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Yellow Fairy Cups

Posted by WiseAcre on Sep 25th, 2009
2009
Sep 25

…is the common name I believe some gardeners would like for this tiny mushroom. Why else would I use the name as the title? The other common names just don’t seem so interesting although one does leave me wondering.

Bisporella citrina

Yellow Fairy Cups can be found throughout North America and are generally seen growing on rotting logs. All you have to do is look close if you see a yellow ’stain’ on dead wood.

Yellow Fairy Cup

Lemon Disc seems more suited to these mushrooms. That’s pretty much what I see
(when magnified).

Lemon Drops is a good name too. The early growth is sphere shaped before they flatten out. I only wish they were much larger. I wouldn’t be lying if I offered you a Lemon Drop, now would I?

Bisporella citrina

I saw Lemon Disco on a few mycology websites and that left me wondering. It could be the name of some Fairy hangout where they go to dance. But if I ever hear Disco in the woods some fairies are going to get stomped on.

Hey I know the jokes are real
Turkeys

They thought they’d sneak into the garden today but I managed to scare them away with some bad puns. They reminded me I shouldn’t complain about the deer. Deer are nothing compared to what turkeys will do to a garden. Deer only over prune, turkeys leave behind a WW1 landscape.

And now for a happy face

scottish highland heiferClick for desktop wallpaper version

I think.
Kind of hard to tell with Scottish Highland cattle. I’ll assume this heifer is at least contented.

North Country Moo Choir

Posted by WiseAcre on Aug 30th, 2009
2009
Aug 30

Several pairs of moo eyes fixated on me when I stopped to capture the images of their pretty faces with my camera. The girls wasted no time gathering close and giving me a good once over and it didn’t take long before they started bellowing their hearts to me. The North Country Moo Choir gave me an impromptu pasture performance. I felt bad knowing they were looking for donations and I had nothing to give them. The girls really are out standing in their field and it was a shame I didn’t have the right type of moola on me. They don’t take cash and I was short on hay and grain.

Stage Right
North Country Moo Choir

I didn’t get any names but I did get several numbers. I won’t call. I’m afraid my leaving them standing there to chew their cuds left them indifferent to me.

Here’s a real sweety who’s number is a bit ironic.
The first thing I’d slap on her is Heinz 57, my choice of brand.
cow with black patch on face

I didn’t get a number from this one. She was a bit more mature and too plain faced for me.
White faced cow

I promised not to give 345’s number out. OOPS. Now I’m in trouble.
She said her boyfriend was a real bull and I’d end up with two black eyes too if I did.
Cow with black eye patches

If you want her number – blow into her ear.
black and white face cow

Make-up on and already foaming at the mouth, Number 33 is all set for the next Kiss concert.
Kiss concert cow

Number 338 unfortunately was left slack jawed at the sight of me.
Cow face

I love what you’ve done to your ear hair.
Cow with cute ear hair

How can you resist Number 34 with eyelashes by Maybelline.
Cow face

Just another pretty face that attracts flies.
Black and white faced cow

I should have been more discrete. That horny wisecrack turned her ears red.
cow face

All images but the group pic are linked to a larger sized image (1024 x 768) for a certain someone. She was looking for cow faces and I promised to see what I could come up with. If you like – go ahead and use any you like as desktop wallpaper

A true story

Long ago but just up the road we once boarded heifers. The sons of the dairy farmer came by frequently to check on the cows and our babysitter had developed quite a crush on the boys. One day the babysitter had brough a friend along and when the boys arrived both of the girls started swooning while staring out the window at them. The boys were across the road and headed to the pasture calling out ‘Here girls – Here girls’.  Heeding the call both girls bolted out the door and rushed out to meet the men of their dreams. Unfortunately they returned almost as quickly with faces red with embarrassment. The poor girls were udderly mistaken over who was being called.  I felt bad for the girls and had to go out the back door until I could stop laughing. I didn’t want to embarrass them any more than they already were. But now it’s a different story.  Poor (name withheld to protect the innocent),  I’ll never let you live that down.

Another Roadside Distraction

Posted by WiseAcre on Jul 6th, 2009
2009
Jul 6

What are those mystery boxes hanging in the trees?

Emerald Ash Borer Survey Trap

A mystery box hanging from a tree along the Russel Turnpike. Yep you got that right – A Dirt Turnpike. At least there are no toll booths on it :)

For a while people were wondering but news reports clued us in that they were survey traps for the Emerald Ash Borer. The USDA is keeping an eye out for these Ash tree killing beetles in the north country. None have been reported in the area yet but like many invasive species it’s only a matter of time before they arrive.

Emerald Ash Borer Survey Trap

The traps are basically large ‘fly paper’ contraptions.

Emerald Ash Borer Survey Trap

Getting a closer look you can see most of the victims are flies. Sadly a lone butterfly became stuck on this trap.

Emerald Ash Borer Survey Trap

Tag on the Emerald Ash Borer Survey Trap   I’m glad I stopped to photograph this trap. Opening the photos on the computer let me read the ‘fine print’ that was on the bottom of the trap. Here’s the link the tag provides so you can get more info if interested.

USDA site on the Emerald Ash Borer

I’m happy I can’t provide a photo of the beetle myself.
You’ll just have to use the link if you want to see what they look like.

I stopped again in Pierrpont to see the ‘wildlife’.

Cows on pasture

And another sudden stop for the Turkey Crossing.

Turkey Crossing

There were actually 2 hens with chicks but they didn’t stand still long enough to photograph.

Turkey Mom

The chicks had grown to a fairly large size and while not quite as cautions as the adults they still didn’t like my hungry look.

Turkey Chicks

When I tried to get closer I was surprised to learn these chicks were able to fly and that ended my roadside distractions of the day.

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