July 12, 2026

Well, folks, it's another week and now we're into mid-July 2026.  It's hot already (still), and I'm running the air conditioner almost full-time these days and nights.  But guess what?  We're almost into the halfway point through the summer.  Give us another week or two and the summer-lovers will be bemourning that halfway point.   (If you like that word "bemourning", I give you permission to use it, "real word" or not, since we don't bemoan much these days.  If not, then at least let ME use it when it seems appropriate (whether it is or not)!  OK?  Thanks everybody!  (When you get your own blog, it only seems right that you should be able to use the language as it seems right at that time!  And apparently you get your own blog just by deciding you want to do that!)  

Here are some pictures of the pretty flowers coming up around us.  This one is a apparently a Bull Thistle, which name I used to use with some care but now feel so free with it that I'll probably use it whenever and however I like!  

Here is a lovely Purple and Black Beetle that is running about out there these days.  In other lights, the purple gives back to greyish tones.  I love both these color combinations.

The velvety tones of these elegant plants goes along with the springtime variation in texture and colors of the various plants.  By the way, the elegant moth we saw last week contributed by Polly Moore, turns out to be (most likely) Haploa clymene, the Haploa Tiger Moth (subfamily Arctiinae).   Chaim Bertman got this by running it through Chatgpt.  Thanks to Polly,  Chaim and Chatgpt!

By the way (again), this diagnosis showed up on iNaturalist as 

Leconte's Haploa Moth Haploa lecontei showedReshsearch Grade