James A Stewart
@jamesastewart.bsky.social
Came here from the other place to follow the people who inform or entertain me. Interests include sports, gardening, photography, genealogy & more. Follows are fine although my posts will be infrequent. Please don’t be offended if I don’t follow back.
Spotted in the garden yesterday. Late afternoon sun made for heavy shadows so this heavily cropped iPhone photo is not the most detailed. Possible ID is it’s in the genus Meadowhawks, possibly a male Autumn Meadowhawk, so named for its coloration. 🌱📷
November 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Spotted in the garden yesterday. Late afternoon sun made for heavy shadows so this heavily cropped iPhone photo is not the most detailed. Possible ID is it’s in the genus Meadowhawks, possibly a male Autumn Meadowhawk, so named for its coloration. 🌱📷
There’s a bit of chaff here but mostly Verbena bonariensis seeds. Might be some additional areas I want to scatter some. Otherwise, I’m sure many seeds have already been dispersed in areas where they grew this season. If there are too many they’re easy to ID and pull if need be. 🌱
November 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
There’s a bit of chaff here but mostly Verbena bonariensis seeds. Might be some additional areas I want to scatter some. Otherwise, I’m sure many seeds have already been dispersed in areas where they grew this season. If there are too many they’re easy to ID and pull if need be. 🌱
This Northern Leaf-Footed Bug (Leproglossus oppositus) has been hanging out near my front sillcock (water spigot) for a few days now. First I’ve ever seen. Not moving too quickly in the chilly weather. 🌱 #bugs
November 3, 2025 at 9:18 PM
This Northern Leaf-Footed Bug (Leproglossus oppositus) has been hanging out near my front sillcock (water spigot) for a few days now. First I’ve ever seen. Not moving too quickly in the chilly weather. 🌱 #bugs
Very cool. Curious, so I did a quick search and found this one. Just in time for Halloween!
October 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Very cool. Curious, so I did a quick search and found this one. Just in time for Halloween!
October 26, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Literally in my backyard! When I first heard the helicopter I thought it was one of the regular flights into/out of the hospital but they were overhead forever so I knew it was #ICE 🤬
October 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Literally in my backyard! When I first heard the helicopter I thought it was one of the regular flights into/out of the hospital but they were overhead forever so I knew it was #ICE 🤬
Coopers Hawk with prey in the Linden tree my backyard. 📷
October 25, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Coopers Hawk with prey in the Linden tree my backyard. 📷
I am very familiar with them! Photos taken in my backyard several years ago.
October 20, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I am very familiar with them! Photos taken in my backyard several years ago.
On a whim I collected seeds from this bloom from a Zinnia ‘Cut and Come Again Mix’. Not sure what I’ll get next season but I thought it’d be worth a shot.
October 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
On a whim I collected seeds from this bloom from a Zinnia ‘Cut and Come Again Mix’. Not sure what I’ll get next season but I thought it’d be worth a shot.
Agree. And like everything else he’s had a hand in Everything Trump Touches Dies (ETTD).
October 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Agree. And like everything else he’s had a hand in Everything Trump Touches Dies (ETTD).
October 3-5, 2005. Had to give up my White Sox postseason tickets vs the Red Sox because my firm assigned me to join the team of consultants and engineers assembled to conduct a damage assessment of the Superdome following Katrina. I’ll never forget the things I saw there. 📷 #katrina #superdome
October 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
October 3-5, 2005. Had to give up my White Sox postseason tickets vs the Red Sox because my firm assigned me to join the team of consultants and engineers assembled to conduct a damage assessment of the Superdome following Katrina. I’ll never forget the things I saw there. 📷 #katrina #superdome
I usually plant annual salvia in pots, but decided to plant this Black & Blue variety in-ground. Unlike the others in pots that grew and flowered all season, it didn’t even start putting on growth until August and didn’t bloom until September. 🌱
October 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I usually plant annual salvia in pots, but decided to plant this Black & Blue variety in-ground. Unlike the others in pots that grew and flowered all season, it didn’t even start putting on growth until August and didn’t bloom until September. 🌱
There it is. Only about a foot tall its roots were at least that deep.
September 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
There it is. Only about a foot tall its roots were at least that deep.
Deadheading this Anise Hyssop this afternoon and found an unwelcome volunteer hiding in its shadow. Can you spot the Mulberry? 🌱
September 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Deadheading this Anise Hyssop this afternoon and found an unwelcome volunteer hiding in its shadow. Can you spot the Mulberry? 🌱
I believe this is a Common Whitetail. If I’m correct it’s a female. Very common, so I’ve seen them every season since starting my flower garden. Almost missed it as it was deep in the tangle of Verbena Bonariensis foliage around dusk. Not the sharpest photo but I’m okay with it. 🌱
September 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I believe this is a Common Whitetail. If I’m correct it’s a female. Very common, so I’ve seen them every season since starting my flower garden. Almost missed it as it was deep in the tangle of Verbena Bonariensis foliage around dusk. Not the sharpest photo but I’m okay with it. 🌱
Oh no, chemtrails! Lolz
September 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Oh no, chemtrails! Lolz
Mulberry trees and their fruit might be great for wildlife, but in a small suburban yard they can be a nuisance. Especially true when they grow against a fence as pictured. 2nd photo is a neighbor’s tree that grew so large it pushed over their fence. Its fruit also littered the corner of my yard. 🌱
September 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Mulberry trees and their fruit might be great for wildlife, but in a small suburban yard they can be a nuisance. Especially true when they grow against a fence as pictured. 2nd photo is a neighbor’s tree that grew so large it pushed over their fence. Its fruit also littered the corner of my yard. 🌱
From the archives. Late Boneset in bloom along the Fox River Trail near North Aurora, IL. A memory made while on a walk with my brother, August 31, 2023. We lost him on April 26th of this year to complications due to Alzheimer’s. 🌱
September 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
From the archives. Late Boneset in bloom along the Fox River Trail near North Aurora, IL. A memory made while on a walk with my brother, August 31, 2023. We lost him on April 26th of this year to complications due to Alzheimer’s. 🌱
I was going to say some type of Tree Cricket. Wouldn’t have recognized it if I hadn’t encountered this one in my garden a few years ago.
September 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I was going to say some type of Tree Cricket. Wouldn’t have recognized it if I hadn’t encountered this one in my garden a few years ago.
Passersby in downtown Aurora, IL yesterday upon seeing the Okra blossoms “Look at the pretty Hibiscus!” Also pictured is Castor Bean, some of which were 7 feet tall. My sister snapped the photo of a Clubtail dragonfly. This is but a small sampling of the beautiful and diverse municipal plantings. 🌱
September 1, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Passersby in downtown Aurora, IL yesterday upon seeing the Okra blossoms “Look at the pretty Hibiscus!” Also pictured is Castor Bean, some of which were 7 feet tall. My sister snapped the photo of a Clubtail dragonfly. This is but a small sampling of the beautiful and diverse municipal plantings. 🌱
When you see this you’ll understand why Anise Hyssop self sows so prolifically. 🌱
August 31, 2025 at 1:58 PM
When you see this you’ll understand why Anise Hyssop self sows so prolifically. 🌱
Are there any experts on here that can identify this problem with my Echinacea Purpurea? Aster Yellows? Coneflower Rosette Mite? Some other cause?
Hopefully not Aster Yellows as I understand removal of the plant is the only solution. #coneflower 🌱
Hopefully not Aster Yellows as I understand removal of the plant is the only solution. #coneflower 🌱
August 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Are there any experts on here that can identify this problem with my Echinacea Purpurea? Aster Yellows? Coneflower Rosette Mite? Some other cause?
Hopefully not Aster Yellows as I understand removal of the plant is the only solution. #coneflower 🌱
Hopefully not Aster Yellows as I understand removal of the plant is the only solution. #coneflower 🌱
Soldier Beetle on my Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush. (Shaky iPhone shot.)
This is the only deployment of “soldiers” to Illinois that I find acceptable. 🌱
This is the only deployment of “soldiers” to Illinois that I find acceptable. 🌱
August 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Soldier Beetle on my Pugster Blue Butterfly Bush. (Shaky iPhone shot.)
This is the only deployment of “soldiers” to Illinois that I find acceptable. 🌱
This is the only deployment of “soldiers” to Illinois that I find acceptable. 🌱
A bumblebee soaking up the morning Sun last Thursday. I believe it’s a Common Eastern Bumblebee and so the all black face indicates it’s a female. 🌱
August 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
A bumblebee soaking up the morning Sun last Thursday. I believe it’s a Common Eastern Bumblebee and so the all black face indicates it’s a female. 🌱
American Lady (aka American Painted Lady). Have noticed it among the pollinators visiting many times but this was the first time I was able to grab my camera.
August 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
American Lady (aka American Painted Lady). Have noticed it among the pollinators visiting many times but this was the first time I was able to grab my camera.