2010-If not for this period’s designation, I would not have recognized the cicada’s trills for what they are--they just blend in with the general bird sounds. A case of useful knowledge that increases the beauty and complexity of the world and enlarges my connection with it. Not so with most of what passes for information these days; more background noise.
The chicories are glowing Mother Mary blue, celestial, all along the roadways. I remember that they are usually accompanied by masses of Queen Anne’s Lace, but not this year. Generally I see them standing alone, occasionally mixed with daylilies. It strikes me as though some master hand was constantly experimenting with new arrangements. And where are the Queen Anne’s Lace? What are they waiting for?
2011- The new arrangement for this year is orange daylilies amid armfuls of elderberry flowers.
I have been watching and photographing a nest of robins in the yew bush. A pair first came a month ago and built the nest and while the female sat the eggs the male was constantly back and forth with food. The babies hatched and in ten days were fledged and gone. Then, a week ago, I noticed more robin activity around the nest and thought maybe the babies had come back for a visit. But it was the mother laying another nestful of eggs--I didn’t know they did this. This time though she seems to be on her own; no male bringing food and so from time to time she needs to leave the nest to find some for herself. (I took advantage of one of her trips out and got a beautiful photo of three blue eggs.) Single parenthood in the bird world?
I got a slight impression from the fern which I think is real because its so different from what I would have expected; a kind of airiness and lightness. I’ll try sleeping with a piece and see if I can dream something.
2012-The scale attacking the citrus trees has become severe. The honeydew they leave has all turned black with mold and the stems and backs of leaves are studded with scale of all sizes. Apparently, without treatment, the infestation will worsen even to the point that the plant dies. How can this be part of a plan-how can it help the scale if they kill their host? I treated them with a pyrethrin spray and tried washing one with alcohol soaked cotton balls-a tedious process, but maybe I can save them. They, along with the bay that was the original host, have put out masses of new leaves and buds and show every sign of wanting to live.
2013-A little drama on the lawn. One of the fledglings made it to the ground but apparently couldn’t figure out how to get back up (and their nest is way high up in the ash tree). With all the feral cats around here, it’s not a good place for a stranded baby bird. Luckily, Mom came along and with a little encouragement got baby back in the tree.
It is a seventeen-year cicada year. They were deafening in Kingston and on the other side of the river but, although I remember them here last time, there are none now.
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