Author Archives: makielb

While the day started with what looked like another day of poor air quality, it was actually a foggy morning. When the fog cleared we headed off in search of another interesting orchid. Of course our hike stared off with a snowy urola moth on butterfly weed. As we walked the trail to where theContinue reading “Another orchid and some moths”

Some day I’ll have to learn how to use photoshop. A nice take on Dali. But wait there’s more. A funny take on artists rendering a roundworm. And then how to paint mouse-ear chickweed, by selected artists. Air conditioning is very important on hot days. Just some funny weather related humor. That’s what we hopeContinue reading “July art humor”

Susan started diging up the garlic this morning. Then I took the first basket and trimmed them getting them ready to dry. Over 200 heads of garlic threaded into an old baby gate. When I was done threading them in I moved the gate into the garage. Wow, it was heavy. Now onto other newsContinue reading “Garlic harvest 2023”

I hope that all of my family and friends are safe from fires and smoke on this Canada Day. It’s almost hard to believe that my mother was born in New Brunswick almost 100 years ago. Yesterday we met Mike and Linda at the Northside for breakfast and we took the opportunity to walk overContinue reading “Happy Canada Day to family and friends”

Another Sonic Lunch, complete with the bubble machine. What an amazing and fun time. We enjoyed the opening act, but went there for the main performers. For today, because of War and Treaty, the main performers the stage was moved and Liberty Street closed. The place was packed! We managed to find some seats quiteContinue reading “More live music”

This caterpillar is a Hibiscus sawfly that was happily munching on a hibiscus. A Hollyhock weevil. Milkweed lead beetles, making more beetles. The spectacular find with a wing-span of over six inches! It’s an Imperial moth (Ecles imperialis). This is only the second one that I have ever seen. The other was close to 30Continue reading “Finding an uncommon and spectacular moth”

We spent yesterday at the Eddy Discovery Center in western Washtenaw County. There’s a small prairie between the parking lot and the trail that leads to the bog. Butterfly weed and spiderwort were the dominant flowering plants there. Then we headed into the bog to find some orchids that should be blooming. Grass-pink and RoseContinue reading “More orchids and plants”

There’s a huge heat wave slowly moving across the south/south-west, but it is also extending to the east/north-east. That combined with Texas’ first case of endemic malaria (it already exists in the south-east). In south-east Michigan on Sunday we finally got the storm that was supposed to be here. The temperature cooled down but thereContinue reading “After the storm”

Some of my online friends I “talk” to more than my in person friends. Birds people watching. That’s what happens when you buy a nest from Ikea. Now on to insects – I never understood why we often get lightening bugs and moth at our lights – now I do. Gossiping insects. Trying to avoidContinue reading “Monday comics”

Time to make pickles – sweet pickles, dill pickles and picked onions. The dryer is full of dill, way more than we can use since there’s much more in the garden. If you’re in Ann Arbor and need dill let me know. The same goes for mint. The zucchini is up and doing well. GarlicContinue reading “The kitchen and garden”