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Cohan... the quality of your photos is outstanding. Detailed and vivid. I am very impressed and I am looking forward to seeing more of them...Cheers Thomas
Cohan, seems you have a rich insect fauna around!
Cohan, I think I have many species in my garden but the number of specimens diminish I am afraid. I do not count them but observe the number of dead insects in the windowsill in the conservatory! 20 years ago it was heaps! Not any longer....
Cohan,Your homeland countryside is very beautiful. If frost is pending, then I understand that your growing season is very short. This has its limitations, but also it seems there could be some great opportunities. Alpine species must thrive with the cool, rainy summer weather and the abundance of winter chilling. I look forward to seeing more of your countryside.
Are farmers in your region using a lot of pesticides? When I was a kid, it was pretty much unheard of here, not sure if it has changed.. I imagine someone must be studying the stage of insect populations in Alberta, but I haven't heard... several flowery places in the yard were literally buzzing again today... lots of medium sized bees around, haven't seen many of the really big ones this year-- maybe they like drier years like the wasps...the air has also been full of tiny flying things for weeks-- I don't know what they are generally, I think there are many of those gnat sized things over the season-- tiny flies, tiny beetles, tiny moths.. currently there is something that manages to get in the house in spite of very fine window screens meant to keep out 'no-see-ums' and rigorous protocols on getting into and out of the house to minimise any unwanted entries...lol
It is not many farmers close to us here and those who are have livestock, nobody grows vegetables for sale. But the closest farm (dairy) was discontinued years ago. They had animals grazing just outside our fence. The lack of big fat flies is connected to that I believe!
I think there is frost in the record books in every month, though after the first week of June, it would be rare until mid August, and depending on the spot, and the year, it can be mostly/frost free from mid_May thru part or all of Sept-- though often we might get a frost or two then weeks more frost free...lol This acreage does not usually get the really early or late frosts, but I also grow very little that is frost tender outdoors, except some vegetables, some years- I don't bother with many of the hot weather crops, as this property does not have the right conditions, mostly.The growing season, though, for natives and hardy plants from other places is much longer than the frost free season-- some things in the rock garden may begin in March or April depending on snow melt times, with bulbs starting around then too, and likewise there are natives and rock garden things flowering long past the first frosts-- I've seen a few things here and there-probably sheltered spots, or just lucky- still going when there have been general night temps to -10C /14F or lower through much or all of September and beyond.
So, what do you think is affecting insect numbers?
(Attachment Link) Cohan,I thought that you would enjoy some photographs of one of our high Sierra Nevada mountain valleys. This is a view of Sierra Valley, elevation 4,850 feet (1,478 meters), from Yuba Pass. This view is to the east with the state of Nevada in the far distance........