Monthly Archives: June 2012

Beetles

Posted on by

While checking out progress on the sun room garden, I found this beetle hanging out on a pepper plant. It’s amazing to me how shiny these guys can be!

I didn’t realize until recently that ladybugs are part of the beetle family. You can see below that they definitely are related!

We discovered LOTS of aphids in the room so we decided to get ladybugs. We picked up a pack of 2000 of them to assist in aphid control. Here are a number of them right after being released onto a squash plant.

They quickly made their way to other pots in the room.

Here, it looks like one is keeping the other from falling off the leaf!

Another beetle we’ve seen around here is a striped beetle. This one is hanging out by the front door.

We learned that this one will HISS at you if you blow on it! In the process of hissing it hikes the body up so it’s standing on just two legs on the same side of his body.

Wait a minute…Isn’t that YOGA?!

He’s a SHE??

Posted on by

As I was working Friday, Matt yelled for me to get my camera and come right away! Of course when he says that, I know it has to be a great opportunity.

Seems our “boy”, Nirnasha, is not a boy after all! Matt thought he saw a couple lines of teats down the front. When he saw all these babies, he knew for sure that he was really a she!!

Thus far, we have seen 8 babies at once. (Yes, there’s only 5 in this shot.) It seems she sends them out to play so she can rest.

We’ve yet to see the daddy!

I looked out the window and saw it looked like these two were kissing. Looking closer I realized they were actually taking turns grooming each other.

The next morning I saw this little guy hanging around the waterfall before he started wall climbing exercises!

Here he is at the top of the wall in the covered front porch.

It is interesting to realize that the more peaceful attitude we maintain, the more animals come to hang out and raise their families on our property and they are more than happy to take care of one another.

I’m ok with that!

 

Delicate Field Flowers

Posted on by

This flower bunch is along my walk path. Really not sure what it is, but it’s pretty.

I’ve noticed that all of these plants have a cluster of six blossoms, one standing higher than the rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mexican Hats, also known as Prairie Coneflowers, dance in the summer breeze. Two of these flowers have insects hanging on for the dance.

They are just so graceful!

I couldn’t resist capturing the sunflowers last night. As I did, a green bug landed on this one. He has himself coated in pollen.

All of these flower look delicate, but they are certainly strong to withstand the hot dry climate of New Mexico.

Mexican Hat is available for purchase here.

Soaking Sunflower is available for purchase here.

Wings ‘n’ Petals

Posted on by

A light green butterfly peacefully floated from flower to flower. It looked like it was looking up at me smiling as I took its picture! It rather convinces me that insects have souls with sensitivity.

The way this bee was standing on the flowers, it appears he has on little slippers!

I love how the Cholla cactus delicate flower petals glisten in the sun.

I looked up to one cactus in time to see a bee dive into the heart of the flower. Pollen dropped all over the inside. You can just see his back at the “4 o’clock” position from the center.

Finally, the bee came out and shook a little bit of the pollen off of him. When he first came out, he totally blended in with the pollen in the center of the flower

What if we had the same peaceful attitude the butterfly has?

What if we were as resourceful as the bee?

What would happen if we dove into our passion and/or our work with as much determination as this little bee? What if we didn’t mind getting a little dirty in the process?

What kind of impact could we have in our own lives as well as the world around us?

Flower Garden

Posted on by

Such a wide variety of flowers exists naturally in the area that I don’t need to plant many! These purple flowers in the labyrinth are native to the area.

Snap dragon seems to emit its own light!

I’m still not sure what the dainty orange flowers are, but they were along Tree Springs Trail in the Sandia Wilderness.

I remember as a child picking Dandelion puffs and seeing how many pieces I could blow off with one breath. If you could clear the cottony white with one blow, you could have your wish.

However, I was told not to because it would only spread the “weed”. Little did I know at the time that the Dandelion is used by many for it’s health benefits!

I love how this one shines in the sun.

Cholla Cactus are in full bloom.

Prickly Pear cactus in full bloom. For some reason, these beautiful plants along our road are sticking out to me far more than they ever have in the past.

Up close to the Prickly Pear Cactus. They have an amazing amount of pollen.

 

 

 

 

Butterfly Kisses

Posted on by

Having moved my office to the front porch in hopes of observing the entry of a butterfly into the world, I had the opportunity to see those who already emerged.

This yellow butterfly was on the flowers by the labyrinth. It was kind enough to hang around long enough for me to snap a few shots. It almost looked like it was kissing the flowers!

