Patricia
pjs501.bsky.social
Patricia
@pjs501.bsky.social
Retired Biology teacher, gardener, bird watcher, cat lover, Democrat, and happy wife, among other things.
#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.
November 12, 2025 at 5:23 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.
November 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Harvesting Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme before our hard freeze.
November 8, 2025 at 5:26 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.
October 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
#snakes

Common Milksnake is making an appearance this morning.
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.
October 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Monarch butterfly fueling up on this bright morning. There were 3 of them in my garden today.
October 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
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
ICE has no boundaries.
October 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Mums from last year that were labeled annuals. Four of the six returned for a Bonus!
October 2, 2025 at 9:19 PM
September 24, 2025 at 1:12 AM
#butterfly

Monarch butterfly on butterfly bush and on salvia.
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.
September 15, 2025 at 3:17 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.
September 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
#spiders
Flower Crab Spider waiting for prey.
September 14, 2025 at 1:54 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.
September 11, 2025 at 4:11 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.
September 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
September 6, 2025 at 12:06 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.
August 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
August 30, 2025 at 11:30 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.
August 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The Yellow Garden spider had success with its new web. It caught a bumblebee and is draining it of its fluids.
August 13, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The Yellow Garden spider's web was just damaged by a heavy rain. It is working to repair it. You can see the web come out of its spinneretes (reddish brown area at the rear of spider.
August 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
#GardenSunday #bsky37
My plants in carts have been doing well. We have had a lull in ripening, but that just means more tomatoes in September and October. I got greedy and planted too much in the cucumber cart. Gypsy pepper plant, green beans & cucumber are too crowded.
August 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
16 houseplants. 21 outdoor pots and carts of plants.
August 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM