We were walking the loop on Sunday, and saw this gorgeous thing.  Funny, though, we didn’t see it when we walked on Saturday.  Could we have missed it?  Or did it come up overnight?  I can’t believe we missed it.

 

I took its picture, and when we got home, we looked it up in our National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms.  I also checked my SEEK app, and online for POSITIVE identification.  YEP!!!  It is Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus cincinnatus.

 

Anyway, on Monday we went back and it was still there, so we harvested it.  It took a while to clean it, because it had grown up through all that gravel that you see in the picture.  All those rocks had to be dug out.  But we ended up with 1/2 a lunch bag full of gorgeous mushroom pieces to cook and add to our dinners for the next few days.

 

I am writing this on Thursday to let you know that we are still kicking, with no harmful effects.  

 

I am also here to implore you to POSITIVELY IDENTIFY any and all wild plants you harvest and plan to eat.  Don’t take my word for it.  Just because I don’t have a bad reaction, doesn’t mean that you won’t either.  Be VERY CAUTIOUS.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

The Wildbirds Unlimited store in Yorktown has their Angelcam up and running, and you can see the bluebirds in the nest.  I haven’t seen them yet, but I understand that as of April 27th, three of the four eggs have hatched.   Now we have the fun of watching the baby birds grow up.  Go there and take a look.  It is fascinating!!  Here’s the link: 

 

 

OOOH!!  I just clicked on the link, and momma bird is off the nest.  I saw three wiggly baby birds, and one little blue egg!!!  Thanks, Linda, for keeping us up to date.

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

 

 

Look who’s back in town.  Tiger Swallowtails.  

 

Love seeing them.  Hope you get to see some on your walks.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

We think Mr. Bluebird has found the nest box.  See him on the peach tree branch eyeing the nest box?  We also saw Mrs. Bluebird hanging around the tree, and investigating the box.

 

Now we just have to wait until we hear some baby bird noises coming from the box.

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

Photos through the screen aren’t that great, but I couldn’t help it when I saw this bluebird on the post just outside my window.   He’s been hanging around for the last few days:  on the screens, at the big windows, in the trees.  

 

We have also seen Mrs. Bluebird in the trees.  I hope they find the nest boxes soon, and start a little Bluebird family.  

 

I checked the Angelcam in Yorktown, but there is no activity there yet.  I guess it’s a bit early still.  I’ll provide the link when I see something going on.  It is so fun to see bluebirds up close.  

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

 

We saw this wooly worm as we started on our walk the other day.  Also called Wooly Bear, these caterpillars are the larvae of the Isabella tiger moth, Pyrrhorctia Isabella.  

 

We have all heard the folklore about wooly worms predicting winter weather, but I couldn't remember exactly, so I went to the Farmers' Almanac to read all about the folklore.  Very interesting.  Go there now if you'd like to learn more.   https://www.farmersalmanac.com/woolly-bear-caterpillar-facts-28792

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

As we started out for our friends' house for happy hour the other day, we had to wait for the turkeys to finish crossing the road.  

 

They weren't all that slow moving, so I was really lucky to get their picture.  

 

It is so fun to see all the wildlife in our neighborhood.  OK, maybe not ALL of it, but definitely some.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

As we were walking by Rosalie's garden the other day, we saw several Monarch butterflies flitting around in the zinnias and marigolds.

 

Yep, it's that time of year:  time for the Monarchs to be passing through on their way to Mexico.  I love it when they visit.

 

I hope they will be visiting my garden soon.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Have you seen all the mallards at Meeks Park?  It seems like just a couple months ago we were making way for ducklings.  Well, all those ducklings grew up and there are about a million mallards at the park.

 

Hey, Siri.  What is the collective noun for a group of mallards?  Her answer:  A group of ducks is called a raft, team, or paddling.

 

That was fun.  ;)

 

HAPPY END OF SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

Patty told me about this nest in one of Lee's dogwood trees.  I went looking for it, and couldn't see it, UNTIL I walked right up on it.  It is about 6 feet off the ground and really close to the road.  

 

Isn't it beautiful?  It is a hub of activity when the weather is warm and sunny.  A little calmer when it's cloudy.  I have read that between 400 and 700 wasps inhabit a nest this size.  I've also read that they are extremely aggressive at protecting their nest.  So DO NOT get too close!!!  

 

Patty took this picture, I hope using a telephoto lens from a safe distance.  Thanks, Patty.  

 

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!