2017-03-11 - Saturday - Feathers

I took the sticky bands we use to stop canker worms off our trees on Saturday. I saw the images of canker worm moths on the bands, but no insects. I assumed the birds picked them off and I guess I was correct. I found three feathers stuck to the band in one place.

I feel bad for the bird since it was stuck there until it pulled out it's feathers to get away.

I guess there truly is no such thing as a free lunch.

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2016-03-24 - Thursday - Spring has sprung

I always like to take stock in the yard during the spring as everything comes back to life. Spring is such a hopeful time.

The last gasp of the crane fly orchid leaves from last year.
Soon a flower stalk will emerge.

The lady ferns are coming back.

I'm pleased that the may apples are propagating and thriving.

Even the weeds are competing with themselves.
The onion is growing over the wild violet.

On the downside it appears that this canker worm band
has trapped a whole ant colony.

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2016-01-27 - Wednesday - Wingless Moths, Empty Bowls, Decals

When I went out to get the mail on Wednesday I noticed some of the female wingless canker worm moths clinging to the front porch so I started looking around and saw hundreds of them all over the eaves of the house. They are very confused. At least they will not get to the tops of the trees to lay their eggs.

When I wedged up some recycled clay I noticed some phoenix running through the bag. When I trimmed the pots I found that vein still prominent in the clay.

More Empty Bowls, but you knew that. :8^)

For a while Adrienne (our executive director at Clayworks) thought it would be good to have our logo on the wall where the workshops take place. It was installed today and I agree with her that it will stand out in photos from now on. Nicely done.

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2016-01-08 - More things that happened

Final catch-up.

01/01/2016:

Happy New Year! We had lots of great meals at Karen's brother Scott's house. He and Rich really lay out wonderful table.

Family around the table on New Year's Day.

01/02/2016:

Back in Charlotte and tired from the drive, we got some Chinese takeout. I felt a bit cheated by this fortune.

01/06/2016:

I've started doing my part of the annual Empty Bowls for Second Harvest Food Bank. We always make 300 bowls at Clayworks for the event so everyone is hard at work.

01/07/2016:

Our canker worm moth traps are doing their job. Last spring/summer the leaves on our maple trees looked like doilies because the canker worms had ravaged them. The flightless female moths climb the trees to lay their eggs at the top. The banding breaks the cycle by not letting them get to the top. As they only live a day or two in their adult form this is very effective.

Those wingless insects on the plastic are the moths.

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