Imperial moth

Running:
Another warm week of running. I managed a few more miles this week, but still shy of 50.

Monday 7/5 was a holiday for me. I went out for a morning 9.5 mile run in 1:20:39. It was really hot and sticky and my leg was actually a little sore from the bee stings a couple days prior.
I took my off day on Tuesday. The forecast had been for rain but we ended up getting none. Didn’t matter as I needed the rest day anyway.
Wednesday was back to work. I did my usual 5 mile route in 36:23
Thursday was the same route in 90 degree weather in a slower 40:03. Half way through I was stuck in a popup thunderstorm and pulled into the shelter at Marx park to wait it out a few minutes.
Friday I ran 5 miles at work, but did a different route. I ran it in 39:09.
Saturday I got out early and ran the same 9.5 miles as Monday. I ran it in a little faster 1:16:02.
Sunday I made it out for my first longer run in several weeks. I ran 15 miles in 2:05:21. There were lots of turkeys and deer out and about during this run.
WTD 49
MTD 80
YTD 1419
ODO 26585


Hunting:
Still no word on the status of the drawing for hunting rights on the Waukesha Land Conservancy. I assume the drawing was held last week. In this case I know no news is bad news so hopefully this week I hear something.

I know it’s only July, but it’s time to get the bow out for some practice. Like last year I will try to get out a couple times a week for a few shots. Decision time is also coming up on what to do with the other half of the food plot.

I’m thinking if I mow down the dead brassica’s and all the seed heads the plot should reseed itself. My biggest worry is things being taken over by weeds and then running out of time to do anything this year.
I suppose worse case is I have 6 rows of corn standing so I at least have something.

Gardening:

Found this huge moth on the driveway the other day. The wingspan is almost as big as my hand. This is called an Imperial moth. It is rather rare in our area, but is apparently at the northern fringes of its range.









Finished trimming all the Spruce and pine trees in my yard this weekend. Here is a picture of 4 of them. I counted 21 of them along with 9 white pine. Getting to be a big job now that most are over 20 ft tall.

The pond seems to be doing quite well this summer. The lilies are filling out nicely and started blooming the last couple weeks. I found a lotus plant growing in between the water irises. My guess is the seed came from the neighbor’s pond a couple years ago when he gave me a few different color irises.

I noticed over the weekend that the pumpkin plants have started to show the first blooms. From past experience its right when this happens there is an explosion of cucumber beetles.  If I’m not vigilant to keep the cucumber beetles off I risk losing the whole crop to the bacterial wilt these bugs drag around with them.