The darker butterfly was in the courtyard and was kind enough to open its wings for me to get a good view.

I realized that what I thought was a moth cocoon was actually a butterfly chrysalis.

A cocoon is on the furry side while a chrysalis is not.

Moths spend long, preferably cold winter months transforming in a cocoon on or under the ground, while butterflies spend less than a couple weeks hanging from something in a chrysalis.

Moths move their wings to move up, while butterflies use the sun to warm them.

Moths have ears, but butterflies cannot detect sound.

Moths usually rest with their wings open, where butterflies usually rest with theirs closed.

Moths are mostly active at night, whereas butterflies are mostly active during the day.

I love learning new things!

(Disclaimer: If I discover that I’ve been in error on identification of these flying insects, I reserve the right to expand my knowledge base!)

Creatures Medium & Small

Posted on by

“Hear ye, Hear ye….will you just be still and listen?!” Not quite sure what he wanted to get across, but this guy was standing up to a board that served as podium and had such a stern and serious look about him. He looks as though he’s tapping his nails on the board trying to get everyone’s attention!

This prairie dog silently stood guard at the entrance of his home. One would think he was kin to the British guard as still as he was even though I was fairly close to him.

While walking home this guy ran across the road in front of me. he just sat there posing for me. Perhaps our rabbit population is on the increase finally?!

This green butterfly patiently waited for me to take his picture before taking off for his next flight.

Later a dainty white butterfly danced from flower to flower drinking deeply of the nectar. It seemed to be singing “catch me if you can” while i was trying to shoot! It rather looked like a little fairy going along kissing all the little flowers.

A white and tan variegated butterfly was almost as quick as the white one in search of a sweet drink.

The opportunity to see beautiful creatures of any size around me is a wonderful blessing.

That I can share some of what I see with others is a priceless gift. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Time for Change

Posted on by

One of the family was leaving for work one day when they announced to the rest of us there was a caterpillar hanging from the jam over the front door… front and center!

That afternoon we noticed he had completed his work of sealing himself into a cocoon.

We found several of these hanging around our porch area, including one on the ceiling. We found this guy freshly out of his little self-built cage.

A couple hours later he had let go of the casing of the cocoon and was preparing for flight.How a spiny crawling “worm” can transform into a beautiful flying wonder is beyond my comprehension.

Though I must consider what others have talked about with the Annular Solar Eclipse a couple weeks ago, followed by a partial Lunar Eclipse just yesterday and Venus transiting the sun today and tomorrow. It’s all about change.

It is time for us all to change.

I think part of the change for us is to quit groveling in the dirt, go deep inside ourselves for personal spiritual transformation, and come out flying gracefully through life being present in this time and space, helping others to do the same.

A change for our highest good…. A change to PEACE.

 

Partial Lunar Eclipse 2012

Posted on by

Full MoonThe full moon was brilliant and illuminated that clouds well. A bit of haze from the fire still provides a bit of veil.

When I woke at 5 AM I realized the lunar eclipse should be at it’s max, so I scrambled out to the front porch where I had a front row seat.

You can see bits of color in the back lit clouds.

I would love to have shared the orchestra of birds that serenaded as I watched Luna. It was so beautiful and peaceful.

Up close and personal…

She’s about to reach the horizon…The juniper branches reach out to her…They’ve made contact….the branch just touches Luna’s face.As Luna sets, the juniper reaches around and caress her.I just love the beauty the universe displays with its ever changing light. It’s rather soothing!

A friend talked about the eclipse in her blog this morning…

Message of the “Lunar Eclipse.”: “Intuition puts you in the driver’s seat. Stop allowing others to own your power and drive your life.”

Message of the “Full Moon Lunar Eclipse” : “Transformation is the process of freeing oneself from the enslavement of the past to achieve true self-realization.”

I think it’s a good message for all. You can visit Kimberly Anne’s blog to learn more.

Ghostly Sunrise

Posted on by

Ghostly suriseI looked out at sunrise to see smoke from the largest forest fire in New Mexico State history lingering in the still air. The Whitewater-Baldy Fire in the Gila National Forest has burned more than 354 square miles of mostly wilderness area.

Over 200 miles away, the sunrises have somewhat of a sepia tone when photographed. This particular photo somehow has a peaceful yet ghostly, historical appearance to it.

While forest fires seem devastating and destructive, they are important in removing dead wood and brush so healthy new growth can occur.