Author Archives: makielb

Spent part of the day at Vermilion Point where we had a lot of insects and plants. One of our target plants was Cases Ladies’-tresses. We managed to find some 24 of these. We also found close to 30 Nodding Ladies’-tresses. There might also be some Sphinx Ladies’-tresses mixed in with these. I have aContinue reading “Another day with orchids”

There’s nothing like starting the day with a moth that you’d never seen. This little 5mm moth is a Diamondback moth. Then we headed off to Farm Truck Rd. in search of a couple of insects that we “always” find there. This was insect target number one, a Hunch back fly. It was almost tooContinue reading “A day filled with insects”

A beautiful sunrise this morning at Whitefish Point. This was a nice way to start the day after yesterdays hectic ride north. But there were things to entertain us. From Flint north, when I am not driving I take photos of cannabis signs. It’s a fun way to pass the time in the car. IContinue reading “I-75 in August and more”

Unlike Snoopy and Woodstock I am hoping to see a few “late season” dragonflies at Whitefish Point. We’re on day two of getting the gutter on the driveway side of the house replaced. Which is why I was taking photos of skeletons and the like at home. This Mexican skeleton was given to be byContinue reading “A late start heading north”

The pantry is nearly empty. A few jars of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. It’s time to use some of what’s in the garden. Processed tomatoes, and cooking on the stove. Later in the day this will be ready for canning. The last batch of giardiniera is gone. We only have some pickled green beansContinue reading “The urban gardener and cook”

Old toys from close to 40 years ago, not part of a group of “memorabilia.” This morning we had breakfast at Angelo’s with Mike and Linda. This was the first restaurant that I ate at in 1977 when I moved to Ann Arbor. Back then it was run by Angelo himself and his wife. TodayContinue reading “Reliving old memories”

It has now been a years since I last took my seizure meds. And it has been over a year and a half since I suffered a seizure, which I had always called my “neurological events.” I’ll say I do not miss either. The meds, which were an important part of my life for sevenContinue reading “An anniversary, of sorts for me and more”

Timing is everything when trying to see flowers, insects and birds. Sometimes you get lucky and see what you are looking for at prime time. Sometimes you have to settle you get. Other times you miss what you are looking for. Yesterday we were lucky. Bishop’s Bog is a delightful site in Portage, south ofContinue reading “A day in a southern bog”

I posted this image six years ago meaning that today is the 77th anniversary of the first nuclear war. A few days after Hiroshima, Nagasaki was bombed by the United states. Sad event to prove a point. Here’s an explosion of flowers, an orange-fringed orchid. I’d rather think about this beautiful flower than the sinsContinue reading “A sad anniversary”

Sometimes a bumper sticker just speaks to you. That was the case with this one. We spent the morning at the fens and dunes at Vermilion Point. There are always nice plants and insects to find here. Not far from the parking lot there is a small patch of Spotted coralroot. This year we gotContinue reading “Live from the U.P.”