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Trail camera troubles

11/26/2022

Photography can be trying at times. For me, the troubles aren't just limited to the camera I carry. The trail camera that had been taking snapshots for years at the neighbors' pond finally decided to call it quits.

While age and wear may have had something to do with its demise, Kennedy might have had more to do with it. He insists on biting or butting the camera. He gets scolded when I catch him, but I'm usually too far away to make an immediate save.

Despite my best efforts, Kennedy insisted on terrorizing the trail camera. However, he held no prejudice against just the pond camera. He has attacked all the game cameras.

However, some of the resulting photos can be entertaining after my anger has subsided. Most are up close and personal photos of Kennedy with me in the background wearing a disgusted look.

Meanwhile, I get to view what shenanigans happen in the background while I'm distracted doing something.

A new camera for the pond site was purchased so I could keep an eye on things.

However, it didn't seem to be making many captures and there were no nighttime shots. Then there were no photos at all. Dead batteries seemed to be the culprit this time.

Then the camera reset to factory settings.

I checked it the next day and the display said the memory card was full. This seemed suspicious. There were over 1,000 photos on it. After checking the card, it had been a windy day and the swaying fall grasses had tripped the camera.

Someday I will have to read the instruction booklet and figure out how to change the settings and fix the date so it isn't 2021.

Meanwhile, the camera in my parents' backyard also was taking hundreds of photos in a week. I suspected that weeds or leaves in the wind had triggered that device as well. However, that was not the case. My parents' field was a hotbed of deer activity.

There was a series of 15 photos of two young bucks that were up to shenanigans.

As the rut was in full swing, the camera snapped photo after photo of bucks pursuing does.

Some of the photos suggested that the bucks' attention was unwanted. One day while walking we spooked a buck that was stalking a doe. The doe was used to our presence and seemed to use our appearance as a deterrent against the horny buck. After we moved out of the area, the buck came in and doe ran off.

The rut has since wound down. However, the deer are still on the move as deer rifle season opened Saturday.

Meanwhile, everyone in my posse is sporting orange vests for visibility during hunting season. It was a good thing that the vests were wash and wear as Sadie and Clem decided to wear them into the pond to "fish" for some ice chunks.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Tribute to a terrible jerk

11/21/2022

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Kyle, “The Goat,” Applegate, 10, of Sawtown, passed peacefully from this world Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at a veterinary office in Seneca from possible urinary stone complications.

Kyle was born March 5, 2012, on the Fox family farm on Pinegrove School Road in Venus. He was the son of Hailey, the Alpine goat.
He then made his home with the Applegates in late spring 2012.

He enjoyed the companionship of Brently, the Nubian goat, until Brently’s passing three years later from a urinary stone.

In 2015, he was joined by his half-brother Kennedy, who he leaves behind to mourn his loss.

Kyle enjoyed freedom from employment all his life. He worked very hard at bullying his fellow pasture-mates and family dogs. He was also the unwilling star of a children’s book published in August 2015. It was titled, “Kyle: The Goat Who Ate Christmas.”

He was preceded in death by a brother, Stan, in early childhood.
Additional survivors include his caretakers, Shane and Anna Applegate, and several canine and feline fur family members.
There will be no viewing or services.
Memorials can be made to Precious Paws, the Venango County Humane Society or to a charity of one’s choice.

I never thought I would miss such a cranky caprine so much. I couldn’t count how many times I would say to Kyle, “I will be happy when you are gone.”
Those words said in anger and frustration could not have been further from the truth. I had to make “The Dreadful Decision” on Wednesday, Nov. 16, to release Kyle from his recent suffering.

He was a difficult goat to live with. He was incredibly strong-willed and stubborn. I tried several times to explain to him that other goats were not as spoiled as he was, but still he wanted things his way.

When Kyle and his first pasture-mate Brently came to live with us, they were very vocal. I immediately began to regret the whole “getting goats” idea. However, eventually, they settled in. Then I had the great idea to try to walk the goats. The first few times were very trying. At first, the little ones didn’t want to enter the “dark woods” because it was different from the open fields they were used to. Then they discovered that there was food or good browse in the woods, and they quickly changed their attitudes.
The next obstacle was several creeks we had to cross. They had a phobia of water but eventually learned how to jump across.
Brently and Kyle enjoyed several adventures as youngsters until Brently succumbed to a urinary stone at the young age of 3.
I would like to believe that Kyle cared, but he didn’t. He was too self-centered to even really know.

While Kyle may not have had anyone to share his pen with at the time, he had a very young Sherman to chase him around.

Many years later, Gus would take up Sherman’s goat chasing mantle.

Meanwhile in 2015, his half-brother Kennedy was introduced to him. Kyle was not excited to share his pen, but was somewhat delighted to have someone else to bully and push around.

He and Kennedy butted heads many times.

Kyle also butted heads with me on several occasions, but in a more figurative kind of way.
There were several times when he decided he didn’t want to go on his walk at the time when the rest of us were going. He was then locked in the pen while everyone else went. He quickly vocalized his opinion and could be heard for several acres as the rest of us continued our trek.

He continually kept butting the door of the shed while I tried to get his food ready. He had no patience.
Kyle also seemed to be able to detect which flowers I didn’t want him to eat. This spring I never saw the new tulips I had planted because he picked them off as soon as the buds formed.
The same thing happened to my peace rose bush.

For more than 10 years, Kyle’s ornery attitude just became something we delt with on a daily basis.
As my husband and I discussed this void in violence at our home, he recalled some other memories.

He said his favorite was Kyle having a verbal disagreement with an impact wrench from afar.

We kept hearing Kyle snorting and were a little concerned there was something in the yard that was a threat.

Upon going outside, every time an impact wrench sounded in the distance, Kyle would snort in a haughty reply.

He also was very irritated by the leaf blower and voiced his opinion at that piece of equipment as well.

Other memories surfaced as well as I searched through old photos of the black and white alpine.

There were photos of a little Kyle too small for his collar. That stage didn't seem to last very long.
Other pictures showed the aftermath of Kyle’s tendency to unhook things from his pen.

There were several times he got his head stuck in the hay bag or his feed bucket. I used to just chalk up the incidences to karma.

There were other shots that seemingly showed tender moments with Kennedy. They were most likely taken moments before Kyle then headbutted his half-brother.

Several images of Kyle modeling a Santa hat additionally appeared. A torture he will miss this year.

I still can’t fathom my feelings of loss for such a big bad bully.

However, I still have a lot of memories and many, many photos of the cranky caprine.
Nonetheless if Kyle could come back from the afterlife and haunt us, he totally would.

That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.

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A moment in time: Part 2

11/6/2022

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The time for colorful fall photos has passed for this year.

As the area started to slip into some grayer days, I wondered “Is timing really everything?.”

Curiosity had me searching the internet for idioms and quotes about time and timing.

There was no shortage of them. The research revealed to me just how much importance we place on time.

I also found that some of those quotes were attributed to several people.

Their legitimacy may have been in question.

Sadly, one can't always believe everything they read on the internet.

Nonetheless, most of the quotes pretty much reiterated that timing is everything.

Even in ancient times, timing was a factor.

Ancient Greek poet Hesiod wrote, "Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor."

An important factor it was indeed, as far as capturing some goldfinches posing pretty on summer photos.

Timing was crucial in snapping a photo of an irate crayfish that I tried to scoot out of the path of curious canines.

Nonetheless, several other sayings basically stated that timing is crucial in comedy, music, politics, relationships and more.

While I didn't necessarily find any timing quotes on photography, a quote by photographer Ansel Adams suggested that perhaps divine intervention was involved.

“Sometimes I arrive just when God's ready to have someone click the shutter,” Adams said. His statement certainly had merit in some situations.

Sunsets and sunrises would definitely be photos that could be attributed to divine intervention and inspiration. A rainbow on my birthday also fell into this category.

Additionally, this year’s fall foliage display was unquestionably divinely inspired. I am personally addicted to the brilliant leaves and must take a photo of just about every one.

I believed this season’s eruption of color to be one of the best I have tried to photograph over the years. The early trees were striking and appeared to maintain their colors before dropping their leaves.

Even after the earlier trees were finished, the oaks were truly grand this year. Driving to and from work, the hills around the Allegheny in Oil City and Franklin appeared to be on fire with an array of hues.

The oaks simply lit up the areas with lovely October golds and fine red burgundy colors. In previous falls, the oak leaves were usually just brown and then down.

This year the maple in our front yard did not disappoint either. It was its bright gold color. With a little experimenting with the lens ball, I was able to fit the whole tree into a photo without crossing the road.

As I lamented the passing of the seasonal displays, a couple of other quotes on timing were inspiring.

Meanwhile, this fall’s exhibition was different from years past to say the least.

I ventured out to take some photos along Old State Road and Tippery Road.

Facebook memories showed that these colorful shots were taken a few weeks earlier than last year's photos.

The same trees photographed last year in full color in late October were now bare.

“People talk about perfect timing, but I think everything is perfect in its moment; you just want to capture that,” said American author, chef, restaurateur, food personality, producer, and former attorney, Eddie Huang.

This made me ponder that everything is perfect in its moment and photography is surely important in capturing that moment in time. Sherman usually comes along at the right time too for many photos.
Other quotes echoed that waiting for the right timing, may in fact be a waste of time.

“If you keep waiting for the right time, it may never happen. Sometimes you have to make the most of the time you have,” said author Priya Ardis, in her book “Ever My Merlin.”

That seemed like an awesome goal to me to make the most of the time I have, especially when duties like work and chores often take a lot of that time.

Lastly, a quote from one of my favorite authors to quote, Mark Twain pretty much summed it all up.
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right,” said a quote attributed to Twain.

"So, is timing everything?" I wondered. It is as long as we make it the right time.

That is just the nature of things ‘round here.

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Happy Howloween

10/28/2022

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Tails of terror ripped through the Applegate homestead as the rustling of the Halloween hats bag was heard.

The canines were the only victims this year. Unfortunately, the tricks were on them, because no treats were offered.

Sadie was tragically humiliated and refused to model the cowgirl hat.

However, she made a very sweet devil dog.

Clem, ever the pro at modeling Halloween hats, demonstrated the various faces of Satan .... snarling Satan, annoyed Satan, hungry Satan and sad Satan.

Clem additionally seemed unfazed by the straw hat and alpaca headpiece.

Sherman, the expert poser, looked like an elder statesman in the straw hat. This is fitting because he is the oldest canine at over 9 years old.

Gus, the newest Halloween hats victim, took the horrifying humiliation in stride.

Of course, out of the hundred photos that were taken, there were only a few that were in focus and in frame.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Fall is for the fast and furriest

10/27/2022

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Along with the colorful leaves of fall came cooler temperatures. This was welcomed by many of the Applegate household who sport furry parkas.

The brisk temperatures seemed to ramp up the canines' energy levels.

Also exciting the dogs was the fact that the wild animals were on the move preparing for winter. Calls of chipmunks echoed through the woodlands. It reminded me of the "Old McDonald Had a Farm" song. The chorus would have went "with a chip, chip here; a chip, chip there; here a chip; there a chip; everywhere a chip, chip."

This very vocal chipping had dogs running here and there searching for the sources of the calls to no avail.

Squirrels were preparing for the upcoming winter as well. Several trail camera photos showed a gray squirrel or two running through the frames.

The deer were more active as well. "The girls" could almost be seen nightly in the field beside our house.

However, their nighttime visits to the apple tree in our back yard were most likely the reason for what I have dubbed "Barktoberfest." Dry cool autumn nights with an accessible doggie door meant the Applegate canines would bark at whatever crossed within an acre of the house.

The dogs weren't the only ones interested in the neighborhood girls. Several large bucks were seen on the trail cameras passing through as the rut is underway.

Changes in the feather-friends population were also seen. Some spring migrants were passing back through on their trips south for the winter.

Meanwhile, a new visitor appeared at the bird feeder. A female ring-necked pheasant was spotted looking a little lost. I surmised that she was probably one the game farm raised birds that were released ahead of pheasant season. However, she seemed to currently be sticking to the safety zones around the neighborhood houses.

