Dark Plants

As the sun sets the darkness emerges. Thus begins the moon's time to light the world. It may not be as bright as the sun's rays but the moonlight carries a haunting glow, even if it's only six in the afternoon. It's just that time of the year again when daylight savings comes to an ends and the day's sun tanning time is cut short. My observations take place around six  and what I've discovered is that it's hard to see details in the plants and the ants crawling up my pants leg in the dark.  Which led me to begin observing with a flashlight and made me feel like Sherlock Holmes. Although I don't have his amazing observation powers,  I did observe that since November second some of my plant's conditions have improved. Which led me to wonder is the moonlight helping my plants regain their strength?
After some research, I stumbled upon the website, Gardening By the Moon, it provided me with information about "lunar planting." Also known as agricultural astrology which is when the moon's phases are used to determine when planting, cultivating and harvesting of crops can take place(Catterall). Based on the site, on a particular phase of the moon the soil takes in more moisture with helps seeds and plants grow easier.  And during a full moon plants will absorb more water than normal.  That got me thinking that perhaps  there is still some hope to save my plants from dying, I will water my plants  every full moon while following the lunar calender for the rest of the year  and observe  if it made a difference (fingers  crossed).

http://thegardeningapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-vegetable-gardeners-guide-to.html

                                                 Work Cited 

Catterall, Caren. "How Does Lunar Planting Work?" Gardening  by the Moon. Divine Inspiration       Publications. 05 Sept. 2014. Web 09 Nov. 2014.

Little Tree

The wind blows heavily pushing on the tree like a bully asking for his lunch money. The tree holds its own with some help from his friends. The tree is hold down by two stakes keeping him from being blown away. It's a slim larky tree, my best guess it's only took residents in my  yard a year or two ago, but has made it his home. I  am not sure on what kind of tree it is but with some research I hope to soon find out. However, I did notice that the tree is hold by two stakes to prevent it from falling on my window even if it's only three out of four chances. But with my luck it's a miracle it has not happen yet with all the heavy wind blowing through. When I looked at the stakes it seems as if my tree is being held captive which led me to wonder what are the purpose of the stakes. 

After some research on the Internet,  I came upon an article called "To Stake or Not to Stake" which is full of information about the why and how of tree staking. I took the information and connected it to my tree and its surroundings.  And discovered that my tree is properly staked it can move easy which allowed me more comfort about the situation. And most importantly I found out the purpose of the stakes which is to hold the tree's roots in place. Tree's roots can grow easier in the dirt than in sand because a strong wind can uproot the tree's roots easier in sand. And since sand is what my tree is planted in the stakes are used to keep the tree from flying away. Now that I know my tree is being held strong by the stakes it seems silly to think the tree will come crashing through my window but then again anything can happen. 

                                                            Work Cited

 Reich, Lee. "To Stake or Not to Stake." Fine Gardening. N.p. n.d. Web  02 Nov. 2014. 

Traveling Acorns

On Thursday the sixteen, my clumsy self  slipped on an acorn, other than the fact it was funny for my sister and neighbors, my tumble lead me to wonder where this acorn came from. Are they falling from a tree behind my house or is someone going around throwing acorns in the hopes that they may grow? I could rule out the second idea simply which lead me to search for this mysterious tree around my neighborhood. As my walk went I found more acorns all around the perimeter and discovered it was not only my yard that they could be found in but the whole block had acorns in between blazes of grass and hidden in the rocks. I came upon three trees that surround the block of homes and underneath each laid acorns. How could an acorn travel from these trees to my yard? I picture an  animated acorn walking with his funny cap whistling to a melody.  However, the acorn's way of travel is not magical as hoped but is carried away from the tree in the strong arms of the wind.



http://survive-prepare.com/2013/01/14/acorns-a-great-resource/



Lost Color

In the corner of his garden, there’s a patch he used to keep
All to himself, to allow nature to creep
There are no trimmed edges
or prim, proper hedges
He left his earth still and alone
Allowed the forces of nature to roam
He said that you don’t always have to be tidy and neat
Just watch the beauty of opportunity grow at your feet
He said just watch the earth produce its own glory
And I watched…and held on to his story
My grandad was right
Add water and light
Behold the sight
There are poppies and flowering weeds
Buttercups and oat coloured reeds
Daisies gingerly lift their heads
Dandelions roar from muddy beds
Purple thistles and strange grasses
Colours that alight and ignite masses
Dark ferns and heathers
Dandelion clock feathers
Birds foot trefoil, a four leafed clover
My grandad’s story is not over
He may have gone, I may have cried
But the beauty he predicted never died.

