Wilson: Thanks again for everyone’s kind, sweet comments to yesterday’s August Friends post. We are so touched by your sweet notes and are particularly grateful to Ann for her awesome artwork. Didn’t she do a fabulous job? So let’s get started, shall we?Elsa: 💤 💤 💤 Huh, wha…? Did I miss something?Wilson: Nope, just setting up today’s slices of nature from around our neighborhood. It’s been an interesting week of ‘this and that.’Elsa: Ok, well chop, chop, House Pony. I got some serious catching up on my 💤 ‘sWilson: Righto. Well, on to it then. So Mum’s been saying for a while that we’ve been overrun by grasshoppers this summer. They have become quite the issue in Colorado and particularly down south where my Grandpa lives. Here is another factor that’s likely being impacted by climate change. According to Colorado State University Extension horticulture expert and entomologist Karim Gharbi, it’s because warmer days began earlier in spring, grasshoppers came out of dormancy sooner which likely means they’ll hibernate later in the season as colder temps will probably be delayed, providing them more opportunities to mow down plants throughout Front Range gardens.
Wilson: {continuing} These bloody things are everywhere and have caused nearly a 40% loss on farmer’s crops around Pueblo. As if squirrels weren’t bad enough noshing on Mum’s tomatoes, now we have to battle these bloody creatures with insatiable appetites. Grrrr.
Elsa: They constantly startle me when I go outside for potty breaks by jumping in front of me. Mom keeps encouraging me to “git it, Elsa” but no way Jose…I ain’t eating that foul thing. I refuse to even try.
Wilson: Me neither. I prefer wasp protein.
Elsa: {eye rolling} Oy, you’re just begging for a trip to the vet’s office aren’t you?
Wilson: Well, at least they appear to be easier prey than squirrels.
Elsa: You’re supposed to leave both of them alone, you bonehead! {smacking a paw to her forehead} Good grief, why in the world did I get this moron for a brother is beyond me.
Wilson: {disregarding the admonishment} Ahem…moving along. Speaking of vets, Mum found a couple of murals that were freshly painted on the building that’s going to house at a new local veterinary location that’s scheduled to open soon. We like our current vet but this one would be closer to our house and could be a good alternative on those days when the vet’s office is closed. Being a solo practicing vet, he began closing the office on Tuesdays during COVID so this could be a potential backup if necessary. Anyway, Mum was impressed with the artistry and the details on the murals.
Elsa: Nice! It’s rare these days to find a local independent vet not owned by a big corporate practice group.
Wilson: That’s exactly what Mom said. So, we’ve had some gorgeous sunrises this week. Mum always oohs and ahhs which means she’ll pull out her cellphone to take a picture just as we’re getting started on our walk. I need to remind her gently that “we’re walking and not photographing” but I don’t have the heart when she clearly loves early morning scenes like this. I will say it was a beautiful morning even if I had to wait to get rolling.
Elsa: I’ve begun to notice teeny tiny signs that we’re excited about seeing…little spots of leaves transitioning toward autumn, which, for the record, is just a month away. Hallelujah! It can’t arrive too soon in our books.
Wilson: That could be heat stress (lots of trees are suffering right now) but Mum thought this strip is watered often so maybe it is a sign that autumn is coming soon. Paws crossed. Moderate temperatures and that beautiful golden light will be so welcomed.
Elsa: I’ve noticed the Plumbago has been blooming profusely as have the Blue Mist Spirea around the Ranch. Bees really like these plants. Soon the Plumbago leaves will start to turn a beautiful shade of mahogany ushering in autumn.
Wilson: Bees? {smacking his lips}…
Elsa: Down bucko. Leave them alone; stand back and admire them as they pollinate work.
Wilson: Well alright. But I’d prefer to see them up close and personal. Mum was walking around the neighborhood and came across this beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, noshing on tasty, nectar filled phlox. He seemed shy as he kept turning away from Mum’s camera but must have been super hungry since he didn’t fly away for several minutes. Mum was so captivated at his beauty.
Elsa: Ooh, that was one handsome creature. Well buddy, thanks for sharing some halfway decent pics this week. Whatever you do this weekend, we hope you find time to find joy and beautiful images in Nature. We have no specific plans but just hope to kick back and relax. Have a great weekend!
Live, love, bark 🐾
New and different; I like it!
That is either a big grasshopper or a small rock
🤣 It’s a bit of both!
grasshoppers are a real plague
You know it. They creep Mom out like crazy.
Charlee: “Grasshopper! Protein on the wing!”
