November 16, 2025

Welcome to the Back Yard.  Here are the colors a week ago, when the leaves on the Redbud were changing to pink and red.  

During the week, the leaves (mostly maple and oak) fell like crazy from the trees and I had to net them out of the pond like crazy every day.  The one big white fish that is the only denizen of the pond enjoyed being fed up to a couple of days ago.  I didn't see it coming to get food yesterday.  The rightmost picture shows some of the displaced land on the former sidewalk.  I had hoped that the curb-work would not kill off my Deptford Pinks, but I have (thanks to Mary-Ann Cateforis of Potsdam, NY) seeds to plant to get a new crop going for the spring.  

At about Halloween, this huge pumpkin (or one like it) appeared on every porch on the street.  It turns out that the foreman on the construction job out front owns a pumpkin farm!   Thanks to you all!   The rightmost picture will give you an idea of how many species of Trees have been donating leaves to my collection.  Oaks, Maples, especially.  

This picture appears in my collection over and over since I am always so impressed by the Black Eastern Gray Squirrel that my fingers snap onto the camera clicker automatically!

Here are a few Spiders.  The first seems to be a European Harvestman ( Phalangium opilio ). The second is a Tuft-legged   Orbweaver (Mangora placida).  Third is a tiny little Crab Spider.

Here are a few little Flies.  First is probably a member of genus Trichocera, which are active in the late Autum.  The second is likely Anthomyia oculifera.   The third is probably in genus Leia.

Here is another of those autumnal Crane Flies.  Second is one of those little bright-colored Flies that I've tried and tried to identify.  Now the consensus seems to be that it may be Minettia Lupulina.  The third picture looks as if it were cut and pasted out of flat tape.  I can't imagine what it might actually be!  (I don't think it's a fly!)

Here are a few Leafhoppers we have seen recently.

We were lucky enough to catch some of the Auroras that have sprouted around here lately. Chaim used his camera to bring out the light parts!

Well, folks, it has been quite beautiful in spots around here.  Please do what you can to protect the environment.  Love, Martha