Patricia
@pjs501.bsky.social
Retired Biology teacher, gardener, bird watcher, cat lover, Democrat, and happy wife, among other things.
The shortest day of the year went out with much fanfare! Welcome Winter.
December 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The shortest day of the year went out with much fanfare! Welcome Winter.
Happy Winter Solstice! Days get longer starting tomorrow.
December 21, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Happy Winter Solstice! Days get longer starting tomorrow.
#birds
A pair of Piliated woodpeckers wait motionless because a hawk is perched in a tree in the yard. The Piliateds have been visiting the suet feeders on a daily basis since the cold weather has set in.
A pair of Piliated woodpeckers wait motionless because a hawk is perched in a tree in the yard. The Piliateds have been visiting the suet feeders on a daily basis since the cold weather has set in.
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
#birds
A pair of Piliated woodpeckers wait motionless because a hawk is perched in a tree in the yard. The Piliateds have been visiting the suet feeders on a daily basis since the cold weather has set in.
A pair of Piliated woodpeckers wait motionless because a hawk is perched in a tree in the yard. The Piliateds have been visiting the suet feeders on a daily basis since the cold weather has set in.
#pollinators #bees#garden
I managed to save a few flowering plants from the hard freeze by storing them in the garage. We are now experiencing a warm spell & the honey bees, native bees, and skippers are having a feeding frenzy.
I managed to save a few flowering plants from the hard freeze by storing them in the garage. We are now experiencing a warm spell & the honey bees, native bees, and skippers are having a feeding frenzy.
November 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM
#pollinators #bees#garden
I managed to save a few flowering plants from the hard freeze by storing them in the garage. We are now experiencing a warm spell & the honey bees, native bees, and skippers are having a feeding frenzy.
I managed to save a few flowering plants from the hard freeze by storing them in the garage. We are now experiencing a warm spell & the honey bees, native bees, and skippers are having a feeding frenzy.
Frost flowers occur when a sudden freeze happens while the ground is still warm and wet, causing plant sap to be drawn up through cracks in the plant's stem, freeze, and expand into delicate, ribbon-like ice structures.
November 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Frost flowers occur when a sudden freeze happens while the ground is still warm and wet, causing plant sap to be drawn up through cracks in the plant's stem, freeze, and expand into delicate, ribbon-like ice structures.
Harvesting Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme before our hard freeze.
November 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Harvesting Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme before our hard freeze.
#NoKings
This was the No Kings rally in South STL. Organizers said there were in excess of 3,000 despite the pouring rain. All was peaceful. Only one incidence of 2 tRumpers (teenagers) who were escorted away from the crowd.
This was the No Kings rally in South STL. Organizers said there were in excess of 3,000 despite the pouring rain. All was peaceful. Only one incidence of 2 tRumpers (teenagers) who were escorted away from the crowd.
October 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
#NoKings
This was the No Kings rally in South STL. Organizers said there were in excess of 3,000 despite the pouring rain. All was peaceful. Only one incidence of 2 tRumpers (teenagers) who were escorted away from the crowd.
This was the No Kings rally in South STL. Organizers said there were in excess of 3,000 despite the pouring rain. All was peaceful. Only one incidence of 2 tRumpers (teenagers) who were escorted away from the crowd.
October 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
# butterfly
A Great Spangled fritillary (looking quite tattered) resting on the sunny grass. If you look closely at the head, you can see the proboscis flick in & out. I think it was drinking the dew on the lawn.
A Great Spangled fritillary (looking quite tattered) resting on the sunny grass. If you look closely at the head, you can see the proboscis flick in & out. I think it was drinking the dew on the lawn.
October 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
# butterfly
A Great Spangled fritillary (looking quite tattered) resting on the sunny grass. If you look closely at the head, you can see the proboscis flick in & out. I think it was drinking the dew on the lawn.
