Root cellar beginnings

For the past two weeks I've been busy in the kitchen, standing next to a hot stove and preserving much of our garden booty by way of canning.  I've been having a good time and am happy to have the beginnings of a root cellar in our basement.

So far, we have 6 four-ounce jars of pesto, 18 four-ounce jars of peach jam, 13 quarts of peaches (picked by me at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan), 2 quarts of red beets, 4 quarts of whole tomatoes, 2 quarts of diced tomatoes, and 2 quarts of stew fixin's.  The jars of stew fixin's contain celery, tomatoes, carrots, marjoram, thyme, rosemary (all from our garden) and corn sheared from the cob.

Making blueberry jam is on Saturday's agenda.  I hope to end up with at least 15 four-ounce jars when all is said and done.

Over the winter, I plan to monitor the temperature and humidity level in the basement to see if it's possible to store root vegetables down there successfully next year.  I suspect the temperature may be too warm and not humid enough to prevent vegetables from simply shriveling and drying up.  Air circulation will be an issue, too.  More research needs to be done to determine the best area to establish an actuall root cellar to store our fresh produce.  For now, stocking up on our own canned goods, to enjoy in the middle of winter, is a great start.

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Our butterfly bush continues to be an endless source of wonder.  Wednesday morning -wait, who are we kidding?  Wednesday afternoon began with a hummingbird sighting.  Shortly after noon I stepped out on the front porch to enjoy the warmth of the day and read a book.   Just as I turned to my left to look at the butterfly bush a hummingbird came zooming along the side of the house towards the bush, and then happily buzzed around several flower heads to drink the sweet nectar within.  

I'm always amazed whenever I see a hummingbird.  Amazed by their small size, the speed at which their wings flap, the way they move, and by the luxurious metallic sheen of their feathers.  Seeing this little fellow was a perfect way to start the day.

There are always dozens of different types of bees all around the bush, as well as butterflies and moths, but I have never seen this type of butterfly before.  Well, at least not under glass with a pin in its back under the care of a museum staff.

While reading, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a fluttering motion and saw what appeared to be the coloring of a Monarch butterfly.  I set my book down and got up to grab the camera.  What a joy to see this rust-colored beauty.  I believe this is a Great Spangled Fritillary.  At the very least, it most resembles a Great Spangled Fritillary.

Heck, it's 3:58 a.m. and I'm down to 13% battery life.  I'd document my thoughts on where and how to plant tomatoes in next year's garden, and to add several recipes to Wright Garden Recipes, but I much prefer to be sound asleep before the birds start their chatter.  I'll be dreaming of blueberry jam and blueberry pies.



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Luncheon with a praying mantis

Yesterday afternoon I spotted a praying mantis in one of the flower beds.  Assuming this is the same mantid that's been seen in this general location before, it's about three inches in length now.  It's eyes have taken on more of an amber color as well.  

After spotting this leggy creature I dashed inside to grab the camera.  By sheer luck I happened to take a picture of the mantid just after it caught a tiny caterpillar in its left forearm.  Of course, I didn't realize this until after I uploaded the pictures to my laptop where I can really zoom in on small details.  

I did, however, notice a nub of a tiny tube shaped object stuck to the tip of a leaf that the mantid took a bite out of.  Enjoy this video of the praying mantis eating its catch.  It's so Sci-Fi the way its jaws move sideways versus up and down.  

Darn it!  Why can't I upload videos?!

The Clearwing Hummingbird moths have been busy 'round the butterfly bush.  I'm so glad that I learned about these creatures last summer.  I no longer mistake them for bumble bees.  

I love their shrimp-like bodies.

We have muskmelon!  This afternoon I noticed five small muskmelon growing on the vines.  The largest is about the size of a mango.  The smallest is quite fuzzy and walnut sized.

The watering hole for the bees is always busy.  I enjoy watching the bees land in the center of the cells and float on the surface of the water with their legs spread wide as they drink.

While I sit on the front porch creating this post, I'm in the company of Spencer and Chet.  They're both happily napping and enjoying summer's warmth.

Pigs dangling everywhere.

Chet laying in a typical sprawled fashion.

Cheers!

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The power of the butterfly bush

When we planted the butterfly bush in the front yard we were hopeful that many butterflies would visit our yard.  We also figured that the bush would attract many different types of bees.  What we didn't expect to see is a particular winged wonder that visited the bush this afternoon.  For all we know this insect has been visiting ever since the bush began blooming this year and it took this long for us to notice.

While I was cutting the front lawn and ready to make a pass along side the butterfly bush I noticed movement from a yellow and black insect flying around a flower head.  My initial thought was that it was a rather large bumblebee, but in the next instant I observed that this creatures flight pattern was like that of a hummingbird!  My next thought was, Oh my gosh! Could this be a very tiny hummingbird?!  Trying to keep my cool so I didn't scare whatever it was away, I began rapidly knocking on a porch window and calling for John.  Finally, I just sprinted inside to grab the camera before this thing flew away.

Once armed with the camera, I spent about thirty minutes observing and photographing this marvelous insect. It flew like a hummingbird but had legs like a butterfly or moth.  Its manner of getting nectar was like that of a butterfly or moth, too.  A very long needle-like tongue that probed the center of the flowers.  No beak and too many legs, and its hind quarters appeared sectioned.  It made me think of a shrimps tail.  What I was beginning to think is that this was some sort of unique moth.  It was only about an inch and a half in length.

Once the front lawn was cut, I plopped myself down in front of the computer and excitedly searched for North American/Illinois hummingbird species.  Hummingbirds.net included this note:  If you're having trouble identifying a small flying creature, especially if it has red or yellow near its tail, take a look at Moths of the United States or The Butterfly WebSite.  Bingo!  A photo of the insect in question was included next to that note and it looked just like what I saw.  A quick search of the regional checklist at the Moths of the United States website led me to Hemaris thysbe - Hummingbird clearwing.  It is the only moth with the word hummingbird in its description so I feel pretty confident that I've identified this moth correctly.

There were two of these hummingbird moths drinking nectar from the bush this afternoon.  I'm so happy to have spotted them and learn of their existence.  I love when magical events like this happen, especially when you're not expecting them.


Talking about the butterfly bush and remembering how large it was when we brought it home (three short slender branches with a single tiny flower head) compared to it's size the past two years, got me thinking about how the front yard has transformed to its current state of beauty.  Included below are a few photos taken of the front yard in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.  We've done good! 

May 14, 2009 (The house was officially ours!)

November 2010 

April 2011

May 2011

August 27, 2011

Home Sweet Home.

For folks who receive an email as new posts are created, please feel free to visit the blog itself or share the URL.  http://wrightgardenchronicles.blogspot.com/  Included there is a lovely photograph of our back yard.