VETERANS CORNER – A love story: saying goodbye to a dedicated professional

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Veterans Affairs Regional Benefit Office Togus, ME

Gary Kennedyby Gary Kennedy

We veterans of many years don’t really like our visits to the Togus VA facility, however, there is a bright side to this happening, especially for those of us who frequent this facility at least monthly and through the years have had to be admitted for periods of time for both physical and in some cases emotional situations. For disabled veterans this is a way of life.

For most of us, we are thankful for the aid and assistance we receive in helping father time stay his hand in regards to our time here with family and friends. Some vets as seen through the eyes of the medical team can be very difficult to deal with. It takes a big caring and understanding person to look through eyes of compassion and understanding but many do. There are some veterans that actually feel love because of those who try to understand.

With all the new systems that have been put into place recently many things have changed. More and more vets are being allowed to join with private practices and are also being allowed to pick up prescriptions with three months supplies. Here I am addressing all veterans but in particular those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The reason for this is veterans suffering with this disorder get use to life being addressed a certain way and hopefully for them, no surprises or negative changes. When things do happen that negatively impact a veteran’s life it can be very threatening. Most veterans will tell you that they are use to things being done a certain way and by certain people. I understand that very well and so does Togus VA.

When my doctor of many years retired, I was beside myself with anxiety. I began an extensive search through the system to find a physician that could replace the one I had lost. I was a lucky guy and found one that turned out to be caring and compassionate and who had my best interests at heart. We have all had our share of bad experiences and most of us have found an alternative to the past.

However, along the way a person or persons will enter our lives which we never realized could mean so much to us until they are gone. I have recently spoken with some veterans who were beside themselves because they had just realized they had lost a friend. Most of us know of this event but there are still some who do not.

Marilyn Farley Emery, whose beautiful smile and warm caring words, recently passed away. Most of us didn’t know she was sick and she wasn’t about to tell us. Marilyn joined the VA Pharmacy team some 25 years ago at age 55. Her husband was the late Robert Emery. They had two children and several grandchildren. She was a member of the Randolph United Methodist Church and has family here in China. So most of this event is known by her family.

However, there are still some veterans who aren’t aware and hopefully this article will be a gentle way of letting them know. I, for one, will miss Marilyn’s beautiful smile and wit. It was always a joy to spend a few minutes with her. She knew us by name and always looked out for our best interest. No, she can never be replaced but hopefully her replacement will have the same passion for veterans as she did. If this becomes an issue for you, use the blog site and we can talk. Thank you Marilyn for the many years you gave with love and care to the veterans. God be with you our very dear and missed friend. You will always be one of us.

Give Us Your Best Shot! (Week of July 11, 2019)

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To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@fairpoint.net!

FAMILY TIME: Pat Clark, of Palermo, photographed these young foxes behind her home.

 

FULL BLOOM: The peonies are in full bloom in Ann Austin’s gardens, in China.

 

HEAD ABOVE: This male mallard duck was snapped by Michael Bilinski, in China Village, recently.

THE MONEY MINUTE: The new American Dream

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by Jac M. Arbour CFP®, ChFC®
President, J.M. Arbour Wealth Management

The dream has shifted. It used to be a house, a picket fence, a new car, two healthy kids, job security, and maybe a family trip once or twice per year.

Today, younger people are not as interested in buying homes, and they’re starting families later than previous generations. Younger people seem to be more interested in experiences and are more averse to debt, probably due to the debt they already amassed by attending college. Can you blame them?

One thing hasn’t changed and probably never will. Whether it’s purchasing a house or a new sports car or traveling to explore new cultures, we are all looking for a certain something from the things we buy or in which we invest. I believe this certain something is a feeling.

Think of it this way: People don’t buy cars. They buy performance. They buy luxury. They buy a symbol of success or achievement. They buy the freedom to get out of the house and go somewhere, quickly. They buy convenience and safety. Similarly, people don’t buy vacations. They buy adventures. They buy discovery. They buy memories. They buy a stress-free environment. They buy excitement and joy. In reality, we buy the emotions we believe the car or the vacation will give us.