Maybe…but they taste like crap. 😁
Yeah, umm . . . Wilson? Lay off the bees, will ya pal? I get it, they’re a challenge, but the risk ain’t worth it. Listen to sis on this one.
As for those grasshoppers, I had no idea!
The murals, I have some idea. They’re splendid.
Our mom is a big fan of urban murals and those two are the best she’s seen in forever. Grasshoppers are just vile creatures-we wish we could easily erradicate them. They are disgusting. Period. 😆
They are amazing.
Tell us how you really feel!
😆
I love those murals, those are sure pretty. We used to see grasshoppers around here but I haven’t seen one in years. I sure enjoyed your fun friends post and Ann’s artwork was so wonderful. Have a fun weekend!
Thanks Terry. Ann made such pawsome badges. We really despise grasshoppers-they damage the entire garden and are hurting farmers. They’re a despicable scourge! We hope you have a great weekend.
Too bad you didn’t have a flock of chickens to eat the grasshoppers, but then I imagine that would present another problem with the dogs, lol! 😂 Chaos!
No doubt. It’s always something, isn’t it? 😆
Beautiful nature photos and I love the art. Have a nice weekend.
Thank you, Ellen. Hope you’re feeling better. Those murals were some of the best ones I’ve seen in a long time.
What gorgeous murals and and beautiful flowers!
We haven’t seen many grasshoppers here…but when we were camping in Chama, they were everywhere!
Thanks! They’ve been the worst I’ve seen in the past 5 years. I realize bugs are part of gardening, but I despise grasshoppers. They creep me out!
Wilson you are such a funny guy…OMDs…I loved you post today
Elsa darlin’ your replies cracked me up “’Elsa: Ok, well chop, chop, House Pony. I got some serious catching up on my 💤 ‘s
Lovely nature today and the Murals
Hugs Cecilia
Aww, thanks. You’re too kind. Trust me-their convos would totally be like that. Elsa is a bit of a pill and Wilson (like most sheepdogs) tries to ignore her. The two together are a total hoot. Have a great weekend!
Howdy partners! Loved all the photos today – as always. I haven’t seen a grasshopper yet but I’m sure they’re out there – just not in epic numbers I suppose. What we do have more this year than for SEVERAL years are beautiful butterflies. Lots of them. Angel Sammy was a big fan of chasing them but Teddy just watches them (I think he knows he’s so big he couldn’t jump if he wanted to!). We had a touch of Fall these past couple of days – this morning at 6:30AM it was 48…..good talking weather (for me). We’re getting our firewood delivery in the next few weeks and that will be another step closer to fireplace season for us – WOO HOO. Happy weekend!
Hugs, Pam (and Teddy)
Thanks. Ooh butterflies…we could watch them for hours. Enjoy a great weekend!
Great job guys! I just realized I have a video I should post, from a hike yesterday evening! I forgot all about it, until I read yours.
You guys have very nice pictures today, we should hire you to come on out hikes!
Thanks! We’d love to hike with you-course our Mom would be so busy ‘filming’ everything we probably wouldn’t get very far. 🤣 Have a super weekend.
Your friends,
Elsa & Wilson 🐾
A terrific tour today. I have never liked grasshoppers and would not like them to be so numerous. The Plumbago and Blue Mist Spirea are gorgeous. Thanks for those. The swallowtail shot is a keeper. Well done. I hope you have a super weekend. We are expecting cooler temps (90s this weekend) and hope you can remain cooler too.
Many thanks, John. Yeah, I’ve never liked them either. They creeped me out as a kid and I just never got over it. Plumbago is probably my favorite ground cover. It lays down a nice mat of those bright blue flowers beginning in July and then the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of mahogany beginning in late August or September. They’re not picky and will thrive in all kinds of soil. The Blue Mist Spirea has been extra gorgeous this year. I used to have some but they multiplied too much and attractive too many bees to be safe so I pulled them up. I like to see them in other people’s yards though. 😉 Here’s to a lovely weekend with manageable temps for all.
Wonderful teamwork! And Elsa, he is so lucky to have a smart sister like you to keep him in line. And you may smack your head, but he is so charming and sweet. 🥰 I hope you get your well-earned nap. 😉
Oh my, on the grasshoppers! We haven’t had that problem. But yes, Wilson, listen to Elsa, no biting wasps! You will be sorry!
That is wonderful artwork!
Happy Friday! Hugs to your Mom and belly rubs to you and Wilson!
Thanks. You’re too kind. The grasshoppers (or as Mom’s kids used to call them, hopper-grassers) have been steadily increasing the past 3 or 4 years which pretty much coincides with the increased temps. I figured I should be nice to the House Pony since he’s a fan favorite around Blogville. What it is about those sheepdogs, I just don’t get it. 🤣 Mom’s a real sucker for murals on buildings but those were pretty cool, if I say so myself. Have a terrific weekend.
