To All the One-Legged Barbies In the World ...

I Have Your Shoes!!!

Duck Reflections ...

These are the DUCKS that should have been using the "Duck Xing" from a couple of posts back. I think these guys are probably pretty smart to have stayed in the water and let the geese take the road risks!

Join us for "Weekend Reflections"!

Through the Fence ...

The daisies are always brighter ...

On the other side of the fence!

Join us for "Friday Fences"!

Geese Can't Read ...

If geese COULD read, they would realize this is a "DUCK XING"!

This is my contribution to this week's "Signs, Signs"

I "Heart" Bumblebees ...

If you read my post from last week, you will know the story behind why I was standing in nearly 100 degree temperature, in a Target parking lot last Sunday, listening to Rozzelle Medina and others give impassioned and moving speeches about the unnecessary deaths of an incredible number of bees (mostly bumblebees).

((Yep, I'm in this shot (well, my head is in this shot!), taken by Molly Smith of the Oregonian ... I'm just above the speaker's right shoulder ... with the black shirt and glasses ...))

If you didn't read my post, "A Moment of Silence for the Bumblebees" is linked here.

There were an estimated 100+ people gathered for several hours, some even appropriately dressed!

 "ODA has confirmed that the bee deaths are directly related to a pesticide application on the linden trees conducted ... June 15 to control aphids. The pesticide product Safari was used in that application. Safari, with its active ingredient dinotefuran, is part of a group of insecticides known as neonicotinoids. According to investigators, the insecticide was originally applied to control aphids, which secrete a sticky residue while feeding, and can be a nuisance to parked cars. Dinotefuran and other neonicotinoids are a relatively new group of insecticides that are long-lasting in plant tissues. Because of this, the scientists are now concerned about whether the trees will still be toxic next year when they flower again."

I urge each and every person who reads this post to stop using these particular pesticides. They are mostly used by landscape maintenance companies, but are readily available at YOUR local hardware store ... where they are purchased and used (usually without reading those pesky warning labels!) without thought to the consequences.

The trees that were treated with the pesticides are now covered with mesh netting (I found the sun reflecting a misshapen heart on one of them)... which has helped a lot. But the bees are still dying. This stuff is so powerful that the bees are landing on the mesh ... and dying as they sit. You can see the silhouette of one on this shot.

I apologize for the disjointedness of this post. I have so much I would like to say, but if I said it all this post would be WAY too long.

I am simply going to say I will never ever use outside pesticides again.

and

I hope you feel the same.

I am linking this heart to "Guest Heart Thursday" at "Random Hearts".