Before you spend a dollar, whether for an object or an experience, or before you invest one, I suggest you ask yourself: What am I really doing? What am I hoping to get out of it? Is it probable that the result of the purchase or investment will align with the way I want to feel?

When you invest, in what form do you hope to earn a return? Is the return in the form of more money, an object or experience that money can buy, or is it a feeling that you seek? At JMA, we believe in the value of experiences as well as the value of a dollar.

Here is what I promise: When you ask yourself the right questions about what to do with your money, you increase the probability that the results you seek align with the results you experience.

See you all next month.

Jac Arbour is the President of J.M. Arbour Wealth Manage­ment. He can be reached at 207-248-6767.

Investment advisory services are offered through Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.

SCORES & OUTDOORS – Vernal pools: valuable small bodies of water

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A vernal pool in Maine. (photo from the University of Maine, vernalpools.me)

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

We talked about vernal pools several years ago, but I think it’s time to visit the subject again.

Vernal pools are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species unable to withstand competition or predation by fish.

Typically, a vernal pool has three phases each year: it is inundated in the winter, dries slowly in the spring, and completely dries in summer.

Vernal pools favor native species because non-natives can’t handle the conditions of the water staying on the landscape for as long as it does, but not long enough to support truly aquatic species.

A key formation of the vernal pools is due to the impermeable layer. Clay soils bind closely together and become inpermeable to water. When it rains the water percolates until it reaches the claypan and sits there, filling up with material and water.

Vernal pools can form anywhere that a depression fills with water. They can be found on bedrock of many kinds, or in grasslands that form over a variety of soil types containing silts and clays.

Vernal pools are so called because they are often, though not necessarily, as their maximum depth in the spring. Vernal means, of, relating to, or occurring in the spring. Vernal pools may form in forests, but they are more typically associated with grasslands and rocky plains or basins.

Despite being dry at times, vernal pools teem with life when filled. The most obvious inhabitants are various species of breeding frogs and toads. Some salamanders also utilize vernal pools for reproduction, but the adults may visit the pool only briefly. Other notable inhabitants are daphnia and fairy shrimp, the latter often used as an indicator species to decisively define a vernal pool. Other indicator species, at least in New England, are the wood frog, the spadefoot toad and some species of mole salamanders.

The major threats to vernal pool habitats are agriculture, urbanization, changes in hydrology, climate change and improperly managed grazing by livestock.

Therefore, in some areas, there are restoration efforts underway.

Vernal pools are prime habitats to be targeted for restoration work due to their value as hotpots of biodiversity as well as recent history of extensive destruction and degradation.

There has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding the practice of mitigation, which is the destruction of protected or endangered species and habitats, such as vernal pools, on the condition that whatever entity (business, land manager, etc.) is destroying the habitat will undertake the construction of a replacement habitat to “mitigate’ their impacts. This concept is difficult to apply to vernal pools, which represent a tremendous habitat value – but are difficult to successfully replicate using construction methods. Thus, it has been very controversial to apply mitigation strategies to vernal pool systems due to the obvious risks inherent in trying to reconstruct this kind of habitat. Although some agencies are now requiring two replacements for every vernal pool that is destroyed, in order to compensate for the low quality of man-made habitat.

With natural wildlife habitat threatened on daily basis, it is important to remember, and take into account, the value of these small bodies of water.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

At the 2010 All-Star game, who became the only Red Sox player to win a home run derby by defeating Hanley Ramirez in the final?

Answer can be found here.

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Mozart: Violin Concertos 1-5

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Adagio and 2 Rondos

Lena Neudauer, violinist, with Bruno Weil conducting the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrucken Kaiserslautern; SWR Music, 2 CDs, recorded 2013.

Lena Newdauer

Lena Neudauer, born in 1984, displayed extraordinary talent early in her childhood, but steered clear of starting her career during adolescence. In quoting her from the set’s liner notes, “I did not want to live in hotels and be constantly on stage when I was only 15.”

Instead, she kept learning under the tutelage of a few teachers, Thomas Zehetmair standing out among them. She performed with chamber music colleagues, a rock band on keyboards and percussion and got married and brought 2 children into the world. In short, she began her career with her feet firmly on the ground and considers her life a very happy one.

