A few days after seeing the Luna Moths, we saw this moth on our Rosemary bush.  

 

Seek told us that is a Polyphemus moth, a native giant silk moth.  Its average wingspan is 6 inches!!!

 

It gets its name from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus.  See the purplish eyespots on the hind wings?

 

Thought you'd like to see it.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look who Jon saw on his morning walkabout.  Not one, but two Luna Moths!!!  On the golf cart tire!!!

 

If you put your thumbs and your index fingers together to make an oval, that's how big they are!!!  And such a gorgeous green.

 

We always feel privileged to see them.  If these two are doing what we think, we will be seeing more Luna Moths in the future.   I hope you get to see one (or more)  in your travels.  

 

KEEP LOOKING!!!

 

While I was looking at the Sweet Shrub flowers, Jon noticed this Cicada.  Look at the red eyes!!!!

 

I put the Seek app on it and it said Pharaoh Cicada, Magicicada septendecim.  It is sometimes called the 17 year locust.  It is native to Canada and the United States, and is a periodical cicada with a 17-year life cycle.  We've heard that this is their year for emerging.  

 

I guess we'll know soon enough.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

I hope you are still checking in on the Yorktown bluebirds.  The babies are getting big, and you can see the momma feeding them.  They look almost ready to fledge though, so you better do it soon.

 

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

Be sure to check the bluebird nest box in Yorktown.  The eggs should be hatching in the next few days.  There are five eggs!!!  And the momma bird has been brooding them for the last 12 days.  It's almost time for them to hatch.  

 

 

AND!!!   The other momma bluebird has almost finished her nest.  Be sure to look there too.  https://wbu-yorktown.click2stream.com/   So exciting!!!

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

You know those holding ponds down by the creek?  All winter they have been full of water, and several weeks ago frogs or toads laid their eggs in them.  Well, the eggs have hatched into tadpoles, and now the water is receding.  That seems like a sad thing, but look how many tadpoles there are!!!  YIKES!!!

 

 

No kidding!!!  We don't need that many frogs or toads.  But we are happy for the recent rains, so some of them can survive.  I love the sounds they make. 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

 

The Bluebirds are building a nest in another box.  You can go there and watch them building the nest.  

 

https://wbu-yorktown.click2stream.com/   You can thank my sister, Linda for sharing this fascinating experience with us.   ;D

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

I checked the Bluebird nest in Yorktown yesterday,  and there was 1 little blue egg in it.  Today there are two!!!  Time to start checking every day to see the progress.  I couldn't remember how long it takes, so I asked Siri, and she sent me to VirginiaBluebirds.org and this is what I found out:

 

 

FASCINATING!!!  Go check it out, and watch for yourself.

 

 

Thanks Linda for teaching me about the Wild Birds Unlimited Angelcam.  LOVE IT!!!

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

My friend calls these little creatures "tree rats."  

 

I know we see squirrels everywhere:  in the yard, on the road, up in the bird feeders, and on and on.  But!!!  They usually run off when you get close enough to take a picture.  Well, this one was so intent on his acorn or whatever, that I was able to focus my telephoto lens and get three pictures.  He was still for at least 15 seconds.  

 

Anyway, I love this picture.  This one's for you, Nick.  ;D

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

When we walked the loop on Monday, it was warm, but there was still a little snow and ice around.  

 

I took this picture looking down into the water;  you can even see a bit of ice on the surface.  See all those dark dots?  They are frog eggs.  We see them every year about this time, and watch as they hatch and grow into tadpoles and then into frogs.  It is fascinating to see the progression.

 

Next time you're down by the creek, be sure to look in the holding ponds.  All three ponds have frog eggs in them.  

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!