Nonetheless, despite the frenzied fall activity, the colorful backdrops provided for some stunning autumn photos.

The brilliant backgrounds even made the goats Kennedy and Kyle look marvelous.

I also felt that Lil' Bit should be included in the fall photo fun. He was first placed in a hammock swing that was not to his liking. After that incident, his expression was very snarky.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Autumn watercolors

10/23/2022

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I love to paint with all the colors. Favorite painting subjects include pleces where I get to utilize the entire palette of hues. During autumn, Mother Nature helps me incorporate all the colors into my photographs as well.

The brilliance of all the fall hues reflected in the neighbor's pond always inspires.

The added ripple effects add an abstract quality to each photo even though the scenes may be similar. Waves are either created by the wind or from the wake of swimming canines.

As I view these photos, it often invokes an interest in painting them. However, the camera is quicker and more efficient at capturing the scenes. There is also less clean up involved.

Leaves seemingly suspended on the pond's surface also provide additional color and textures.

As the colors fade this season, my watercolor photos will come to an end. However, I can still paint these scenes. Paintings, while a little more effort than photographs, aren't necessarily as dependent on Mother Nature to provide the colors and lighting. That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Falling into place

10/16/2022

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It seemed to me that this fall started just like the internet memes have stated - it felt as if Mother Nature just flipped the switch from summer to fall.

In the past few days, I have literally taken hundreds of photos every day. It appeared to me that this year's autumn display was more colorful than in years past. Even though the locations were the same, the scenes changed overnight as more and more hues burst forth.

The neighbor's pond was a great example of this. Reflections turned into impressionist paintings that evolved every day into different works of art. Included in this post is just a sampling of this year's autumn display.

If you can over the next few days, get out and enjoy the brilliance. I will continue to take many, many photos of just about every colorful tree and leaf. That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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When nature calls ...

10/12/2022

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(Author's note: We interrupt the regular programming of The Nature of Things for a little piece on a trip to Benezette in Elk County earlier this month. I hope to return to finish "Moment in time: Part two" soon. However, I am an avowed practicing procrastinator.)

We received the most "piss-poor" reception on an early October trip to view the elk in Benezette. However, despite the wet welcome from both the animals and the weather, the trip was not a complete wash.

While Venango County didn't receive a whole lot of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ian, counties to the east were still dealing with the precipitation.

Not only was it wet, it was also decidedly chilly.

This weather kept not only the human activity subdued but the elk action as well.

However, there were elk out and about, especially at the Elk County Visitor Center. It was just one bull and his harem of cows.

Past trips during warmer and sunnier weather, elk bugling could be heard across the hills late into the evening.

This year seemed much quieter with maybe only a couple of calls heard.

However, it was cold and rainy.

I didn't feel that inspired and I don't think the elk did either. We spotted one bull lying in a field at Woodring Farm.

We took a quarter mile walk around the trail and he was still resting when we returned.

Nonetheless, the fall foliage display in Elk County which was slightly ahead of our county, was still bright and delightful despite the weather.

It seemed so odd to me to view elk in nearly almost the same type of woodland area as parts Venango County. An article by Joe Kosack for the Pennsylvania Game Commission stated that Eastern elk once ranged statewide.

"Elk were exterminated in southeastern Pennsylvania and rare west of the Allegheny River and in the Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains by the opening of the nineteenth century," Kosack wrote. "By the 1850s, what remained of Pennsylvania's once mighty elk population was limited to sections of northcentral Pennsylvania, predominantly in Cameron, Elk and McKean counties."

Kosack then went on to describe the reintroduction of elk into the state and the beginnings of the herd that folks can view today. Earlier reports on Facebook had reported that a couple of bull elk had been spotted as far north as Coudersport in Potter County.

While the state's elk herd was alive and well, whitetails seemed to be abundant in the Benezette area as well.

Nonetheless, I had pictured in my mind, photos of big, majestic bull elk sparing and bugling.

Instead I had to settle for a little bull making some water on the roadway and found abundant humor in the moment.

That's just the nature of things round here and there.

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A moment in time: Part one

9/28/2022

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More than a few failed attempts at the “perfect” shot made me wonder - it's all about timing.
I can’t even count the multitude of times I have framed a shot perfectly only to have the execution live up to less than expectations.
However, on a few occasions the timing was right.

I was able to capture some oriole photos where they weren't perched on the grape jelly feeder. I felt that it was about time for them to cooperate. While I managed to capture them in the nick of time, they weren't on or near any garden flowers. They were perched on the garden fence itself. I believed they were juvenile orioles who may not have had the prejudice against the camera that their parents did.

Nonetheless, time flies and the orioles, juveniles and all, have left for the season. Author Gary Edwards wrote in his book “Birds of Venango County,” that the bird is a common migrant and abundant summer resident that arrives in late April and departs in mid-September.

This past summer some good timing also allowed me to nab several nice shots of hummingbirds. Time is running out for the little zingers’ seasonal stay here in Venango County. They shall depart for warmer parts in a matter of weeks.

Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to try to keep their feeders out until the end of October in case any western hummingbirds might make a rare appearance.
Many other birds are on the move right now and folks can track migration forecasts at this site.

Time is also winding down for our butterfly season. Timing for butterfly photos can be tricky. With that being said, the insects are not as fast as hummingbirds. That made pictures a little easier to achieve.

I did have the perfect timing for a photo of a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. I first wasn’t sure if it was a spicebush caterpillar because it was not green. Experts on a butterflies and moths Facebook page explained that its orange color meant that it was ready to pupate. This was my first sighting of a spicebush caterpillar. I had always just viewed the adult butterflies.

Nonetheless, I believed that good timing could also be linked to good lighting.
Just the right moment could light up a photo subject in a new and interesting way.

This happened with some ghost pipe plants. There was irony in the photo in that the plants don’t need sunlight and don’t contain chlorophyll.

The right light at the right time can also make things visible that are not easily seen such as spiderwebs. Intricate designs and patterns lit up the forest on sunny days.

However, when the sunlight wasn’t just right the webs remained unseen. Many times, I have ended up wearing them and their builders on my face.
My experiences reminded me a Facebook post that said, “I love spiderwebs as long as I am the second one on the path.”
While I’m not usually the first one on the path, my four-footed walking companions aren’t tall enough to net the spiderwebs before I get there.

Spiders and webs weren’t the only thing drawing my attention.
I spotted a hornet’s nest with a unique design. I photographed it with a zoom lens and posted it on the PA Insects Facebook page.
A commenter posted that if I waited until the first hard frost of the year, I could harvest the nest and sell it on eBay. I surmised that some folks use nests as décor.
I talked to a coworker about this, he said he knew of someone who took a nest down after the first frost.
However, that person didn’t get to sell it on eBay as the warmth in their basement brought the bees back out.

Nonetheless, there was case of bad timing. The nest was damaged about a week after I took the photo. Then it completely disappeared. A quick internet search found that skunks, raccoons and bears will brave the risks to consume the protein-rich larva inside.

While the area hadn’t seen its first frost yet, I did find some colorful leaves. As the calendar moved past the first day of fall, the color change seemed a little early to me.
An article on posted on www.centredaily.com, by Bill Lamont provided one answer.

The article title “Why are maple leaves turning yellow and dropping early? A Penn State forester explains” commented that the lack of rainfall this summer could be the cause.
“If there’s not enough water to keep all the leaves happy, shed some and send their products to those that remain. The reason the leaves often turn yellow before they drop is that the tree harvests many of the nutrients from the leaves before it sheds them, which is a simple measure of conservation of resources,” Lamont wrote.

Meanwhile fall forecasters at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry, said that September's rains helped deter some of the leaf drop.
"After a long summer drought, Pennsylvania forests were quenched by some much-needed rainfall this month, arresting premature leaf drop," said the post on the DCNR's site.

The post continued by saying, "Fall seemed to arrive right on time, and seasonable to below-average temperatures should compel steady changes throughout commonwealth forests. Drier forests this summer meant fewer leaf fungi observed throughout the state, setting the stage for what could be a notably vivid fall season."
While some of the leaves in the area have turned, there was still quite a bit of green.

That green with the right light at the right time can create colorful reflections.
I had posted a photo of Gus swimming in the neighbor’s pond on a St. Bernard Facebook fan page.

One user cautioned me about the green water and toxic algae. I kindly explained that the green was only reflection of the trees and that the water itself was not green.

While the still water at the pond was an awesome photo subject. I hedged my bets with some moving water.

I tried to figure out the timing of water droplets a water fountain in my garden.
I found it hard to get the drops in focus unlike when I had photographed dripping icicles in the winter. However, the sparkling water and colorful backdrop provided some interesting photos.

Whether it be water, webs or wary photo subjects, timing may indeed be everything or nothing. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.

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Right as rain?

9/6/2022

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Mother Nature decided to rain on some people's parades and other events over the Labor Day weekend. While it seemed rather inconvenient, the precipitation was much needed in some areas. She also determined that this past weekend needed a washout too. Looking over some weather statistics, I was inclined to agree with her.

As of Sept. 1, the U.S. Drought Monitor had listed the eastern half of Venango County as abnormally dry. Of course, this map did not reflect the rain that fell over the holiday weekend and this past weekend. Living in Pinegrove Township, I had indeed noticed that things seemed very dry.
With the recent rainfall, I expected the map released on Sept. 8 to show some improvement. However, it seemed liked the yellow had expanded slightly in Venango County. Meanwhile, the counties in north central Pennsylvania must have received enough rain to be moved from the moderate drought category to abnormally dry.

I was interested to see where the Venango stood in terms of precipitation or rain deficit this summer.
I turned to the National Weather service's website to search its data for some comparisons.
While all I could dig up were numbers for Franklin, the information was still fascinating.
According to an accumulation graph that started from Jan. 1 of this year until Sept. 12, Franklin was on par with its rainfall amounts with 33.58 inches for 2022 so far. The normal average for accumulation to this date was 33.09 inches.
These numbers seemed to contrast the Drought Monitor's and my observations.

So, I did a little more research.

It had seemed to me that this spring was rather wet, but that the marked dryness started in the summer.
Even though Franklin's precipitation numbers are near the normal range. The numbers still reflected a decline in rainfall over June, July and August.

The numbers for the end of June were recorded at 3.12 inches, short of the norm at 4.86 inches.

July came up short at 4.39 inches with the normal range being 5.32 inches. August also showed a decline from the norm with 2.37 inches compared to 4.24 inches.

So far for this September, Franklin was ahead of the norm of 1.62 inches with this year's total set at 3.01 inches.

I surmised that a wet spring and the slightly higher numbers this month may have helped average out Franklin's accumulation numbers.

Another chart on monthly total precipitation for Franklin added some more evidence to my theory.

March, April and May's totals were above the mean or normal numbers. While, June, July and August's numbers fell short. In fact, according to the chart, August's total of 2.37 inches was highlighted as the lowest total recorded on the chart in the years ranging from 2000 to 2022.

Last year was a different story. In comparison, 2021's totals of 7.26 inches for July and 7.59 inches for August drowned out the norms of 5.05 inches and 4.39 inches respectively.

However, 2006 had the wettest July and August over the past 22 years. The totals were 9.62 inches in July and 7.69 inches in August.

After some more snooping around the National Weather Service's site, I discovered that the river levels also had a story to tell.

I found it riveting, that after the Labor Day weekend washout the river level in Franklin increased from 3 foot to 3.9 foot. As of Sept. 10, the Allegheny River at Frankin was recoded at 3.46 ft and forecasted to fall to 3.1 foot later in the week.

Meanwhile here in Pinegrove Township, I only had the neighbor's pond, my observations and my parents' rain gauge to judge the dryness of the area.

The neighbor's pond seemed to be at least 18 inches lower than it had been at the start of this summer.

I had first noticed one of the old pilings that had been used to construct one of the pond's walls was sticking out. In past years, in times of drought, a second shorter piling has been seen rising from the water. After the heavy rains over Labor Day weekend, I rushed to the pond to see if it was back up to its normal levels.

While lack of rainfall in Pinegrove Township was an issue, I soon discovered that the pond had developed a washout which made the deficit considerably worse. I attempted twice to sure up the outflow area with no resolve.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature's beaver construction crew that fixed the first sinkhole a couple of years ago wasn't able to be contacted. They usually only arrived in the spring.

I made a final attempt to stem the tide.

I had tried to face the problem head on by plugging the hole on the pond side of the outflow. Here the secret was that support was needed from behind the outflow to make sure the repair held in place. As of this Monday, the pond was up to near normal levels.

My parents' rain gauge reported 3.2 inches of rain from Saturday night to early Sunday morning over the Labor Day weekend. I woke up at 2 a.m. that Sunday morning to find water running across the basement floor. That rainfall certainly helped the pond and various vegetation in the area.

While the neighbor's pond seemed to survive this summer's lack of rain, others were not so fortunate.

Earlier this summer, reports indicated that Jeanie Jo’s in Fryburg had its well run dry on July 9. The dry well caused a multitude of problems for the small business.

Sunny B's sunflower farm reported Aug. 2 on its Facebook page that it would not be open for the 2022 season.

"It is with great sadness that we make this announcement. Lack of rain and hungry deer did not permit our fields to flourish. Thankfully this is our hobby. We pray that farmers who earn their livings from their crops have more success than we did. We will try again in 2023," the post continued.

Earlier this summer our hay supplier in Fertigs was expressing concern over the second cutting of hay.

While the spring rains had created a good first cut, the lack of water was making a second cutting uncertain.

However, I did notice over the past weekend that some hay fields were being harvested.

Other observations of possible water trouble this summer included a water drilling rig at a home along Maple Shade Road in late August.

While Sunny B's sunflowers didn't fare well, those planted in my garden bloomed. However, I only had two rows of the bright flowers to water and not several acres. In fact, I almost pumped our well off watering the garden. I rushed to shut the pump off and after a few hours our well recovered. The incident served as an important reminder that I needed to be more cautious with water usage this summer.

While most of the summer I got used to not having to prepare for rain, last Wednesday's downpour caught me off-guard. The dry weather had caused me to remove a jacket I had stashed in my backpack. I also remembered that I thought I had put a black garbage bag in my pack, but it wasn't there either in my time of need. I recalled hearing a soft roar in the distance and thought it might be just wind. It wasn't. The goats and I sought shelter under a pine tree which worked for a little bit but soon the deluge was too much.

We cut our walk short. Amazingly, after the dogs and
I were dried off, the rain stopped.

Out of curiosity, I checked my parents' rain gauge after the skies cleared. It measured almost a half an inch of rain for the episode.

While I might not be a huge fan of drenching weather, it seems that fungus and mushrooms need the moisture to flourish.

In a Sept, 9, 2021, post titled "Do Mushrooms Need Sunlight? (Solved and Explained!)" author John Stephens explains how important water is to mushrooms.

"The most suitable environment for a mushroom to grow and thrive requires 90 percent water, from both the soil and humidity in the atmosphere," Stephens wrote.

This seemed to concur with my finding a topless tree adorned with the bright orange hues of some chicken of the woods mushrooms.

While I'm glad that the mushrooms thrived by getting drenched, I did not enjoy it so much. The fungus also love high humidity, which I am an avid hater of.

Although, a humidity-clouded camera lens did make an interesting filter for a butterfly photo.

I had to concede that while I did enjoy the drier air, higher humidity and more moisture were needed to help drive the area's rainfall totals up.

Nonetheless, earlier this week the National Weather Service posted its precipitation outlook for Sept. 18 to 24. Venango County looked again to be split between near normal precipitation and below normal.

The forecast seemed to indicate a dry September, but I'm going to pack a jacket anyway.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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See ya, wouldn't want to bee ya!

8/26/2022

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After a whole summer of trying to get a photo of a monarch butterfly, it was shooed away by a bumblebee.

That's not really what happened. That sentiment just makes a better lede than, I finally found a cooperative monarch to pose for me.

The female monarch, as identified by a Facebook friend, was feeding on the Mexican sunflowers last week. In fact, most of the photos in this post were all of the one butterfly.

I had spotted two monarchs earlier in the season, but they didn't stick around for photos. I am holding out hope that maybe migration hasn't gotten into full swing yet and I will soon see a higher number of the regal black and orange butterflies.

However, the monarch has made headlines lately and not for a good reason. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the butterfly to its “red list” of threatened species and categorized it as “endangered."

I was disheartened when I saw this declaration. I very much look forward every year to the monarchs arrival.

While my sightings of monarchs are limited, the number of fritillaries feeding on the garden flowers seemed to have increased this season.

I have seen at least seven at a time feeding on the Mexican sunflowers.

They have pretty much been a daily staple over the past few weeks.

It was amazing to watch them drop out the sky to feed.

Of course, there was the occasional territorial dispute.

I also noticed several eastern tiger swallowtails this season. Some were starting to look a little worn.

According to my observations, spicebush swallowtails seemed to be doing well. They were both sighted in the woodlands and on a variety of garden flowers.

Meanwhile, the bumblebees continued to relish feeding on the sunflowers. Whether or not they are truly "bee-lligerent" towards butterflies is only a question Mother Nature can answer.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Feature photo of the day: Five in one

8/9/2022

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The hummingbird feeders have been buzzing with activity.

Despite the fact that there was another feeder out back, several hummers decided to converge on the feeder in the side garden. At present, I believed there were at least six to seven hummingbirds around our house. Although it was hard enough to count them or photograph them as they sped by.

And that's just the nature of things round here.

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Energy on the fly

8/6/2022

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"Coming eyeball to eyeball with a hummingbird on my terrace is as exciting to me as any celebrity I've met as a result of Downton Abbey," actress Lesley Nichol said.
I totally agreed with the quote despite that fact that I have not met any celebrities. However, I have come face to face with several hummingbirds. The experiences were very inspiring and moving.

Speaking of moving, hummingbird activity has increased at the feeders here at my home in Pinegrove Township. The rise in numbers was most likely due to fledglings feeding.

Longtime local birder and author Gary Edwards in his book "Birds of Venango County" pointed out that females and young males can often be mistaken for one another.

The younger males don't sport the ruby-red gorget that is the namesake of the hummingbird.

The Audubon field guide on their website, said that the "age of young at first flight about 20 to 22 days."

According to the post the hummers usually have one to two broods per year, sometimes three.

The post went on to say that' females may begin building second nest while still feeding young in the first."

"Thought to have declined in some regions in recent years, but surveys show no distinct downward trend," the post continued.

It certainly seemed as though there was no drop in hummingbird numbers at my feeders this season.

The air around the feeders and garden was filled with them.

The buzzing and squawking went on from dawn until a little after dusk.

The feisty little flyers continued to amaze me with their aerial combat maneuvers.

They kept whizzing by chasing one another in a game of tag in the air.

While near the garden, I felt like I might need to take my hard hat and safety glasses home in case I end up in the line of fire.

The All About Birds site described just how amazing their flying is.

"Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly straight and fast but can stop instantly, hover, and adjust their position up, down, or backwards with exquisite control," the post said.

I am not the only one amazed and inspired by these flying jewels.

A few quotes on the internet caught my attention. I thought I would share them.

Neither the hummingbird nor the flower wonders how beautiful it is. -- Unknown.

Hummingbird darts lightly through the world, spreading its message of joy and beauty, and teaching us to appreciate the wonder and magic of everyday existence. -- Unknown.

"A flash of harmless lightning, A mist of rainbow dyes, the burnished sunbeams brightening from flower to flower he flies." – John Banister Tabb

However, these little breathtaking birds may soon be departing in mere weeks.
Venango County resident Edwards wrote in his book that the fancy flyers arrive in the area in mid-April but will depart for their wintering ground by early October.

I have enjoyed their presence and will miss their aerial antics when they leave. I could truly just watch them for hours and when the time permitted, I did.

So as their days in the area are numbered, those of you wanting something other than hummingbird posts will get something else to look at. Although I can't promise that there won't be any more hummingbird photos at least until the snow flies. For those of you, like me who can't get enough of the little wonders, below is a slide of yet more hummingbird photos. I think I may have taken a picture of every hummingbird that has visited this season. That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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To bee or not to bee... a case, or three, of mistaken identity

8/5/2022

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A recent case of mistaken identity sent me to the internet to search for answers. I photographed what I thought was a bald-faced hornet on a coneflower.. However, upon closer inspection, the comparison didn't seem to match up.

There were just slight differences.

So I asked my "friends" on the Facebook page PA Insects for help. It turned out that the bee was not a bee but actually a fly. They suggested that the insect in question was indeed an aptly named bald-faced hornet fly and not a hornet at all.

Wikipedia described the insect as follows," 'Spilomyia fusca ... is a fairly common species of syrphid fly ... The adults, also known as flower flies for they are commonly found around and on flowers from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein rich pollen. "

Another Facebook user posted, "Fly=1 set of wings," as a tip for identification.

Another insect that is often misidentified also showed up this past week. The hummingbird clearwing moth is often mistaken for its namesake, the hummingbird. The moth is actually a member of the sphinx family and like their namesake also feed on flower nectar.

In fact, a post by Beatriz Moisset on the Hummingbird Moth (fs.fed.us), said, "They fly and move just like hummingbirds. Like them, they can remain suspended in the air in front of a flower while they unfurl their long tongues and insert them in flowers to sip their nectar."

Moisset went on to write, "there are several species of hummingbird moths. ... The most familiar ones are the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) and the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). They are both widespread throughout North America ..."

Meanwhile, another insect that is often mistaken as another is the spicebush swallowtail.

It has a very similar appearance to that of the female dark form on the tiger swallowtail.

The difference is limited to some spots.

Meanwhile, I still struggled to nail down the identities of the fritillaries that have visited my garden. They could be an Aphrodite, Atlantis or great spangled fritillary all of which have been spotted in Venango County before.

Again, I suspected that the difference was down to a couple of spots. I felt I might have to give in and download a couple of insect identification apps.

(UPDATED 8/9/2022: Apparently my first guess at jack-o-lantern mushroom was correct. A post on a Facebook page that was identified as a jack-o-lantern mushroom look very similar to my photos. A little more digging revealed that jack-o-lanterns have gills, which these did. Chicken of the woods fungi have pores. So while Kennedy did have a few mouthfuls, he didn't get sick. We will be detouring around the jack-o-lanterns. Edible, not edible, get an expert's opinion before you consume. That's just the nature of things 'round here. )

Of course, the lookalikes weren't limited to just the insect population. What I thought were some poisonous jack-o-lantern mushrooms, were not. (Oops... they were.)

The next day they had grown to reveal their true form as the edible chicken of the woods. (No, they hadn't. They were jack-o-lanterns.)

That turn of events turned out to be a good thing since Kennedy, once again, ate my photo subject. (Kennedy suffered no ill effects from these. Thank, goodness.)

Is it a fly or bee, A bird or a moth, edible or not? Nature will always keep me guessing.

That's just the nature of things round here.

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A short story

7/16/2022

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Recent attempts to gain some hummingbird photos left me chuckling with the outcome of the final shots.

As I stalked the feeder trying to capture images of these flying jewels, one female hummer tried to thwart my efforts by feeding on the trumpet vine instead.

However, I was able to net some unflattering photos of her hummingbird butt. I have always found it funny that while trumpet vine blooms are one of the birds' favorites, that they are just a little too long.

It seemed to me that the small birds come up just a little short when feeding on the blooms.

A couple of other photos ended up as some headless hummingbirds.

Nonetheless, a male hummingbird decided to hide on the opposite side of the feeder to avoid me.

I felt like I needed to buy a feeder with only one port so that the birds would be forced to use a location in front of me. However, they most likely would just make the three-acre trip to my parents' feeder which would be paparazzi free.

Meanwhile, a tiger swallowtail also tried to feed on the elongated blooms.

While my well-established trumpet vine seemed to have taken over everything including the porch, internet research turned up that the vine can take many years to get established.

It can be as long as ten years for the vine to bloom according to several sites.

However, once established the vine can quickly attempt a takeover.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Ugh, bugs

7/6/2022

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A doe seems to be expressing her opinion on the deer flies on her back in this trail camera photo captured in late June.

Other photos showed just how bad the bugs were.

I felt for the deer.

I can use bug spray and spray down the goats with fly spray. Unfortunately, the bugs are just something the wild critters have to deal with.

Nonetheless, the annoying bugs have a part in the ecosystem as food for other bugs, birds, frogs and more. That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Frog hugs or frog thugs?

7/2/2022

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An aggressive water ballet between two bullfrogs earlier this month at the neighbor's pond sent me to the internet to find some information on this behavior. I wondered, "was it a mating display I observed, a territorial dispute, or some form of frog hugging?,". A search of bullfrog wrestling turned up several videos and some websites.

One video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=si1A9jk-5BQ depicted a battle similar to the one I had witnessed. However in my humble opinion, the battle I watched was a little more epic. Nonetheless, in the video I loved the fact that at the end of the skirmish, a duck nonchalantly swims by like, "Fight's over. Nothing to see here, folks."

Other websites shed light on the display as a territorial dispute.

"Behaviorally, males can be territorial and aggressive. They can sometimes be seen wrestling other males," said a post on the Berkshire Museum's website .

The frogs "settle in big enduring water bodies, like ponds, swamps and lakes. At the time of breeding, the male frog fiercely protects his territory. The call of the male is evocative of the roar like a bull, hence the name bull frog," said a post on www.learnaboutnature.com.

I had posted a short video of the end the bullfrogs' display on the PA Herps: Pennsylvania Amphibians & Reptiles Facebook page asking for clarification. One comment on the video was "I don't know, but interesting." Another was a veiled reference to the "Highlander" movie saying, "There can be only one."

After the fight was over, the two frogs separated, but not that far away from each other.

I searched for a little more information on bullfrogs. The PA Fish and Boat Commission had lots of great details about bullfrogs and other amphibians on their website.

The bullfrog is "a solitary creature, more so than any of our other frogs, and does not engage in chorus singing even during the breeding season," said a post on the site.

"The bullfrog normally does not sing in chorus with other bullfrogs. Given its solitary habit, it is a lone singer, although with several individuals residing on the same water it may seem as if they were conversing with one another," the post continued.

The Berkshire Museum's site went on to describe the frog's diet.

" As tadpoles, bullfrogs are herbivores who eat aquatic plants. As adults, bullfrogs are carnivorous ambush predators who eat mice, fish, birds, snakes, baby turtles, insects and anything that will fit in their wide mouths, even other bullfrogs or tadpoles," it continued.

However despite being a dominate pond predator, "the legs of the bullfrog are considered a culinary delight by many people. In Pennsylvania, this amphibian is regulated by seasons and bag limits," said the post on the fish and boat commission's site.

Apparently, I needed to get Sadie a fishing license.

Other frogs that I spotted at the neighbor's pond were most likely northern green frogs.

"This abundant frog is primarily nocturnal. That is, it is most active at night, but moves about and forages a bit during the day as well. Along with the bullfrog, it is more aquatic than many frogs. It is a medium-sized frog, slightly smaller, but otherwise similar in appearance to the bullfrog," said a post on the PA Fish and Boat Commission's website.

The nocturnal part of this statement intrigued me as I recalled several pictures of glowing frog eyes that appeared on the trail camera's night vision photos.

I feared I often might have confused the green frog with bullfrogs at the pond.

The boat commission's post provided further identification tips by saying, "The green frog appears in an assortment of colors and patterns. It may be a brilliant metallic green, or vary from greenish brown, or brownish to tan. Dark-brown or gray spots, some large enough to be called blotches, appear on the back, frequently in large numbers. The head and upper lip are green, which is especially noticeable in the adult male. A yellowish band runs along the jaw to the shoulders."

Whether it was a green or a bull, frogs were always a favorite photo subject. Mostly they were just floating, not fighting.

Several tadpoles that were transitioning to frogs were seen as the summer progressed. Back feet developed first, then the front and then slowly the tadpole tail disappeared.

Originally this post was just going to be random frog photos, before the whole feisty frog incident. I had searched the internet for inspirational frog quotes and only found a few.

“Everybody loves listening to frog calls.” - Charles Carlson.

“A frog in the mud is happier than a man because he has no ambition to reach the stars!” - Mehmet Murat Ildan.

This quote was a little more perplexing to me and not so much inspirational. It kind of sounded to me like, don't try to be more than you are. I disagreed with that thought and also with the saying that frogs in mud were happy.

The frogs I have witnessed tended to be spotted in clearer water.

However, they were buried in mud during the cold winter during hibernation.

“Nights can never be real and enjoyable without the croaking of frogs and the chirping of crickets.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover

“An old silent pond...; A frog jumps into the pond, splash! Silence again.” ― Matsuo Bashō.

I particularly liked this phrase as it reminded me of many mornings at the neighbor's pond.

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” - Mark Twain.

I could say was, "Eww, no thanks. I'll have the bad day".

This must have been Sadie's mantra for her frog hunting, but still...

Floating frogs were always a nice capture. However, fighting frogs proved to be a little more interesting.

It was amazing to me that in all the years that we have visited the pond, this seemed to be the first time I had ever seen a frog frenzy like that. It just goes to show that nature is full of surprises and we've not seen everything yet even though we think we have.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Feature photo: Sherman sits

6/24/2022

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Sherman takes in a summer scene while taking a break. Being a little on the older side, Sherman takes a lot of breaks.

However, family and friends have noted that Sherman always pauses on the hill right behind our house or my parents' house before he heads inside.

I suspect he pauses behind my parents' home because he is waiting for my father who Sherman loves dearly.

As Sherman pauses a little more every day, I hope to be able to pause a little more myself.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

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Trying times

6/9/2022

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We have all heard the saying, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." However, there is also the popular motto that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different outcomes.

My dream of capturing a photo in the theme of the "Birds and Blooms" magazine maybe falls somewhere between those two adages.

I thought I had a chance at fulfilling this goal earlier this year when I spotted the Baltimore orioles feeding on the nectar of the blossoms on my apple tree. However, the shot turned out a little less stunning than I had anticipated.

I thought I had a deal with the orioles that in exchange for providing an unending grape jelly supply that they would pose for some stunning photos. They create beautiful scenes as they pose in the garden surrounding the feeder. But apparently, I had misunderstood the terms of the contact. They usually fled when I appeared with the camera and tried to get a photo.

Despite the orioles' dissing, I kept trying for some more birds with blooms photos. I managed to get the birds, but not with blooms. Other birds I was able to capture included a rose-breasted grosbeak, a goldfinch, a gray catbird and a blue-headed vireo posing for photos.

Still failing to add flowers to the mix, in mid-June I captured a bird on a wire photo. One of the bluebirds that had frequented my parents' yard gave me a side glance as I took his picture.

Nonetheless, I turned to hummingbirds for a go at my birds and blooms photos.

I spent hours stalking the hummingbird feeder trying to get the "perfect" photo. Some turned out. Most were just photos of empty feeders.

The only flowers present were the plastic ones on the feeder. It seemed to me that a lot of my bird pictures were missing the blooms part. However, even action photos at the feeders seemed nearly impossible as the hummers kept avoiding the camera. They would feed at the port on the opposite side, thwarting my tries.

So on the verge of insanity, I gave up trying to get the birds with the blooms and just went straight for the blooms. Blooms in and of themselves were relatively easy to capture good photos of, unless there is a strong wind.

Trying to capture the beauty of each blossom can sometimes be trying if the lighting isn't right. However, the blooms colors and delicate features shone through.

Nonetheless, butterflies as a photo subject never seemed to disappoint on the blooms part. However, there were some trying times as busy butterflies flitted in-and-out of frame and focus. They also failed to cooperate with any direction I tried to give them.

Earlier this June, the rhododendron bush was busting with blooms and was a very popular place for the pollinators. Tiger swallowtails, spicebush swallowtails and bees covered their blossoms. At one point there were a total of ten butterflies feeding on the bush. The whole bush was either buzzing or fluttering with activity. Sadly the blooms faded and the butterflies moved on.

However, I did capture an eastern tailed blue butterfly, who was perched on a leaf.

Back in the garden, a silver-spotted skipper decided to fulfill the blooms requirement part of a photo by feeding on some calibrachoa blossoms.

The act was actually kind of uplifting for me.

The particular calibrachoa or million bells plant in question was one that I had tried to keep alive throughout the winter. It looked terrible as I brought it out this spring.

Nonetheless, to my surprise it flourished and possibly looked even fuller than it did last season.

Other flowers flourishing in mid-June included the foxglove behind the garage. Or rather, these were plants I left so I didn't have mow the bank.

While, I couldn't get the butterflies or birds to pose with the foxglove, I was able to get a bloodhound to. Clem posed pretty with the posies while the other dogs just ignored my pleas.

Of course, Clem just posed in the flowers and didn't eat them. While foxglove is pretty all parts of the plant are poisonous to animals and humans.

However, the plant is used to make a medication for the heart.

Meanwhile in the woods, the flowers I found blooming were multiflora roses. They are pretty, but also pretty invasive. They have taken over and pushed out some native plants.

Kyle decided to try the roses and apparently found them edible. He also found the first bud of the season on my peace rose edible. I declared war on him for his discretion. Hopefully, the peace rose will try to bud again as was just the start of the growing season.

While the growing season for roses had started, the lady slippers were ending their time for blooms. I discovered a few of the orchids that were still trying to hold on. However, by mid-June no blossoms could be found.

Speaking of trying times, Sadie is still trying to hold out hope for a successful frog hunt.

I desperately held out hope that there will never be a successful frog hunt.

That is something I do not wish to witness. I tried to put the whole scenario out of my thoughts.

Gus, however, has been successful in learning how to swim. He first tried just wading. He then turned to swimming laps around the neighbor's pond. He was usually the first one to the pond after he discovered his newfound dogpaddling skill.

Another successful try included the canines' chipmunk hunting. This was rare. I would watch as countless times the little critters would run down a tree and between the legs of several searching dogs. Clem managed to dispatch one chipmunk in the yard. However, another one committed suicide by drowning in the goat bucket. Not to worry though, at least two other chipmunks showed up to fill the void. These little guys sure try my patience as they dig up my potted plants and landscaping.

While chipmunks seemed to abound, I couldn't seem to find any fawns. I tried to see if any of the neighborhood does had little ones following them around. Nonetheless, I didn't see any. I grew jealous of Facebook posts of folks who just happened upon fawns in their yards or gardens. I still held out hope that one or two little spotted deer would show up on a trail camera. Meanwhile, I kept searching for more birds and blossoms.

Will I drive myself crazy in the attempt for the perfect birds and blooms photo?

I turned to a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson for some answers, "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." I hope to keep growing as I hope my flowers keep growing.

That's just the nature of things 'round here.

More blooms without birds. ;-)

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Photo of the day: Peonies

6/8/2022

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The peonies were out in full bloom.
Their fragrance was as delicate and beautiful at their blossoms.

A quick internet search turned up some interesting peony quotes.

Some of my favorites were:
as pretty as a peony;
a peony for your thoughts (probably a play on a penny for your thoughts;
and when in doubt add peonies and a rose is a rose, but a peony is a friend forever.

While some spring flowers have faded, many more are ready to open.

This appeared to be the time for the peonies to show off.

That's just the nature of things round here.

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"The Nature of Things" features the writings and photographs of Anna Applegate, who is a lifelong resident of Pinegrove Township, Venango County. She is a graduate of Cranberry High School and Clarion University. After a 15-year career in the local news industry, she made a change and now works at a steel finishing plant in Sandycreek Township. She is a avid lover of animals and nature, and a gifted photographer.

Very happy to be able to share Anna's great "The Nature of Things" blog.

Check out Anna's other artwork here!

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