Neudauer’s set of Amadeus’s five Violin Concertos, Adagio in E Major and Rondos in B and C display a most level-headed intelligence, endearing sensitivity to every note and formidable virtuosity at the service of music. While quite familiar with Concertos 2-5 through recordings of Arthur Grumiaux, the Schneiderhan Brothers, Giaconda da Vito, Jascha Heifetz, Pinchas Zuckerman, Leonidas Kavakos etc., I find Neudauer’s performances worth adding to the shelves.

Her performances of the lesser-known 1st Violin Concerto, Adagio, and 2 Rondos bring out their own beauties, raising the desirability of this set for those who cherish these Concertos and who like fine music. Certain “music-critics in-the-know” have these works at a lower level than Mozart’s Piano Concertos, Symphonies and Operas; as far as I am concerned, they are full of claptrap. A set very much worth hearing and owning !

Recommended 4th of July music: anything by Aaron Copland, Stephen Foster, Edward MacDowell, Charles Ives, Burl Ives, The Weavers, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Samuel Barber, Charlie Mingus and other great American musical figures.

SOLON & BEYOND: Fifth graders hold “step-up” day; Solon alumni set for July 20

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Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, my Friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

Received this e-mail from Mary Frear: I hope that it is not too late to tell you about the Summer Suppers being held at the North Anson United Methodist Church the last two Saturdays of June and July : June 22, June 29, July 20, and July 27 at 5 p.m.

As always, I was very happy to receive the Solon School News: Best Wishes to Fifth Graders! We want to extend our best wishes and good luck to our fifth grade students who will enter sixth grade at Carrabec Community School in the fall.

The students attended a Step-Up Day activity at CCS on June 13 with the other fifth graders from across the district. They met their teachers, saw the school, and did some team-building activities.

We will miss our fifth graders. We wish them the best of luck in the next step of their educational journey.

Good-Bye And Good Luck To Karen Baker, Cody James, Joshua Knight, Madyson McKenney, Elenoar McKinnon, Aiden McLaughlin, Peyton Plourde, Mylee Roderick, Thomas Roderick, William Rogers, Aaron Soosman, Kaitlyn Soucie and Fisher Tewksbury.

Students in grades K-2 created a beautiful memorial to Lisa Weese, our secretary who passed away on April 17. You can see it in our library. There will be more School News next week, it’s been a long time since I’ve had this much news to share, all at once!

Received the following from the Secretary of the Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club, Sarah Craig: Last 4-H meeting was held on June 8 with Cooper Dellarma as president. We talked about what we would be using our money on.

When the meeting was over we went on a field trip to Pipers Farm. They taught us how they milk the cows and showed us how they make/get food for cows. They then showed us the baby and pregnant cows and what they do with them

On June 20 we will be going to Lake George. We will go swimming and more fun activities.

Linda French, secretary for the Solon Alumni sent me the following : Reunion day is July 20, 2019, at the Solon Elementary School, beginning at 9:30 with the registration and coffee hour with the business hour starting at 10:30 a.m. The auction will follow the business hour. Please remember your auction item. Last year we made $553 on the auction. This was matched by the Meader Family in memory of their parents Everett and Arlene Meader making a total of $1,106. Diane Oliver was the auctioneer.

Lunch will begin at 1 p.m. and will be catered by the Solon Pine Tree Club.

The class of 1969 will celebrate their 50th reunion. Members are Mae Baxter, William Farnham, Penny McQuilkin Rogers, Arthur Myers II, Reginald Padham, Dana Parsons, James Perry, Charles Philpot, Jean Quimby Wooster, Jo Rancourt Holden, Bruce Robbins, Linda Stickney Stewart, and Roberta Tewksbury Proctor. So class of 1969 we hope to see you here. This is the last class that graduated from Solon High School and they always have a good turnout.

Fifty-six alumni and guests attended last year. Allen J. Foss received a scholarship for $1,100. Jo Rancourt Holden was elected as the new treasurer replacing Brenda Padham who retired.

