Heat Jumps the Gun, So Do Ticks

 

Unusually warm April afternoons now jolt nymph ticks awake weeks before summer break, stretching the danger season for Lyme disease and the red-meat allergy alpha-gal. One bite in your backyard can rewrite grocery lists and vacation plans—and the earliest bites are arriving sooner each year.

Trim, Border, Breathe

Weekly mowing that holds turf near three inches drops soil humidity and steals the shade ticks crave. Follow each cut by bagging clippings so they don’t mat into damp shelters. Then pour a three-foot ribbon of gravel or wood chips where lawn meets woods; mice, chipmunks, and deer dislike its hot, scratchy surface, leaving hitchhiking ticks outside play zones.

Let the Sunlight In

Limb low branches, thin shrubs, and remove brush piles to let midday light and wind sweep the ground. Swap deer-magnet hostas for rosemary, catmint, yarrow, or switchgrass—ornamentals that add color without becoming lunch. More light, fewer deer, fewer tick eggs.

Hit Ticks on Their Schedule

Slide permethrin tick tubes under sheds in April and again late August to intercept larvae on mice. Mist cedar-oil after May and September mowings when pollinators rest; rain means reapply.

Suit Up After Chores

Wear light socks over pant cuffs, treat clothes with permethrin, shower within two hours, and spin garments ten minutes on high heat. A fine-tipped tweezers by the mirror can turn a potential infection into a harmless speck.

Guard your grill nights before tiny terrors crash the party.

Read the full article → https://medium.com/@mowcowva/tick-time-ticking-earlier-yard-strategies-to-dodge-rising-alpha-gal-lyme-cases-4d816715608e

Traits of a Great Landscape Photographer

Landscape photography isn’t an easy feat, and it can be difficult to know whether or not you’ve found best landscape photographers or if you should keep looking. You want someone who understands light, can execute great compositions and doesn’t make the same mistakes over and over again. Whether you want to find a landscape photographer for your own needs or if you’re just looking to learn more about what makes them so good, these traits of good landscape photographers will help point you in the right direction.

They Ask Questions

Great landscape photographers will take time to get to know you and your vision for your shoot. A good photographer will learn what you’re looking for, and do their best to ensure that you leave with exactly what you hoped for. They ask questions throughout your planning process, and during your session as well. A great landscape photographer puts a lot of thought into every step they take so that they can deliver exactly what you’re looking for at every turn.

They Ask About Your Vision

A photographer who isn’t interested in hearing about your vision is probably one you shouldn’t be working with. The ideal Australian landscape photographers will talk with you at length about your tastes and interests, and try to hone in on what makes you tick.

They Love the Outdoors

If you’re in love with nature and spend as much time outdoors as possible, then it’s likely that you’ll find joy in exploring landscapes with a photographer. If they just don’t get it, though, then chances are you won’t find satisfaction in their work. So ask yourself: Is your future partner truly into enjoying nature, or is he more focused on capturing beautiful photos?

They Are Well-Versed In Their Art

A good landscape photographer understands how to maximise his or her potential when it comes to both equipment and skill. While some people will claim that gear is what separates a professional from an amateur, those in the industry know that it’s actually knowledge, practice and dedication. Good photographers will put in many hours to hone their craft because they are passionate about creating beautiful imagery, not simply because of their medium.

They Listen To Your Ideas

It may seem self-explanatory, but communication is an important component of every relationship—including your photographer-client one. You might have a vision for your landscape photos, and although it’s important to respect your photographer’s experience and advice, you should never be afraid to voice concerns or make suggestions. A great landscape photographer will listen to what you want and make adjustments as needed—they won’t just push through their own ideas in hopes that you won’t notice.

They Find Beauty in Everything

The best landscape photographers see inspiration and artistry in even mundane settings. If you're with someone who sees something spectacular in every place you go, then they might be a good landscape photographer. Just remember that their passion for seeing beauty everywhere could cause them to miss other aspects of their environment.