Indoors

It’s been quite cold here of late, so I’ve been spending less time wandering around the garden, and more time looking at all the dirt and dust that’s made it’s way *inside* the humble abode.

The time indoors has prepared me to release a film about the inside insect world. Please make sure you have the ability to listen to the soundtrack along with the film. The film is at the bottom of the page.

For the wary and the wise, some still shots of the horror you’re about to perceive.

This worm was crawling up my wall, but watch out! They’re everywhere! I once looked in the mirror only to discover something was wriggling out the top of the warm wool cap on my head! – And yes, I do clean my house as well as the next person!

The Ugly Bug Ball

Toadstools

Doesn’t this look like something you’d find in the depths of the ocean?

But, in the ocean, they were not. Rather, they were perched on a pile of decomposing dirt (is that redundant?) in my backyard.

Oh the textures!

Like these, many mushrooms appear seemingly overnight. This phenomenon is the source of the common expression: to mushroom (expanding rapidly in size or scope). And, really, this is crazy. Similar to a zygote becoming a fetus overnight – an infant by morning. Or planting a pumpkin seed and waking up to a full blown squash the next day. Just how does fungi do it?

Though they pop up quickly, mushrooms don’t hang around all too long. The stem and cap part that we call the mushroom, referred to as the “fruiting body,” is quite short-lived compared to the rest of the organism. The real magic happens underground. While the fruiting body may be short-lived, the underlying mycelium (a thread-like structure) can be long-lived, as well as massive:

Is this the largest organism in the world? This 2,400-acre (9.7 km2) site in eastern Oregon had a contiguous growth of mycelium before logging roads cut through it. Estimated at 1,665 football fields in size and 2,200 years old, this one fungus has killed the forest above it several times over, and in so doing has built deeper soil layers that allow the growth of ever-larger stands of trees. Mushroom-forming forest fungi are unique in that their mycelial mats can achieve such massive proportions.
—Paul Stamets, Mycelium Running

This next one made me want to go inside and beat Super Mario all over again.

The Untended Fall

With the onset of fall and the absence of my attention, the garden has become an unintended disarray.

Seeds bursting…

A strange new fungal growth in the bird feeder…

What are these?

And, of course, aphids taking over the plants I’ve let go to waste…..

I glanced out the window while studying for midterms, not having had even a moment to step outside, and saw the untended fall. Golden brown pine needles covering the coming winter’s greens: kale, chard, bok choy, brussel sprouts fighting to survive in little pots they’ve outgrown. Tomato plants, like the little shop of horrors, sprawling out of control, no longer maintaining any hint of balance. Half their tomatoes squashed on the pavement. Gigantic yellowing cucumbers hanging from dead vines. The zucchini becoming one with the dirt. Multicolored leaves and seeds scattered to complete the mosaic of the season.

Midterms now over, this weekend has been full of fall. Time to clean up the lovely mess that nature has left for me.

The Monarchs have NOT Arrived

Much to my dismay, these are not Monarchs! They are in fact Gulf Fritillary or Passion butterflies (Agraulis vanillae). After looking over pictures of Monarchs, I realized that they have a black body with white speckles, while these have an orange body.

Sigh… still waiting for the Monarch’s arrival.

Little Buggers

Found in the garden:

These were made by the upstairs 6 and 8 yr old boys. I’m pretty impressed!

Fly on Mexican Sunflower

Grasshopper

The beau and I went to Tahoe recently to visit with his fam, read on the beach, and take boat rides to nowhere.

Wednesday morning we were supposed to leave (ie. be in the car) by 9am. I have trouble even getting out of bed by 9am on any morning, but I managed. It was 8:35 and all I had left to do was water the garden. So out I went, attaching the hose to my spigot, and making sure all my loved ones got a good soaking before I left them in 85 degree weather all alone for three days.

I started in the front yard and moved my way to the back, leaving the roses for last. Still early, the sun was just approaching the midpoint of the yard so I hadn’t broken a sweat. Right as I turned to spray the roses, I saw her. A striking green body against the pink fleshy petals of a sweet smelling rose. Forgetting that I was on a schedule – time disappears while I’m in the garden anyway – I rushed inside to grab my camera.

 

Turns out it was already 9:15am when I ran in for the camera, however Dave, knowing my passion, gathered his patience and let it go.

 

 

Not too keen on having a huge lens and human breathing down on her, Miss Grasshopper tried unsuccessfully to find camouflage in the pink abyss. But! (or should I say Butt!) it turns out that Miss Grasshopper was not a Miss at all!

 

 

I thought I’d spied an ovipositer. Yet, as she crept away like a clown on stilts, I took multiple shots of her derriere, which show the lack of said female organ, proving that this grasshopper was indeed a male.

 

 

Compared to other insect photoshoots, he was quick to make his exit. As soon as he spied the greenery, he shot off like a wind up toy on Christmas. And, following his cue, I hopped into the car and headed for the greenery as well.

Beet that!

From the garden to the table. Just tossed them in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast and chomp.
 

Mmm. They were so good that I just planted some more.

Buzzzzzz

I have a phobia of bees.
 

I like bees, that is, until they take flight. When I hear that buzz, my nervous system kicks in before my rational brain. I generally scream before I even know I’ve opened my mouth. Mind you, if I had control over my body, I would NEVER open my mouth near a bee.
 
My uncle was once stung on the tongue! He actually let a bee land on his tongue in attempt to prove to my mom that the bee wouldn’t sting him if he stayed calm. Zing!

Pinch

Once again captivated by the roses, thinking to myself in a not-so-humble-mumble, “Doesn’t my photography just put Georgia O’Keefe to shame?”

 

 

Little did I know what was in store for me! A little pinch to wake me from my egotistical dream.

 

He rounded the petal rearing at me, just like this.

 

Roses, man – love and war. I’m tellin ya.

 

I refer to him in the masculine, due to some elementary internet research stating that forceps tend to be more curved in males than in females. And, man oh man, these were some huge and very curled forceps. It was not hard to find a few others to compare him to. He was definitely the pimp.

 

 

Above: Forficula auricularia, or earwig. Left to right, female & male.
Image source

 

Right: European earwig adult male(1); tip of abdomen of male with short, sharply curved forceps(2); tip of abdomen of female earwig (3)
Image source

 

Though I grew up calling them pincher bugs, this little guy is more commonly known as an earwig, derived from the Old English ēare, which means “ear”, and wicga, which means “insect.” The name comes from the notion that earwigs burrowed into the brains of humans through the ear and therein lay their eggs (Oxford English Dictionary). Referring to a person as an “earwig” means they’ve gone crazy from this fictitious condition. Germany now uses the term “ohrwurm” (or, earworm) to refer to “songs [that] get stuck in our heads because they create a “brain itch” that can only be scratched by repeating the tune over and over.” This type of song, “typically has a high, upbeat melody and repetitive lyrics that verge between catchy and annoying.” (BBC news) If you would like an earworm of your own, please click here, here, or here.

As this guy didn’t even come close to approaching my ear, I think we should boycott the name earwig and call them what they truly are! Pincher Bugs.

Ouch – look at how many different poky parts those pinchers’ have!!!

I guess that’s what I get for hatin’ on Georgia O’Keefe .