Deaths reported were Carolyn Waugh, class of 1931, Pat McCarty Coro 1954, Stephen Moody 1971 Carrabec, Also some well known community members Joe Wooster, Darrell Roderick, Margaret Dellarma, Pauline Mayhew, Luke Tewksbury, and Howard Rogers. Also Steven Hartley who attended Solon High School for three or four high school years and then transferred to Fairfield in 1963.

And now for Percy’s memoir:

God Grant Us Hope and Faith and Love

Hope for a world grown cynically cold,
Hungry for power and greedy for gold…
Faith to believe when within and without
There’s a nameless fear in a world of doubt…
Love that is bigger than race or creed,
To cover the world and fulfill each need…..

(These words were part of a statement by Helen Steiner Rice.)

I’M JUST CURIOUS: July crazy holidays

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by Debbie Walker

Once again it is time to give you ideas for more holidays and fun for the month of July. I don’t dream these up myself. I get them from all over the internet. There are more than I can fit in one column.

I just noticed with this month’s collection they have some events posted for a certain week of the month. Ex: Week 2 of July is listed as ‘Nude Recreation Week.’ They didn’t include a link to the info for that one. Sorry. However, Week 3 is ‘Capture the Sunset Week:’ grab your camera and watch those evenings for the perfect weather sunset evening and take some pictures, but mostly just enjoy!

July 1: International Joke Day – If folks get in the habit of one happy funny day it might catch on to other days! Share your jokes and smiles.

July 2: I Forgot Day – This is not a day to remember! What are you forgetting, can you remember? Is it important? Hopefully not.

July 3: Stay Out Of The Sun Day – This day encourages us to keep cool in the shade then you will be ready for your outside activities on the 4th.

July 4: Did you know that July 4th is not just Independence Day but also National Country Music Day and Sidewalk Egg Frying Day. It’s up to you which one you choose to celebrate but giving notice to Independence Day would be nice.

July 5: It’s been a year since mom left us. Miss you Mom.

July 6: International Cherry Pit Spitting Day – The record is 100’ 4”! Can you do it?

July 10 Teddy Bear Picnic Day – Can you imagine how happy your children or grandchildren will be when you celebrate this lunch with them and their favorite bear. Happy Bday, Mim!

July 13: This is a Friday the 13th. It is a day to celebrate safely!

July 14: Pandemonium Day – Don’t let today shake you up. Just go with the flow in your calm manner and sanity will return. Big Deep Breath will get you calm.

July 14: National Nude Day – It is a way to keep cool on a hot, sticky summer day. Nudist believe the body is a beautiful and meant to be displayed. I like clothes.

July 17: Peach Ice Cream Day – I just had peach ice cream last week in Georgia. Good stuff! Peach Ice Cream, jelly, spread, candy, wine, the list goes on!

July 20: Moon Day – Enjoy this holiday watching Apollo 13.

July 22: Ratcatcher’s Day – If you see a Ratcatcher today wish them a happy day! It’s an old story from back in the year 1284, and the Pied Piper.

July 25: Thread the Needle Day – A day for those who sew (and can still see to thread a needle). It also means to walk a fine and difficult line between two issues or things.

July 31: Mutt’s Day – If you own a mutt then this is the day to celebrate a great breed, The Mutt. I believe they are even called Designer Dogs now! Enjoy!

I’m just curious what you would invent for a special day. Let me know, maybe we could start something new. Thanks for reading and as usual any comments or questions are appreciated anytime.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: The Man Who Came to Dinner

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The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

The Man Who Came to Dinner

starring Monte Woolley, Bette Davis, Reginald Gardner, Ann Sheridan, Jimmy Durante, Mary Wickes, Richard Travers etc.; directed by William Keighley; Warner Brothers, dvd, released New Year’s Day, 1942, 112 minutes.

Monty Woolley

Although Monty Woolley (1888-1963) appeared in a number of other films and plays, his most well-known role is that of the radio commentator, lecturer and boa-constructor wit, Sheridan Whiteside, known as “Sherry” to his select friends. The 1942 film came on the heels of several hundred performances on Broadway of this George S. Kaufman/Moss Hart play, during which Woolley honed his character to the most exacting level.

Whiteside was based on the legendary Algonquin Round Table wit, Alexander Woolcott (1887-1943), his own larger-than-life heft and personality worthy of another column.

