Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

We've never experienced an issue that I could attribute to pollination. Some years weather conditions hurt the pollinators though. In the longer run I hope to see an increase in variety and numbers. It's always neat that if you stop near the clover you can hear the buzzing.

That said, here's a few (understatement) more from Sunday July 17...a number of these were taken by my daughter.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

It isn't just the clover that buzzes...this is phacelia, part of the cover crop mix.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

They almost lined up for me....

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I like this shot as the camera truly got focused on the bee.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Eastern kingbird landed above me in the tree.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

To the clover patch for more bee action.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Barn swallow.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Phoenix turned 1 on Saturday...it was pretty warm...he was tuckered out by the time we got home.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Roll over...we don't trust his recall yet and with critters and no fence, he's typically attached to someone on a 30' lead in the country.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

They went for a walkabout...he's about 60 lbs.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Where'd he go?

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Peek-a-boodle!

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

She was trying to get a shot with the house hiding the trees...neglected to worry about the truck.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Back to the phacelia and the regularly scheduled programming.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Jiminy Crickets! The crickets have come out although they're relatively small yet. It won't be long and you won't be able to hear the bees buzzing over the sound of the crickets.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

The phacelia is an attractive plant with a pretty flower. I can see procuring more of this seed.
 
That looks amazing, it's such a difference from a few weeks back when everything was still covered in snow! It's stunning :D

Happy birthday Phoenix!
 
I was a little more focused on plants yesterday, but snapped a few shots of this young eastern kingbird when I saw an adult feed it...unfortunately none of the photos with the adult were in focus.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

The tail looks shorter than an adult's.
 
Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Juvenile American robin captured today.
 
I was out this afternoon...I did see ten chickens, but they were frozen and bagged for me. I saw three juvenile robins at the same time, so there was a decent brood success it would seem. I also saw about 8 killdeer and many mourning doves as well as the usual suspects.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

A bee on Persian clover in the cover crop mix.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Same bee, different poze.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I caught this bumble bee with my phone...I haven't tried to determine what type of bombus it is yet.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

An interesting bug that I haven't yet identified near one of the cucurbit plants, also taken with my phone.



I finally got to making a video among the cover crop mix...there's just a steady hum. I'm not sure how well it gets across, but I think it's neat.
 
From this insect identification site it seems to have the shape of a stink bug, but the colouration doesn't match any of the examples shown there. It's getting late so perhaps a project for tomorrow....
 
Here's today's instalment. I don't have any photos of birds, but we did see quite a few mourning doves and I always here meadowlarks and some others out there.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Here's a fly pretending to be a bee...flies have two wings while bees have four.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

A bumble bee...there are a number of different species and I haven't worked on ID yet.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I remember someone once saying based on aerodynamics and such that bumble bees shouldn't be able to fly. Here's proof otherwise.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

The phacelia is really popular with the bees...no wonder it's part of the pollinator mix.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

A long-legged spider...once nice thing about where we live is that, short of transferring disease, we don't have critters that are significantly poisonous.
 
Loving the pictures 😍

Correct; bees shouldn't be able to fly. Or at least that's what we were told for many years. I believe there's been reasons as to why they can fly nowadays. Something with them being able to have their wings at a certain angle I believe, but don't quote me on it.

Being in Australia we just assume everything is poisonous until proven otherwise. In saying that, at least for the spiders, most stay out of your way if you don't bother them. We have a roommate huntsman who helps rid the house of insect populations (and geckos, but luckily I haven't found any "leftovers").
 
Today I startled a covey of gray partridge...there were probably 20 among the cover crop.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I see a grasshopper, a bumble bee, and flea beetles...better on the turnips in the cover crop than the ones I'm growing for food.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Apparently, I've got a thing for bumble bees...they look so interesting, and until this year I didn't know there were many varieties (37 or 38 if I recall).

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

You can't see me...I'm hiding.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I'm pretty sure this is a syrphid fly, possibly a hover fly.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Happy sunflowers.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees




We all enjoy the phacelia, the pale purple flower. I'll have to plant that again. Sunflowers also are nice and bright.
 
As I integrate more critters I may need to change the title of the thread....

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Northern leopard frog captured with my phone.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Now on to yesterday's adventure....

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Squash blossom with what is likely a syrphid fly (hover fly is best guess).

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Even the crickets enjoy the squash blossoms.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Quite a few grasshoppers around this year following a bumper crop of them in last year's dry weather.
 
Such an interesting lookin frog :D

I have never seen crickets inside flowers, that's very interesting. After a little google it's said that they can indeed be pollinaters, but that you may run the risk of them eating your plant too.

They are all very pretty to look at though 😍
 
Here's yesterday's playtime. I was out there a total of about four hours...while I moved at a relaxed pace, I didn't have much time aside from harvesting and taking some photos.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I can say I've never really noticed true bugs like stink bugs and their ilk previously. We do seem to have quite a few around this year. I'll need to look into their feeding habits and lifestyle to learn whether they're beneficial or not so much.


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

It's always nice to see ladybugs around.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees


Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Bumblebee and friend....

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I'll need to check, but I believe these are seven-spotted ladybugs.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

The bumblebees seem more relaxed on the sunflowers...I'd imagine it has something to do with being able to gather a lot of food in one place so they don't immediately need to fly off elsewhere.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

This bee has company.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

One for me and one for you....

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Or not...a two plus two shot.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I'm confident these are two varieties of bees but I've been wrong before....

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Someone else around to consume insects...feel free to go after the crickets consuming my tomatoes.
 
Here's some critters and flowers from today. This is a post one may want to avoid if they suffer from arachnophobia.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Yarrow with incoming insect.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Not sure what this flower is.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

This is a busy plant hosting a lot of pollinators.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Ducks on the dugout...based on bill shape I believe they are northern shovelers, female and/or juvenile.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Ribbit.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Another view.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Underside of a spider on its web.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I couldn't get a great photo as the web was on an angle, but this spider has a lot of stripes on its abdomen.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Red standard poodle.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

I don't know if it is time of year or the nature of the flower, but sunflowers really attract bumblebees.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

A closer look.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

We are pretty close to a bee for every bloom.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Neat shot of a multi-bloomed sunflower.

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees

Caterpillar.

The poodle and subsequent photos were shot by my daughter. She was with us to help keep the dog under control...otherwise he's just running about disregarding our garden plants. He really does seem to enjoy being out there...and it's nice that he's tuckered out for the rest of the day.
 
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