2024 Journal
May 2, 2024 —
We’re clearing brush from the south side of the pond and have some interesting observations to start off the month of May. We discovered two new galls: Persimmon Leaf Blister Gall, formed by Aceria theospyri, a very tiny mite, looks bad but doesn’t seem to be harming the trees overall; the other one is as yet unknown and it is not on an oak, so I don’t know. Here it is if someone can identify it either here or on iNaturalist.
April 29, 2024 —
A bit dreary today with a little needed rain. Yesterday was beautiful and the butterflies were busy in the meadow. Swallowtails are our favorite and this beautiful Black Swallowtail was competing with a Pipevine Swallowtail for the Verbena rigida. A number of Monarchs were in the meadow enjoying a big crop of Long-leaf Milkweed.
April 21, 2024 —
This is for the German hacker who is trying to crash my website: I know who you are. I am watching you.
April 19, 2024 —
A late afternoon exploration of the pond yesterday led to the discovery of quite a number of small, perhaps three-year-old, tupelo trees along the edge of the water. There are two large tupelos, one on the east side and one near the southwest corner which probably produced the fruit that a heron dropped in just the right spot to take root. Without much care at all they will grow into large fine trees.
April 16, 2024 —
We planted a little iris in 2021 just after our friend and helper, Johnny Lemoyne, passed away on July 3. He gave it to us in a pot saying he knew I loved iris and he wanted me to plant it even if it had never bloomed and he didn’t know what color it was. Well Johnny, it’s purple, very beautiful and happy living at the edge of the pond where you loved to fish. We miss you. By the way, your lure is still snagged in that tree branch.
April 6, 2024 —
A perfect day to be out in the meadow and the wetland. The Dahoon Hollies are flowering in the meadow. A ripening Tall Beakrush in the wetland.
Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024
In the early Spring, a pair of Carolina Chickadees are hunting insects in a bug condo. We came out to the meadow early this morning hoping to see the owl the Captain watched yesterday as it hunted for small prey. It was a no-show.
March 26, 2024 —
The new pollinator meadow is alive with bright yellow Sneezeweed and Crowpoison, a species of lily that is prolific in the early spring in south Louisiana. Pine pollen is about at its peak and every surface is a dull yellow. The blackberries are blooming and many new patches of Pale Pitcher Plant are popping up. Yep! It’s spring at Vista Farm.
March 6, 2024 —
The most beautiful day! Warm and sunny. It’s good to be alive and watch new life springing up in the meadows.
February 29, 2024 –
A pair of Wood Ducks appeared at the duck feeding station at the pond. They landed and headed straight for the food so we believe they are the same pair who were here all last year. The yellow jasmine is blooming in the woods and anywhere it can climb. A few early Buttercups are even blooming in the meadow.
February 21, 2024 –
Thick, thick fog this morning, but the temp has warmed to 71 degrees with bright, beautiful sun. What a perfect day for a walk around the pond. A few spring flowers have popped open, white violets and Pineland Daisies.
February 1, 2024
A week of mostly very pleasant temps with enough sun to combat the winter gloomies.
January 24, 2024 –
Bitter cold last week and rain, rain, rain this week. In south Louisiana, 17 degrees is the only “climate emergency” we worry about. We love carbon dioxide.
January 12, 2024 –
Welcome to the 2024 Journal of weather and species sightings at Vista Farm. After some torrential rains in the last couple of weeks, the pond is again full. The ducks seem a little confused but they’ll get used to swimming out, rather than walking out, to the big logs we sank for them to roost on. It’s been a little cool, but the weather report for next week is for a freeze.
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