The plot begins when Whiteside and his secretary of many long-suffering years, Maggie, played by Bette Davis, stop for a lecture in an Ohio city during the cold of winter and accept an invitation to a luxuriant house for dinner. He walks up the slippery front steps, falls and breaks his hip. Because he is stuck in a wheelchair for an unknown number of weeks, he seizes control of the house from its rightful owners and launches a dictatorship of everyone and everything in it.

The insults and other comments among Whiteside, Maggie and others are non-stop. Meanwhile, Maggie can hold her own with sassing him back and forth, Bette Davis delivering one very fine performance in the film.

Other cast members give performances of their lifetimes. Ann Sheridan portrays Lorraine Sheldon, a successful actress, and long-time friend of Whiteside and mutual enemy of Maggie who travels from Florida to visit Whiteside for as long as she, not Whiteside, wants. Her manipulations of everyone around her add lots of comedy to the film.

Jimmy Durante

Jimmy Durante plays another friend, Banjo, and film comedian, who drops in to visit Whiteside on his way from Hollywood to Nova Scotia because he wishes to feast on salmon in eastern Canada and avoid one of his girlfriends whom he had promised to visit in New York City. Whiteside refers to Banjo as the “reform school fugitive” and invites him to stay for as long as both Whiteside and Banjo want. Banjo’s initial indecision about the amount of time to take advantage of Whiteside’s hospitality leads to Durante’s classic song-and-dance sketch, Did You Ever Have the Feeling that You Wanted to Go and the Feeling that You Wanted to Stay?

Space limits details on additional members in the cast but Reginald Gardiner, Mary Wickes and Richard Travers are worthy of very honorable mention.

Quotes from the film:

Whiteside: ‘Banjo, my lad, you’re wonderful. I may write a book about you.’
Banjo: ‘Don’t bother. I can’t read.’
Maggie: ‘Sheri, the next time you do not want to see anybody, just let me know and I’ll usher them right in.’

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Safeguard Your Smile, Wherever You Go

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(NAPSI)—Smile. It’s vacation time—and there are so many paths to fun and adventure close to home.

Try winding your way through the Wisconsin Dells water parks or sailing Lake Superior.

If you’re thirsting for Wisconsin history—and great local brews—there’s Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward. Relax in gracious Lake Geneva. Or gear up for great hiking and biking in scenic Door County.

So pack your bags, and don’t forget your toothbrush—healthy teeth and gums don’t take a vacation.

To help, here are some toothsome tips to protect your oral health en route.

Before you go

Now is a good time to think of your last regular dental checkup. If you can’t recall, you might want to check in with your dentist and look for any imminent problems. If you take care of them before you go, it’ll be easier to keep the fun flowing.

Have toothbrush, will travel

Whether you’re road-tripping or hopping on a flight, your oral hygiene routine shouldn’t take a backseat to fun. Steer clear of dental troubles with regular brushing and flossing.

Visit the travel toiletries section of a drug or discount store. You’ll find plenty of essentials to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy on the go—including travel-sized toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.

Especially handy for long flights or camping: disposable mini-toothbrush packs. They don’t require water or toothpaste and fit easily into tiny purses, too.

Go ahead, vent (your toothbrush)

Moist environments breed bacteria, so keep your toothbrush as dry as possible while on the go. A vented toothbrush carrier will do the trick.

When you reach your destination, take your toothbrush out of its case so it can dry thoroughly. Keep it away from the sink and at least several feet from the toilet. (Flushing makes bacteria airborne.)

Water you waiting for?

Everyone should have a personal water bottle that’s easy to hold and carry. You’ll be less tempted by sodas and sugary drinks that aren’t very sweet to your teeth, and more likely to drink water.

“Drinking water, especially fluoridated water, helps reduce cavities and protects precious tooth enamel by washing away harmful acids and bacteria,” explained Dr. Fred Eichmiller, Vice President and Chief Science Officer for Delta Dental of Wisconsin. “And if you add ice to cool down your drink, don’t chew it. Ice cubes can crack open fillings—which can crash the best vacation plans.”

