Look who we saw sunning herself in the park.  And!!!  She waited until I took the picture, then flew away.

 

I love seeing Red-Spotted Purples, anywhere.  

 

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!

 

The Sumac trees are blooming all over.  As you approach the trees, you can HEAR the bees.  It sounds like the trees are humming.

 

There are thousands of bees in our trees;  you can even see the pollen they have collected on their hind legs.  

 

This tree is very near the garden, which makes me happy.  Thousands of pollinators are ready to work their magic in our garden.  Without the bees, we'd have no fruit:  that means no cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, tomatillos, peppers, apples, peaches.  We are so fortunate to have all these pollinators in our neighborhood.

 

I love the Sumac trees for bringing the bees close to the garden.  More garden friends.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!! 

 

 

 

We were walking in the park the other day at a pretty good clip, and all of a sudden Jon grabbed my arm, and I squealed.  We were about to step on a black snake warming itself in the sunspot.

 

We stopped and took its picture, of course.  About the same time, a little girl (about 5 or 6 years old) and her grandmother came up behind us.  They stopped too and we pointed out the snake, showing interest but no fear.  The little girl was very interested, and we told her that it wasn't a poisonous snake, that it actually keeps Rattlesnakes away.  She didn't get too close, but she was fascinated;  the grandmother looked a bit worried, but she took its picture too.  And we all watched as it made its way back into the woods.

 

So glad we got there first.  Otherwise, I believe the mood wouldn't have been fascination, it might have been fear.   

 

HAPPY HIKING!!

 

Looking at the cucumbers this morning, I came across this friend in the garden.  Praying Mantids eats insects, and are definitely my friends in the garden. 

 

This one was on a brownish leaf, so it was camouflaged brownish.  But, again, it was at my eye level, so I saw it right away.  

 

I love seeing these critters in the garden.

 

HAPPY  GARDENING!!!

 

Now they are coming in pairs!!!  

 

Last night we looked out toward the apple trees, and there were two mommas and each one had two babies.  

 

The first time I heard my sister speak of "the damn deer,"  I thought she was being facetious.  Well, now I know from my own experience that she was being truthful. They can be a nuisance, especially in such large numbers.

 

So, be careful when you are driving through the neighborhood;  where there's one, there are many.  And for some reason, they want to be on the OTHER side of the road.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Ever seen purple kale?  Me too.  I planted it this year from seeds, just to see.  Isn't it gorgeous?  The stems are purple and the leaves are too.  It tastes the same as the curly kale that I always grow, but this is just so pretty.  

 

Bonus!!!  The cabbage white butterflies haven't found it yet.  Maybe they don't recognize it as yummy kale.

 

Hey, Julie.  Wouldn't this make cool kale chips?  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

My friend Sharon would scream if she saw this picture.  She thinks that cats should be kept inside.

 

Well, this cat LOVES being outside.  He roams around our yard, hunting for mice, moles, lizards, and birds.

 

As you can see, he thinks he's going to catch a bird.  He didn't, but he sure had fun trying.

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

 

 

Checking out my sage yesterday, and I spotted this!!!  It's a Yellowjacket nest.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but it's bigger than a softball, and smaller than a soccer ball.  Maybe 6 inches across, and it is ALIVE with Yellowjackets.  

 

Glad I saw it before I touched it.  They can be aggressive.  

 

Sorry, but it had to go, so I called my friend (my hero) and he took care of it, with that awful Wasp and Hornet Killer spray.  Again:  sorry!!!

 

I guess we won't be eating any sage from that area anymore this year.  YUK!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

At the beginning of our walk in Meeks Park, we saw Mrs. Mallard and nine little baby mallards.  They had this perfect feeding ground, in a big puddle, away from the busyness of the river.  

 

I can't help it, but I always think of Robert McCloskey's  Make Way for Ducklings.  We always laugh and name the eight little ducklings out loud:

Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Oack, Pack, and Quack.  Hahaha!!!  JKLMNOPQ.  So is this ninth one's name Rack?  I think so.

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

We have been seeing the Scarlet Tanager for the last week.  Today I saw him in the yard, and got his picture.  I guess they are ground feeders.  

 

I hope Gizmo doesn't see him.  

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!