u/A-Plant-Guy

Go back to Mexico

I don’t make the rules

Found this thing near a seaside cliff. Thought that perhaps it could be a washed up buoy, but it seems far too high in elevation for that to be the case.

2012 Toyota Highlander. New front OEM strut assemblies installed by dealer. Clunking started from passenger side within a week. Took it back, they diagnosed sway bar links & bushings (and intermediate steering shaft but that’s a common issue with these models which I’m very familiar with and is not the new clunking). Replaced sway bar stuff myself, clunking persists. I noticed today the center nut of the passenger/clunking side strut is off center in the mounting hole (see photos) - but driver’s/quiet side is centered.

Did a dry steering test, no issues. Shook tire top/bottom, left/right, no issues. Can’t hear the sound when pushing car up and down or side to side. Only when driving over bumpy/uneven road at ~40mph or lower.

I suspect it’s related to the strut install but I’m open to suggestions. And I’m wondering if the tower nut being off center is a sign of anything.

Thank you 🙏🏻 .

(inland suburban Connecticut, USA)

Prunus maritima

Finally getting a decent number! Didn’t know they needed cross pollination until a few years in. Planted some others which matured enough to really flower this year. The fruit is small and they look better than they taste but they’re not bad.

An absolute pollinator magnet when flowering and an insect predator magnet after that - lots of wasps on the hunt in early summer! Got some great photos I hope to post at some point.

(The plums photoed aren’t quite ripe yet)

I walk by it in the morning and afternoon and it catches my eye every time. Asclepias tuberosa can vary in its shade of orange but I don’t remember ever having one so saturated and bold. This photo doesn’t even do it justice.

Maybe they’re always like this and I’m just enjoying this season’s presentation 😂🤷🏻‍♂️.

(Connecticut, USA)

So many pollinator species stop by. Bees, wasps, beetles, flies, and butterflies. And I love the colors and textures. I look forward to these every year!

Rattlesnake master (white)
Liatris spicata (purple)
Helianthus helianthoides (yellow)
Against a backdrop of Inkberry

[Edited to add which plants are here]

Just in case a neighbor, friend, or family member wants some of my native plants which I would be happy to share. But maybe ten stacks is too many. Maybe…

(From r/LOTRmemes)

I was forced to post this here. Original thread

Cleaning off my bookshelves and thinking of all of you. These are the copies I’ve had since childhood.

(Connecticut, USA); Seems well maintained too 👀

(Connecticut, USA)

(Connecticut, USA)

Love these little gems when it rains.

(Connecticut, USA; suburban setting)

This sub gets a lot of perennial attention but trees and shrubs are just as important for pollinator and beneficial insect support! And not just because of their flowers!!

Trees and shrubs present here in the front yard of our 1/3 acre, including several not visible in this photo:
- Three beach plums
- fringe tree
- NJ tea
- button bush
- shrubby St John’s wort
- summersweet
- tulip poplar
- American persimmon
- Two bush cinquefoils (white flowering & yellow flowering)
- Two oakleaf hydrangea
- northern bayberry
- Virginia rose
- Sweetfern
- Cranberry viburnum
- [two non-native but delicious apple trees]
- northern bush honeysuckle
- scentless mock orange
- serviceberry
- black chokeberry
- (red) ninebark
- inkberry
- paper birch
- gray birch
- Annabelle hydrangea
- eastern redbud
- red maple
- pin oak

Piña colada was my favorite