Swish, rinse, repeat

If you can’t brush after indulging in sticky, sweet treats (such as s’mores), just swish. Keep water nearby while you’re traveling. Dr. Eichmiller encourages patients to make a habit of swishing after meals in any case to clear lingering food particles from your mouth.

Brace for emergencies

If you or anyone you’re traveling with has orthodontia, it’s smart to pack some dental wax. If a bracket or wire pops loose, the wax will protect your gums and mouth from injury until you can see your orthodontist.

Do you develop canker sores from spicy or salty indulgences? Then remember to pack a small tube of benzocaine (over-the-counter topical anesthetic). Applying ice or rinsing with warm salt water can also help.

Gum’s the word

Sugar-free gum can be a lifesaver after meals on the go, especially if you can’t brush away food particles. Gum chewing greatly increases the production of saliva, which can help reduce tooth decay. It can also satisfy your sweet tooth, so you can say no to snacks that are high in sugar.

The best vacation photos are the ones in which everybody’s smiling. So keep these tooth-saving tips in mind wherever you wander—and enjoy.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: It’s a bumble bee! It’s a hummingbird; no, guess again

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Hummingbird moth, left, taken by Pat Clark, of Palermo, and an internet photo of a hummingbird moth.

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Last week I received an email from a reader, who resides in Palermo. She sent a photo and asked what kind of bumble bee it was? She had photographed it feeding on her lilacs.

At first glance, I thought it was a sphinx moth – better known as a hummingbird moth. But the more I looked at it, the less sure I was. It was a photo taken from behind, and most of its characteristic suggested hummingbird moth, but some of the coloration didn’t seem right. I began doubting myself.

I sent the photo off to Michael Parisio, forest entomologist with the Maine Forest Service, who confirmed it was a hummingbird clear wing moth. His comment was that the moth had done its job very well, fooling the photographer into thinking it was something else than what it really was.

I was right, after all.

The hummingbird clear wing moth, Hemaris thysbe, is olive green and burgundy on its back, and white or yellow and burgundy on the underside. Its wings are transparent with a reddish-brown border. It has light-colored legs, which combined with the lack of striping on the underside, is diagnostic. Beating their wings rapidly, they hover to collect nectar from a variety of flowers. The combination of its appearance and its behavior commonly leads to it being confused with a hummingbird or bumble bee. That certainly was the case with our reader.

They are found in a large portion of North America, with a range extending from Alaska to Oregon in the west and from Newfoundland to Florida in the east. It is a migratory species and is most common in southern Ontario and the eastern United States. They have two broods a year in the southern portion of its range, but only one in the north. The caterpillar feeds on honeysuckle, dogbane and several types of fruit trees.

As a caterpillar, it burrows into the soil to overwinter as a brown, hard-shelled pupa. In the late spring, it emerges as an adult moth. They lay green eggs on the underside of plant leaves, which hatch in about a week. Development takes four weeks, after which the caterpillar spins a cocoon at ground level. Two to four weeks later a moth emerges for a second breeding cycle before summer’s end in southern climates. It has a single mating cycle per year.

It has minimal economic impact to humans, acting neither as a crop pollinator nor as a pest. The moth is a flower pollinator, especially some species of orchids. They are not endangered nor threatened.

Due to the variable appearance of the moth, it has often been mistakenly described as multiple distinct species. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius, in 1775, as a Sesia thysbe. The species name is likely a reference to Thisbe, half of a pair of ill-fated lovers in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The name thus associates the blood-stained scarf of Thisbe to the reddish-brown coloration of the moth.

Hummingbird moths are members of the sphinx moth family. Their size makes them different from the actual hummingbird. The ruby-throated hummingbird can be three inches long, while the hummingbird moth is much smaller at 1-1/2 inches long.

While most sphinx moths fly at night, hummingbird moths fly during the day. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including open meadows, forest edges, and suburban gardens. They feed on flower nectar, dipping in a long thin proboscis. Both the Palermo resident and Parisio spotted hummingbird moths feeding on lilac bushes.

Adult hummingbird moths feed on nectar, so filling your garden with native nectar-bearing plants is a great way to attract hummingbird moths, as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds and butterflies.

Mystery solved!

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In inches, how big is the diameter of a basketball hoop?

Answer can be found here.