Dog-day cicadas are in prime sound right now. We have been finding cicada exuviae all over Ann Arbor. This cicada shed is on a fig leaf in our garden. The two figs in the garden showing some of the figs. So why didn’t my figs produce fruit before this year? I have three ideas –Continue reading “Cicadas and figs”
Author Archives: makielb
The hackberry ecosystem
Northern hackberry is an interesting tree. We have found them all over Ann Arbor. Over the years we often found nipple galls, caused by Pachyscylla larvae. But the trees also are home to several species of lichens as well. Here are some Pachyscylla galls on hackberry leaves. But this tree had a series of surprisesContinue reading “The hackberry ecosystem”
A Dirty Job
Continuing on my to re-read the Christopher Moore books in my library I ventured into two that take place in San Francisco. A Dirty Job, starts with the birth of Charlie’s daughter Sophie, the death of his wife, meeting a Death Merchant, and learning about soul vessels – all in the first few pages ofContinue reading “A Dirty Job”
Mantis humor to start the week
Oops, tough way to start a relationship. The deadly mantis kiss cam. Safe sex for mantises More sometime later…
Some book reviews
I am working my way through a bunch of old Christopher Moore books. Recently I’ve re-red all of the books that take place in Pine Cove. Practical Demonkeeping is the first book that takes place in Pine Cove, California. The story involves a demon obviously, but also a djinn (genie). The rather humorous story, althoughContinue reading “Some book reviews”
Moth night in Paradise
Last night, before the rain came we did a moth night for the Friends of Whitefish Point at Sawmill Creek Park. We had about 25 people show up, some with kids and it was a lot of fun. Typically I take a bunch of pictures while we are telling people what to expect, but lastContinue reading “Moth night in Paradise”
An interesting day at Whitefish Point
Sitting on the deck watching sunrise is a favorite way to pass some time in the morning. It also allows me to think about what has happened or what we might be doing today. In this case I was thinking about yesterday. About a week or ten days ago we found a group of MourningContinue reading “An interesting day at Whitefish Point”
Coyote Blue
So, recently I am been re-reading the majority of Christopher Moore’s book that I have in my library. The last one that I wrote about ws Sacré Bleu. I thought that I might stay on the blue theme and move on to Coyote Blue. Coyote Blue starts and ends on a Native American reservation asContinue reading “Coyote Blue”
A buggy sort of day
Our day started in the garden where I picked tomatoes. I think that tomorrow will be our first day of canning for the year. Herbs are thriving. Lots of tomatoes to pick for canning as well as some for eating and salads. The green beans are now eight feet tall and flowering so I imagineContinue reading “A buggy sort of day”
A surprise in the garden
About 5 years ago on a win I planted two fig trees that are supposed to be winter hardy. Over the years they have grown and died back in the winter, always look good in the summer. But no figs. Then two years ago we saw somebody on one of our morning walks that hadContinue reading “A surprise in the garden”
Michael's Place 