Sunday, September 8, 2024

 


The weather has been perfect lately, with warm days and cool, leave-your-windows-open-nights, and as the sun rose this morning, I went to check on the monarch caterpillars in my garden. I located five hanging upside down from the leaves of a large yucca plant, attached by silken threads. I was away for a good part of the morning. When I returned, they had already wiggled out of their exoskeletons, revealing the chrysalises inside. The chrysalises are beautiful jewels of soft green with glittering gold dots, and they provide a perfect home for what will, we hope, emerge as the king of butterflies. 

Stay tuned.


Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Contemplating Caterpillars


When I found thirteen monarch caterpillars clustered on my purple milkweed yesterday morning, they were pleasantly plump. They had eaten a large portion of leaves and were busy finishing their breakfast. By this afternoon, the number had dropped to eight. Failing a hungry bear or a wasp attack*, five had most likely left the milkweed and were looking for a place to attach and form a chrysalis. I spotted one on a nearby yucca.



By dinnertime, the caterpillar had firmly attached itself to the yucca leaf with silk threads. It hung in a "J" shape, appearing lifeless. If everything goes well, it will hang there for about eighteen hours or longer before forming a beautifully striking chrysalis. I hope to witness this transformation; I'll share it with you if I do.



Incidentally, the purple milkweed probably won't bloom, which is disappointing. It's a stunning native plant. However, anticipating observing a chrysalis and the potential emergence of a new butterfly makes the sacrifice seem worthwhile.

*A few years ago, I watched a wasp pluck a caterpillar off milkweed and carry it away.


 

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Chip's Golden Escape




Seeing Gus the Golden Retriever interact with the wildlife in our backyard always amuses me. While he often enjoys watching squirrels out the window...





...they are ubiquitous, and sometimes, he tires of them.





However, there's a chipmunk that frequents the deck (we'll call him Chip). When Chip appears, Gus's attention is riveted by the small, furry ball of energy with his quick, darting movements. I'm grateful for the diversion that the tiny creature provides him.



On a recent pristine morning, I slid the deck door open, unaware of Chip's presence. Gus was out the door in a split second; he pounced and held the panicky fur ball in his mouth. My heart raced as the only sound in the vicinity came from me, yelling at the top of my lungs, 'Gus, drop it!' In that heart-stopping moment, I feared the worst. In retrospect, I shouldn't have let him watch that documentary about lemmings in Scandinavia, their fate sealed by the jaws of wild creatures. But hindsight is 20/20. To my immense relief, Gus let go, and the seemingly unharmed chipmunk made a hasty escape before diving into his hidy hole underground.


I spent the day in anguish, wondering about the psychological aftermath of the attack on Chip. Had Gus lost his primary source of indoor entertainment? But Chip proved to be resilient. Contrary to my expectations, he returned that afternoon, busily stuffing his cheeks with sunflower seeds while keeping a vigilant eye on his escape route. Gus, innocent and carefree, was unfazed by my worries and didn't seem surprised that his furry friend had reappeared.


After the attack, I pictured Chip back in his den, trembling in his recliner for a few minutes, then, determined, picking up the pieces of his day and heading to the cupboard for a bit of chocolate. There are just some things sunflower seeds can't fix.



Saturday, March 11, 2023

GREEN

GREEN cover spread

I just finished a book for young children entitled GREEN. It's about spring's arrival after a long winter.
You can see the entire book here: https://www.blurb.com/books/11501641-green


GREEN spread 1


Friday, May 6, 2022

Forest Songs

male rose-breasted grosbeak

After hearing reports of these birds in the area, a pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks finally showed up in our yard. The male is stunning with his bold colors...


male rose-breasted grosbeak
...and he wears his heart right out in front, where everybody can see it.


female rose-breasted grosbeak on tree limb


The female looks like, well, like she has a good personality.


male orchard oriole

Orchard orioles have also made an appearance here lately. They are smaller than the Baltimore orioles, and instead of the brilliant orange feathers of their cousins, theirs are dark russet brown.


male orchard oriole on tree limb



The males of both species may be singing the most beautiful songs in our forest, but I think the grosbeak is my favorite by a feather. You can hear them here: