Nature & Wildlife Thread

[j.w]

@Lisaebetten only two died and one was on the end so we didn't replace it but one was in the middle so we replaced it and it's all caught up in size now. Hubby tops them every winter. They've been there for 13 yrs now. They give us lots of privacy from the 4 houses across the road. They are called "Emerald Green" arbovitaes. There is another variety that gets way tall and wide and I think the deer prefer that one as our neighbors up the road have those and the deer feast on them now and then.

 

[Lisaebetten]

@Lisaebetten only two died and one was on the end so we didn't replace it but one was in the middle so we replaced it and it's all caught up in size now. Hubby tops them every winter. They've been there for 13 yrs now. They give us lots of privacy from the 4 houses across the road. They are called "Emerald Green" arbovitaes. There is another variety that gets way tall and wide and I think the deer prefer that one as our neighbors up the road have those and the deer feast on them now and then.

Ah, so you pick the right ones!!! I love them there, must say I don't care for them next to buildings and ya can't see the window, or the building.

 

[j.w]

They make good fences or anywhere you want to hide something ugly. Speaking of putting trees in front of windows......................I can't hardly see out my computer room window cuz of the banana trees! They die down in winter tho and I don't mind them there now.
Feels like I am in the jungle

 

[Lisaebetten]

They make good fences or anywhere you want to hide something ugly. Speaking of putting trees in front of windows......................I can't hardly see out my computer room window cuz of the banana trees! They die down in winter tho and I don't mind them there now.
Feels like I am in the jungle

Bananna Trees!!!!! wow I'm gonna have to look those up!!!!

 

[j.w]

Musa Bajoo banana trees are the hardiest ones here. If it gets real cold they die all the way to the ground and turn to mush but they come back each year and have babies. They grow back really fast and if we have a mild winter and they don't die all the way to the ground they get even taller that summer.
Looking out my computer room window:

Outside view:

 

[Lisaebetten]

Musa Bajoo banana trees are the hardiest ones here. If it gets real cold they die all the way to the ground and turn to mush but they come back each year and have babies. They grow back really fast and if we have a mild winter and they don't die all the way to the ground they get even taller that summer.
Looking out my computer room window:
View attachment 75799
Outside view:
View attachment 75800

I have never seen this in a non tropical landscape and it is cool looking! What a fun plant to have to bad no bananas? I love you garden there. o,k, for real I have to go outside an get my yard ready for winter!!!!! The life of leisure is over for today!!! Bye until tonight

 

[j.w]

Bye me too but I need to clean house for my sister coming, did I mention I hate house cleaning
Oh and there are hardy palm trees also......................Chinese Windmill Palm I have growing next to my pond that I grew from a seed I stole from our zoo:

 

[JBtheExplorer]

One of the most fascinating insects made an appearance by my pond today!

This is only the 3rd time I've ever seen one. I made the decision to cut down the remainder of my Mexican Sunflower, which was recently destroyed by rain. As I was about to cut it down, I saw the praying mantis on it. I decided to leave it up a little bit longer. Really thrilled to see it. It is at the top of my favorite insects lists along with Walking Sticks.

 

[addy1]

When you do your winter grooming, look for their egg cases. I rescue them and move them, usually tie them to a plant or bush for the winter. Make sure you tie them right side up. We have tons of them, last year I relocated around 15 egg casings.

They are so much fun to watch, I see walking sticks but not as often as the mantis.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

When you do your winter grooming, look for their egg cases. I rescue them and move them, usually tie them to a plant or bush for the winter. Make sure you tie them right side up. We have tons of them, last year I relocated around 15 egg casings.

They are so much fun to watch, I see walking sticks but not as often as the mantis.

I remember you saying that once. I just looked up their eggs casings now and didn't expect it to look like that! Its something that would be very noticable if I come across it!





and here is a video I took of it! It was shy at first but became curious pretty quickly

 

[Lisaebetten]

Bye me too but I need to clean house for my sister coming, did I mention I hate house cleaning
Oh and there are hardy palm trees also......................Chinese Windmill Palm I have growing next to my pond that I grew from a seed I stole from our zoo:
View attachment 75802

Grand Theft Seeding!!!

 

[addy1]

I just looked up their eggs casings now and didn't expect it to look like that! Its something that would be very noticable if I come across it!

Once you train your eyes to how they look, you spot them as you cut things for the winter. They like stiff stems around pencil size or smaller.

 

[tbendl]

Great shots JB! How neat to have them hanging around. I do hope you Mexican Sunflower comes back next spring, it is beautiful when it blooms.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Great shots JB! How neat to have them hanging around. I do hope you Mexican Sunflower comes back next spring, it is beautiful when it blooms.

It's an annual so it will come back through the seed I collected. I'm going to plant an 8ft row of them just outside of the pond area next year

 

[tbendl]

I bet you'll have all kinds of critters around for that. Bees and butterflies and more praying mantis. How awesome!