A Great Spangled fritillary (looking quite tattered) resting on the sunny grass. If you look closely at the head, you can see the proboscis flick in & out. I think it was drinking the dew on the lawn.
Monarch butterfly fueling up on this bright morning. There were 3 of them in my garden today.
October 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Monarch butterfly fueling up on this bright morning. There were 3 of them in my garden today.
Students are in school during this time of day. The school is right behind the strip mall in the background.
October 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Students are in school during this time of day. The school is right behind the strip mall in the background.
ICE has no boundaries.
October 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
ICE has no boundaries.
Mums from last year that were labeled annuals. Four of the six returned for a Bonus!
October 2, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Mums from last year that were labeled annuals. Four of the six returned for a Bonus!
September 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
#spiders
White spider on white Sweet Allysum waiting for prey. Its front 4 legs are outstretched to capture bees or flies. It moved from yesterday and now blends in much better. Flower Crab Spider.
White spider on white Sweet Allysum waiting for prey. Its front 4 legs are outstretched to capture bees or flies. It moved from yesterday and now blends in much better. Flower Crab Spider.
September 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
#spiders
White spider on white Sweet Allysum waiting for prey. Its front 4 legs are outstretched to capture bees or flies. It moved from yesterday and now blends in much better. Flower Crab Spider.
White spider on white Sweet Allysum waiting for prey. Its front 4 legs are outstretched to capture bees or flies. It moved from yesterday and now blends in much better. Flower Crab Spider.
We are in zone 6b. I only grew tomatoes, Sweet Success cucumbers, a Gypsy pepper plant, and herbs as far as food products go. I also have a variety of annual flowers. Have managed to can some tomatoes and dill pickles.
September 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
We are in zone 6b. I only grew tomatoes, Sweet Success cucumbers, a Gypsy pepper plant, and herbs as far as food products go. I also have a variety of annual flowers. Have managed to can some tomatoes and dill pickles.
#birds
Female hummingbird sitting on concrete ledge of our mailbox. She is very fat in preparation for migration. She opens and closes her mouth and sticks out her tongue.
Female hummingbird sitting on concrete ledge of our mailbox. She is very fat in preparation for migration. She opens and closes her mouth and sticks out her tongue.
September 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
#birds
Female hummingbird sitting on concrete ledge of our mailbox. She is very fat in preparation for migration. She opens and closes her mouth and sticks out her tongue.
Female hummingbird sitting on concrete ledge of our mailbox. She is very fat in preparation for migration. She opens and closes her mouth and sticks out her tongue.
The migrating hummingbirds are fattening up to continue their journey south. DON'T take your feeders down till after Oct. 31st. The latest I have seen a straggler is November 4th.
September 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The migrating hummingbirds are fattening up to continue their journey south. DON'T take your feeders down till after Oct. 31st. The latest I have seen a straggler is November 4th.
#GardenSunday
Salvia & Lantana are the only plants that the voracious deer will leave alone out at the end of the driveway. All the others I have tried are decimated by the deer, even with repellent.
Sorry to see you are ending #Garden Sunday.
Salvia & Lantana are the only plants that the voracious deer will leave alone out at the end of the driveway. All the others I have tried are decimated by the deer, even with repellent.
Sorry to see you are ending #Garden Sunday.
August 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
#GardenSunday
Salvia & Lantana are the only plants that the voracious deer will leave alone out at the end of the driveway. All the others I have tried are decimated by the deer, even with repellent.
Sorry to see you are ending #Garden Sunday.
Salvia & Lantana are the only plants that the voracious deer will leave alone out at the end of the driveway. All the others I have tried are decimated by the deer, even with repellent.
Sorry to see you are ending #Garden Sunday.
Billboard seen about 40 min. from STL in Breese Il near the high school. Would be a shame if their phone line was jammed with callers . 618 671-0438.
August 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Billboard seen about 40 min. from STL in Breese Il near the high school. Would be a shame if their phone line was jammed with callers . 618 671-0438.