Dog Days...

I know you have heard that term used many times but do you know the origins of the phrase  Dog Days of Summer?  OK GOOGLE: Do your thing-

This period of sweltering weather coincides with the year’s heliacal (meaning “at sunrise”) rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Majoris—the “Greater Dog”—which is where Sirius gets its canine nickname, as well as its official name, Alpha Canis Majoris. Not including our own Sun, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.

SO now you know!!  But it's not all about dogs...

First sign Autumn is on the way is Golden Rod just beginning to open  this time of year is our butterfly season,..

Speaking of which I visited the Pollinator Plot again it's full of weeds not but ALSO  full of Monarch's and other nectar lovers...

 

I read that the variation in color of the underwing is male and female...the paler one is the female

And  a Pipevine Swallowtail ?

I will share more  of the butterfly photos in my next post...

I noticed a Summer Tanager poking around near the hummingbird feeder, she is trying to catch a wasp which is their favorite meal...notice the bigger than normal size beak on this female. 

More insect hunters present is the very common Carolina Wren...this looks like one the adults not the young ones that fledges a couple weeks ago...

Another really good hunter I found is the Eastern Wood Pewee, this one found an insect on the limb, you can really see the orange inside the mouth  

Then the bird hung around looking for another meal...these is one of the Tyrant Flycatchers.  They did nest on the homestead I can hear them calling daily...

And lets talk about Poison Ivy...leaflets 3 let it be, but if you're a Carolina Chickadee you eat those berries that come on this time of year...Migratory Birds look for this nutrient rich waxy berry to help them make the long journey so if you have one climbing up a tree...let it be!! 

The Brown-headed Nuthatch has plenty of natural food around in the form of pine nuts but why do all that work when you can get a pnut or a sunflower seed just fly in a grab it? 

And who doesn't love a poke around in the Poke Berry bush? I know Northern Mockingbirds do...

And last year I transplanted some wild plants to one of my border beds...I am almost thinking this is a White Swamp Milkweed...I sure hope so I would love to get more established if possible...pollinators  love them...it's just starting to open so I will keep you posted..

Earlier in the spring  caterpillar ate most of the leaves off I was happy to see them grow back

And the garden pots have more Green Bell Pepper  more delicious than anything you can buy in the store...this one plant gave me 4 peppers this year and Many last year, I over wintered it and I plan to do the same this year.   I plan to overwinter all my pepper plants in the laundry room with the sunny windows. 

And I read I can overwinter my eggplant so I already brought it into the porch it has 3 new blooms on it I may get some fall veg off it...then I need to prune it back to the lowest growth and dig in more compost and fresh soil to the plant keep watered but on the dry side and keep from frost...sounds easy 

By the time this posts we will have had 10 inches of rain in the month of August, maybe more as is it predicted to rain every single day for the rest of the month...not like all day but T-Storms.  I don't know if that's a record or not.  The average is about 5 inches...so we have plenty of this going on...

And lastly I made up a batch of Sweet Banana Pepper to place in a jar it's a great side for a lot of dishes...

...So how did you spend your dog days?

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.