Apple shoppers

Besides me, here are some of the nighttime shoppers enjoying this year of apple abundance.  Also captured were opossums, blue jays, squirrels and 2 or 3 cats.  I think the coyote was shopping for something besides apples.  The critters seem to notice the cam and sometimes come close to check it out before ignoring it.  I move the cam around when I see a trail or disturbed area. I caught the squirrels and blue jays raiding the garden sunflowers.

New Residents

I noticed this pod of past or future baby praying mantises (I think). The pod made me think of miniature space aliens. Well, guess that fits the look of these creatures too!  (Token shown for size)

Petunia and the Bees

Had a Petunia (the snake(s)) siting today, in the old garden space!  I hope she finds the new garden just past the old spot.  

I’m watching mason bee behavior as I’m trying to switch out of old lodgings to more maintainable habitats that can help prevent harmful bee parasites/predators.   It helps to have this wonderful covered area off the barn. 

Garden Visitor

I walked out to the garden today and noticed signs of a visitor in the old Petunia's Garden and all the way out to the new Petunia's Garden. Fortunately, I recruited a garden watchman who will be on duty starting today.  Introductions soon.

He walked right through the half I dug on Friday. I'll finish digging today.  Fortunately, he found nothing to eat! 

Baby Frog Season

The little frogs are climbing out of the water and enjoying the sun.  Others are still at the swimming stage.

Garden Helpers

I've been asking for recommendations for a gardener.  One who is okay with natural/rural landscaping and just keeping things trimmed and tended. Look who has applied.

The hillside rose bush is being tended by the largest garter snake I've seen here.

In the Garden

Many speedy bees in the lavender, borage

and flowering broccoli.

I harvested beets.

In the Pond

There were 5 more between the two rocks.   They're each smaller than my thumbnail, some a lot smaller. 

 

Welcome More Frogs

First one voice, then three, now to many to count.

Welcome Frogs

The tree frogs returned to our little pond about a week ago.  I thought they were late, but looking back to prior years, they may be early.    Adult frogs, above, and this post from 2010.

Young frog, above, and this post from 2012.  More young frogs here.

 

It must be time to order seeds.

A Visitor

I recently added this table near a bench in a loafing shed by the blackberries.   Someone has been by to visit it already.  

Since we moved to this house, the bench sat under a red oak tree.  This tree didn't survive the ice storm last winter.  I moved the bench to the loafing shed (3-sided shed for animials) to see if it might make a nice people loafing spot.   It does, so after cutting the wicked blackberries, I moved the table in also.

This brings back some memories - see the loafing shed and the bench in the last two pictures in this post:   http://petunias-garden.blogspot.com/2006/03/mulch-of-choice.html
The girls preferred a different loafing shed, however.  They always went to the one where they were fed. 

Woolly Bear Break

Another beautiful September day (& evening sunset).  I was trimming blackberries and found a rolled up banded woolly bear caterpillar in the destruction zone.   Before moving him to safety, I took a break and waited for him to unroll.    This link is to another caterpillar encounter.

 

Garden gloves don't cut it for blackberry day.  I searched for my heavier gloves and finally found them in The Truck.  Hmmm... I don't remember taking them anywhere...  This means I get driving rights for the truck again (now loaded with some of the blackberry vines and other stuff for the dump).

Tree Frog Freedom

The tree frogs are out of the water!  A week ago, they were still tadpoles.  For several days now, I've noticed them very quickly splashing back into the water when I walk by. 

There is no stopping them now that they are braving the world above the water.

I hope Petunia stays in the garden and sticks to the full menu of slugs (I saw her there today). 

Speedy Katydid

My cousin and I had to ask our Aunt about the singing we heard every evening in Oklahoma.  Frogs, birds or insects?  "Katydids," she said.  Then she called me over to show me one hanging out on her truck.  

 He wasn't into posing, and quickly kept moving directly toward me and the camera.  Aunt had him on her cane for a while, but he could walk to the end of it in no time.  She'd turn it around and he'd do it again.

He moved back to the car and then for me.  My aunt thought it was my shirt color, but I think he was going for anything taller than the car.  It took this photo before I realized how fast he was climbing. 

Finally, we relocated him to a plant, with no harm to either of us.

Garden Math

Neighbor asked if I had a place for some of her tomato seedlings from her amazing greenhouse. Yes, I have space for two.  The types she has are Legend and Golden Nugget. 

I like garden math:
2 plants 'taken' by e-mail = 11 plants in person.  Usually, we stop here.
This time, I can return with tadpoles and little frogs.

Can you see the shadow of Emily, the garden inspector?  See her garden story here and picture here.

Thanks, neighbor! 

To Be for 180 Days

What would you do with 180 days outside of your usual routine?  Maybe some of your usual routine, but without a lot of it, too?   Link to Sleepy Bee.

I'm off from work this summer.  The garden calls.  And so does the list of previously neglected to-do's beyond the garden.  My recycle basket was filled several times today.  Link to busy bee with pollen baskets (yellow spot on his leg).

...there are some flights scheduled.  Link to hummingbird and beans.

And this is just a reminder to pay attention!  Link to danger bee.

Evening Visitor

My neighbors called with a surprise this evening.  They had a rufous hummingbird in the garage and he wasn't leaving.  I don't blame him.  It is cold outside.  He flew around us, and the warm lights. It didn't take him long to find the feeder we put out for him.  I think he has done this before.

He was very colorful, as we could see while he was flying, but not in the photos.  He'll probably be on his way north tomorrow.

Here is the link to the hummingbird who visited our barn in 2007.

Future Tree Frogs

 April 28 - One tadpole, many almost tadpoles.
They are likely related to the frogs in this link.

April 7 - Frog eggs

April Blooms and Bees

This smaller cherry tree made it through the snow and ice earlier this year.  I know the bees and hummingbirds are missing our 3 large cherry trees damaged by the ice.  See them in bloom in this link.  We had to cut them back significantly so no blossoms this year (but a few new limbs are sprouting now).  

The mason bees are busy today.  Here is what their house looks like.  The fruit trees are blooming too, so they must have what they need.

Star magnolia.

Bees!

I see I'm not the first to find the blooming heather.