“Orion’s Belt”

ESPatch Aug 24, 2012 7 comments

The light quality has changed this week, a sure sign that fall / Autumn is looming around the corner.

Yuccas are giving birth at an alarming rate and the native Patch Naboo tribe

are flying fritillary kites high to celebrate the seasonal change.

This pampas grass is ruffling its sharp feathers in readiness to bloom some plumes.

As is this…

…Mexican Firebush

Hamelia patens

This one is planted in semi shade and is a great plant for attracting butterflies.

Polygonia interrogationis

Interrogationis?

These butterflies are better known as question mark and anglewing butterflies.

Resembling a leaf, the underside of this butterfly is a nondescript light brown with the exception of a distinctive silver-white question mark in the center of its hindwing. Polygonia, is derived from the Greek word for “many angles” and refers to the outlines of the wings.

The “dot” of the “question mark” is occasionally reduced or absent, this one was a fine specimen, though I think there may be a little more to that icon than meets the eye“?”

And while I have all the conspiracy theorists attention…just what is going on in the Baltic Sea?

Calm down Alex!

The flamboyantly colored topside of this butterfly is quite the smoldering contrast to the underside.

Moving back down to earth:

Good news on the satsuma front, the recent rains have dramatically decreased fruit drop and the tree has greened up once again. It should pull through with a great fall harvest.

I get the sense that the poor dragonflies are beginning to feel the aches and pains of age. They appear much less concerned with the camera lens as the year pushes into the fall. Many people believe these insects live only for a day but an adult dragon will survive as long as six months if the weather remains warm and dry.

Inspirational Images of the week:

Interesting idea for a pathway or patio.

Mexican beach pebbles that you can jump on!

Having had the unfortunate experience of shoveling these pebbles on numerous occasions I could not live with these pebble-pillows in my house, fun idea though.

How about this:

Texas architect Jim Poteet http://www.poteetarchitects.com from San Antonio has transformed a 40′ shipping container into a gorgeous backyard retreat, complete with a living green roof, composting toilet, rainwater collection and eco friendly finishes. The studio retreat also features floor-to-ceiling windows cut out of the container, blown-in insulation, and bamboo floors and walls.

Very creative.

Finally:

Happy 5th birthday, birthday boy.

Stay Tuned for:

“Mind your Dual Language!”

All material © 2012 for eastsidepatch. Unauthorized
intergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and
punishable by late (and extremely unpleasant)
14th century planet Earth techniques.

“Stressing Out”

ESPatch Jul 1, 2012 4 comments

I dangled my camera (set on timer) blindly into those limestone rocks that I recently procured to try and capture some of their inner caverns, (as you do).

One of the shots was startling:

The insulating qualities deep in the heart of these boulders must be amazing. I surmise that these subterranean passages are where the Patch tribesfolk shelter when things get really hot outside, and things have got really hot outside.

Record breaking temperatures this past week in Central Texas have quickly ushered in Summer conditions and memories

of last years Mars-like conditions.

This is reminiscent of my expression at the end of an average working day at this time of the year.

This smoke tree apparently went up in smoke overnight,

Cotinus coggygria

(not so) ‘Royal Purple’

though there is still hope on this small trees extremities.

Satsumas are stressing a pale yellow complexion and even the gulf coast toads are hopping into the pond during daylight hours to cool-off.

Err…

Dude, not in the pond!

This one hopped into my depleted feeder tank and was unable to get out. I found him in the middle of the tank perched precariously on a Madam Ganna Walska lily, sporting a distinct expression of toady annoyance.

Check out that transverse pupil…snort.

The circular item behind the eye is a round eardrum, or tympanic membrane. When sound waves strike this membrane, the frog perceives sound.

In 2008, scientists in Madagascar discovered a toad-like fossil that is 70 million years old. They named him Beelzebufo, or Devil Toad because of his bowling ball size.

Imagine the volume of that croak.

I digress, back to the some more crispiness…

…it is weeping now alright. This clumper goes through this every summer but it always pulls through with only

an occasional soaking like we are happily receiving right now.

When things get hot around the Patch a new hobby is generally not far behind.

The latest one unfortunately involves putting the oven on!

I will leave you with my daughters first venture into the now infamously shaky and out of focus filming technique that ESProductions have pioneered and become famous for over the years.

She built the song “Cutie Cake” in GarageBand, mixing loops and with some live vocals.

She also, more impressively, trained all of the cicadas around the Patch to synchronize with the beat and timing of her tune.

Stay Tuned for:

“Boot Hill”

All material © 2012 for eastsidepatch. Unauthorized
intergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and
punishable by late (and extremely unpleasant)
14th century planet Earth techniques.

Inspirational triptych of the week: