulch.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

... way down low ...

After the days trash....It's covered up with mulch...

Appropriate name for this mushroom cluster growing in mulch around the base of a tree in a city park.

From thedailylumenbox.blog

... a beautiful crocus

A lovely blossom, somewhat past it's prime, leaning over the surrounding mulch. I was also attracted by the curve of the stem and leaf,

Some sort of fungus in the back yard.

Crunchy mulch jan 2024.. roll on summer

Beneath the mulch are the roots of a river birch tree, now sustaining this lovely fungi.