astra_the_dragon's Favorites

Spores:(18.3)18.9-23.3(24.1) x (5.6)5.7-6.7(7.1)um
Q= (2.8)3-3.8(3.9) ;N=30
Me=21.4x6.3um ; Qe=3.4
Elongated ellipsoid/Allantoid, smooth, septate, many oil droplets.
Basidia: Probasidia long clavate, developing 2 short apical protrusions that eventually become sterigmata on mature basida.
Taste and smell: non-distinctive
Habitat: growing on dead and downed lodgpole pine, very common in the area.

Found while doing off-trail work under permit with the city of Scottsdale. Three plants, less than an inch tall, flowers about the size of Logfia arizonica with which it was growing. I'm stumped. Considered but doubt: Logfia depressa (no mucros on leaves), Diaperia verna (flowers don't match) and Gnaphalium palustre (flowerheads appear solitary rather than capitate glomerules).

I returned to this site, an alkali wetland in Fish Slough yesterday (6/13/2023) to collect and photograph this enigmatic Carex. I collected a number of sheets and will be distributing them to others as suggested by Barbara Wilson. It is defenitely trigonous, short rhizomatous, glabrous throughout, perigynia about 3mm long with a short 0.5mm beak, teeth about 0,3 to 0.4 mm long. It keys to nothing (closest thing C. viridula) in TJM2. It keys to C. parryana in IMF, Apparently C. parryana var. brevisquama is a homotypic synonym for C. holmgreniorum. Thus I concur with Reznicek via Barbara Wilson over my earlier observation of this plant.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/106526060

While enjoying some backyard birding, my neighbor's cat ran out from behind my shed and reminded me why I wish all cat owners would keep their domesticated animals indoors. http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/flickers-warblers-and-cats

While doing homework on a bench, this chipmunk jumped on to see what I was doing. I let her take a look but she only got to the search bar and gave up. So I put on some of my chipmunk pictures for her to see. Posed for observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129984459

Tubuhnya terdiri atas kepala, dada/thorax, dan abdomen/perut, memiliki 6 kaki yang bersendi, 2 pasang sayap, dan 2 antena. Memiliki antena pendek, organ pendengarannya terletak pada ruas abdomen. Belalang kayu tersebar di seluruh DIY sebagai herbivor. Sering di manfaatkan sebagai sumber protein hewani.

Photo 1:
Well Dang!
I'd been eagerly watching my owl box since an owl visited it for one day in mid October. Only squirrels had occupied it since. At dusk yesterday I got excited when I saw a face with white on it which would rule out a squirrel. Grabbed my camera, turned on the flash since it was so dark. Dang it, that is not an owl either. Has to be a pretty small possum to get in that opening.
Photo 2:
Taking The Slow Elevator Down
When the interloper saw me, it sank out of sight in slow motion, was hilarious to watch. I made all kinds of interesting and coaxing sounds but it refused to look out again. This morning no sign of it. Back to hoping that someday a screech owl couple will move in & raise babies.