I have been intrigued with Dia de los Muertos since I first leaned about it in the 1970s. This celebration is the perfect mix of ancient Mexican beliefs and Christian beliefs. One year in the early 1990s I was at Palenque, Mexico for the celebration and it was amazing. But now, thinking about death theContinue reading “Dia de los Muertos and insects”
Tag Archives: insects
Whitefish Point – late August
As I am sitting here writing the morning temperature is 41F, but is quite still, so with a cup of coffee in hand it is quite comfortable. The past few days the wind has been out of the north, sometimes howling, yet bird migration has been rather minimal. Waves crashing on shore, which surprisingly hasContinue reading “Whitefish Point – late August”
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 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”
Dog days of summer
Typically at this point of July the summer hear is becoming intolerable and it will last well into August. The saying dog days of summer originates with the rising of Canis major, a bright star in the constellation Orion. The actual star has no impact on the heat from the sun, but rather signals theContinue reading “Dog days of summer”
Moth night – Matthaei Botanical Gardens – 2025
We arrived at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens early enough to set up our stations before beople started showing up. The start of the evening as people starting appearing. Some of the 68 participants hearing about where the stations were and how we were doing things. One of our further stations before people were on theContinue reading “Moth night – Matthaei Botanical Gardens – 2025”
Last moth night of 2024?
It was on the morning of 31 October that was checked on the moth trap that was set up the previous evening. The trap was set over one of our garden beds as pictured on the right. The left photo is Susan photographing moths before we released them back into the wild. The interesting thingContinue reading “Last moth night of 2024?”
The past few moth nights in Ann Arbor
In late August we had a moth night at Black Pond Woods. We had a large group of people and some interesting insects. We had three sheets set up and the “lighthouse.” The “lighthouse” is an Ikea portable wardrobe with the Lep-led inside with a power source. The jakery power source will last all nightContinue reading “The past few moth nights in Ann Arbor”
Moth night at Island Park, Ann Arbor
Our day started with the new moth trap set up. We got some moths and lost of aquatic insects. We had a spectacular dinner. Susan made falafel and we got tuum, humus, pita at El Harissa. I made mango-curried chickpeas and rice and this is what dinner looked like. Had to eat well since weContinue reading “Moth night at Island Park, Ann Arbor”
Butterflies and dinner
Currently there is very little diversity in butterflies at Whitefish Point. But there are still some interesting ones. I’m not a big fan of European skippers, they usually show up in the hundreds or even the thousands. However, seeing just one is OK, even though they are a non-native invasive. Over the past few daysContinue reading “Butterflies and dinner”
Michael's Place 