What is it?

It's growing in the space that used to be a vegetable garden, and which now plays host to whatever can get its roots established.  That includes naturally-occurring weeds and grains that sprout from uneaten bird seed.  I don't think this is related to either of those, though.  Time to call on Google Images.

Later: OK, everyone who had Solanum rostratum may come pick up your prize,  namely:  my eternal admiration.  Now, how about that insect perched on top of it?

"Specialization is for insects."

This whole thing started a couple of nights ago, when I sat down on my rocker-recliner and found that the first half of that description no longer applied.  

I turned over the chair and saw only powdered padding and copious amounts of cat hair.  Remembering that I'd found a chair repairman a few years ago, I dug out the man's business card and prepared for another unexpected hundred-dollar expense.

But last night, I looked again with a brighter light and saw a bar crossing the front of the chair.  At one end, a bolt and nut held some mechanism in place.  At the other end was a hole where a similar bolt and nut belonged.  The two pieces of the broken bolt lay under the half-connected mechanism.

So I decided to go to the nearby hardware store and pick up a replacement bolt, and use the nut from the broken old one.  It looked doable, in other words.

This morning, I worked until 11:45 and came downstairs to find this half-grown rabbit outside our front door, enjoying the clover.

Driving to the hardware store, I looked across the road at an intersection and saw more suburban wildlife.

These wildflowers were growing along the gravel road across the intersection.

I'll have to use Google Images or some app to identify this likely common wildflower.

Edit:  Google Lens produces a number of results, and after looking at them my guess is that it's Scentless Chamomile.  

At the hardware store, there was a staff member in the small hardware section, and he quickly identified the type and size of bolt I was looking for.  I bought two, because if one of them had broken, the other was liable to as well.

Back home, there was a bit of work getting the carriage bolt to stay in place while I ratcheted the nut tightly.  But in a couple of minutes, I flipped the chair back upright, sat down on it, and rocked once more.  

So, it's fixed and it cost 27 cents.  An unexpected 27-cent expense is OK; I can handle that.  Besides, I got to see some wildlife and I'm going to learn more about wildflowers.  See why I'm filing this under "accomplishments"?  

Just in time for the summer equinox

Not to be confused with the wild Dame's Rocket that was growing on area roadsides a few weeks ago, some true phlox ("Wendy House" by name, according to Google Images) has blossomed once more next to our driveway.  This phlox can be bought wherever plants are sold, but like other flowers on our property, these happened to volunteer one year and have never left.
 

New Arrivals

Orange Bao and grey guy Eggroll are two of the kittens currently being cared for at Tabby's Place.

Chicory: The Return

First came violet season, then Dame's Rocket (the official name for faux phlox) and wisteria, and in the last day or so the chicory began to appear.  

To get home from Tabby's Place, I drove west on route 12, then took the river road to Milford and crossed the free bridge into PA.  As I stopped before turning onto the river road,  I saw to my right multiple wildflowers and made a hard right into the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant. 

In addition to chicory, there was daisy fleabane, and a yellow flower I couldn't identify.  All this was growing next to a bright red fire hydrant.  All the color stopped me in my tracks and fit the description of a picture I couldn't not take.

The sun was providing good light, but a strong spring wind made it impossible to be sure that any image would turn out clear.  Just hit it and hope.  I'll have to drive this way and look for it again next time.

These are the good old days

Sunday afternoon, we all met at the Longhorn Steakhouse on Grape Street to celebrate Diana's 18th birthday.

They had re-gifted us a $100 Longhorn card at Xmas, so we were ahead of the game going in. But everyone ordered a 6-ounce filet, plus two appetizers, with drinks, and a chocolate lava cake afterward.  With the tip, a fraction short of the 18% on the slip of paper, it still cost $150 out of pocket.  Five people, $250.00 of food and drink.  Whoa.

$75 to fill the gas tank, $300 a month for internet/cable/Tivo, and it's a good thing I'm still working.  

Seen on our walk this evening

We walked just after sunset, with just enough light left to allow us to walk to the southwestern corner of the development and back.  Before then, it had been in the mid-80's and we had taken refuge in the air conditioning.

At the corner, I saw two small rabbits in the yard across the street.  Then on the way back, I pointed out the strawberry moon rising off to our right.  When we reached the house next door, I spotted one more rabbit, an adult, quietly nibbling clover in the side yard.  

I had already seen two adult cottontails charging and avoiding each other in the yard behind ours.  When they finished their play and hopped away separately, I pulled out the hose and sprayed the bird droppings on the deck railing.  Then I went downstairs and got a dollar-store brush and spray cleaner and removed as much of it as I could.