Written by Melanie Waters



After 

  During each observation, I am noticing the damage that the cold Autumn wind has brought to my flowers.  They once hold their violet beauty but are now dull brown and crumbling.  The poem  "In the Corner of His Garden", written by Melanie Waters tells a different tale than what I'm observing.  My flowers will not rise with "added water and light." They are gone such as her grandfather has left his garden.  However,  it is true that forces of nature should be allowed to roam. They do what is need if it means harsh wind or gentle rain. I can not stop the cycle of life to death but hold on to the hope that it may slow down. There was much left to discover about the flowers that has been ripped out the ground and was left to the wind like a tumble weed in a ghost town.  I wonder if they will grow again next spring or was this my last chance to watch them grow and to say goodbye. That question will wonder my thoughts until  Spring brings the blooming of flowers once again.


Before

 

 

Work Cited

Waters, Melanie. "In the Corner of His Garden, There's a Patch He Used To Keep." Poet Seers. N.p. n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. 

The Noisy Neighbor

Through the night  and afternoon I had been awaken by my noisy neighbor. He recently moved  to the bush by my window I know this because before his arrival I had long peaceful siesta in the afternoon but now it's more like having pressed  the snooze button every ten minutes. Now my grouchy self  had declared a whole day to capture Mr. Jiminy Cricket and release him to a further distant..lets say my sister's yard.  And after three long hours of hide and seek and a few cuts and tumbles, I finally caught the unlucky cricket.  However, the captive did lead me to discover the secret behind the alarming noise. It's a combination of flapping wings together and wind gusting though to create the happy and a bit annoying chirps. But why chirp I asked? And of course it because of a women. In this case an uncharmed female cricket not persuaded by  the sounds of music. For more information on crickets go to:  http://cricket-breeding.com/how-and-why-do-crickets-chirp/ or http://insects.answers.com/crickets/chirping-crickets-why-and-how-crickets-make-their-distinctive-sound.

http://factnfact.com/a-man-records-crickets-chirping-he-slows-down-the-track-and-finds-it-to-be-similar-to-humans-singing/

Flowers Buzzing

On many accounts during my observations, I've heard my purple flowers buzzing with the noise of bees and it lead me to wonder what bees are so busy doing. I have always been around bees but I never understood how wonderful they truly are. For starters there is not just one type of bee flying around. There are sweet, social, the deadly killer bee, the leafcutter and mason bee that can be found in nature. The bees found in my yard are the common bumble bee and honey bee. They are the ones with the hairy chest that carry pollen with their hind legs. With in it self seems like a hard job, but they take the pollen collected and turn it to nectar which is taken by worker bees to full a honey stomach. It takes more then a thousand flowers to fill one honey stomach. It seems bees really are quite the hard workers. For more information on bees visit this website: http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/insects/bees/.

http://www.myrmecos.net/2011/10/11/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-honey-bees-and-bumble-bees/

A Trail of Ants

On my first week of observing I stumbled upon a trail of ants. The small ants marched from one flower to another. It was surprising to see those ants caring grains of sand on their backs as if it weighted nothing. Although it is known that ants can carry more than ten percent their body weight. I know I wouldn’t even try to carry two hundred pounds.

http://blog.findapestpro.com/

As I continued to follow the ants took an unexpected turn. At a break in the sand a dark tunnel shaped perfectly for a colony, the ants drove beneath my feet. I cannot say how deep the tunnel was or even where it led but I could image a network of tunnels connecting to create a large ant farm right underneath.  However, how is it possible they can breathe under there?  And based on the website How It Works Daily, ants breathe through holes in their sides called spiracles that allow oxygen to trail to the tissues that need it. With this they can regulate how to breathe underground. Although, this makes me question why they even live underground? I discovered that the reason they live below ground is to keep away from predators, helps keep them cool, and it’s easy to keep food down there where no one will take it. I did not know ants were any special how wrong I was. The yard sure knows how to hold surprises.