Your fur-iend,
Elsa 🐾
Lovely photos, Monika!
We were on vacation for a week and came back to everything being very dry — my Fairmont roses are doing okay, but my husband’s Blaze’s are suffering. 🙁
But this little spate of afternoon storms has been lovely!
Thanks, Amy. Showers would be lovely if only they made it up to my house (I seem to reside in a black hole for rain)…typically we receive maybe 12-15 drops-not even enough to wet the sidewalk, let alone supplement garden plants. Yesterday however we did have a tiny storm blew through for about 3-5 minutes. It was paradise-just wish it had been longer. Have a lovely weekend.
we have not much grasshoppers this summer… now we know why they all left europe… smart little bugs hahahahaha
have a super weekend, we do our fall deco, but this is more an episode of snapped than country living….
They enjoy hot, dry conditions. They been increasing in numbers for the past 4-5 years. Disgusting things. Enjoy ‘fall-ifying’ this weekend.
40% crop loss due to grasshoppers, that is a lot. Here in Texas we have some grasshopper but that many. We have lots of cicadas though.
It’s been quite divestating. Cicadas only come every 17 years-I could deal with those odd insects.
Wonderful photos!! Nice job Wilson and Elsa! Excellent photography, Monika! I’m jealous of the capture of that swallowtail!
Our temps took a serious drop with the deluge of rain we have had. It’s been a horrible year for the garden. It went from having to water daily to drowning the darn thing. Today is the first day in over a week that I wake up and the sun is shining!
But yes, bring on Fall. I’m ready.
Thank you, Miss Dale. That Swallowtail was huge and let Mom take several views. She was quite pleased AND surprised. Enjoy that sunshine!
It looks like it was huge! Lucky it decided to “pose” for Mom! I AM enjoying that sunshine. It was gone for too long
It was huge, a good 3 inches long and bigger when he opened his wings. Enjoy that bright stuff 🌞
Wow!!! I am enjoying and yanno why? Coz it didn’t bring stupid heat and humidity with it!
We haven’t seen many grasshoppers around here, they all moved to Colorado I guess. Around here there is tree stress too. How can you have stress when your life consists of standing there forever? Our tree stress is from too much rain and is mostly with younger trees. Lately we are having fall temps and loving them, but the heat and humidity will be here tomorrow. At least we know it won’t last long. Fall is moving in. Have a fun weekend.
With all the rain you’ve experienced this summer, I’m not surprised you have seen many. They love hot dry conditions. Trees get stressed from lack of water, far too many people don’t provide them supplemental water, especially when they occupy that strip between the street and the sidewalk. We hope more fall-like temps become routine-we’re between 10-15 degrees above normal for this time of year. Enjoy your weekend!
Beautiful pictures! I love those murals! It’s been so nice here last few days, cool and sunny. Thank goodness we don’t have grasshoppers, Chester would eat them or be afraid of them, neither of which is a good thing. Enjoy your relaxing weekend!
Thanks, Martha. The grasshopper population has been steadily increasing over the past few years. They act like they’re on vacation soaking up the hot temps and eating everything in sight. They must taste really gross, none of the dogs learned to develop a taste after they caught the first one. 😆 Have a super weekend enjoying mild weather.
Wilson, your blog was a joy to see. The pictures were wonderful.
Gosh, thanks for that nice comment. It’s a good thing I taught him how to properly blog. 🤣
Your fur-iend,
Elsa 🐾
Great photos. We’re looking for fall too, and enjoying temperatures lately that are a bit more temperate. June and July were brutal. August so far, not as rough.
Many thanks Debra. As of August 7, 2024, Denver experienced 43 days of 90°F+ (16 days in June, 20 days in July, and all 7 days in August. Denver is currently in the top 15 for the most 90°F days in a year and suffered a 15-day consecutive streak of 90°F or higher temperatures in 2024, which is historically tied with 1934 and 2012 for the 9th longest streak. We are so over summer!
I’m with you. We had a brutal June and July here and I am so ready for fall.
You both did a wonderful job! We haven’t had issues with grasshoppers here. The cats would love to have a play date with one. Spoiler alert, it would be a short play date.
Thanks. Grasshoppers really thrive in hot dry conditions, which we’ve certainly had plenty of lately. My first standard poodle ‘played’ with bugs but she learned quickly which were tasty and which were gross. She looked like Tom Hanks in Big after eating the caviar. LOL
🙂