Visitors

They were looking for open water to forage in, and there’s a wee bit on our pond.

Snow clumps

The other day clumps of snow fell off the trees in lines, producing some interesting effects. More photos below the cut; click to show individual images.

Nadata gibbosa

Met this little friend on the front steps today. It was pretty sluggish, so I was able to get some excellent photos. (Thanks for turning around so we can see both ends at the same time, buddy!)

It took me a little while to figure out what it was, but I finally determined that it’s the caterpillar of the rough prominent (or white-dotted prominent) moth. They like maples, so I put it on the nearest tree. I’ll keep an eye out after the leaves drop; maybe I’ll have another cocoon to raise this spring.

On the hunt

Lying in wait on the rose campion.

Hatching of a different kind

For some reason this spring I started finding cocoons and chrysalises. It started with the wonderful one I found in March, which I’d determined was likely the cocoon of a Ceanothus Silk Moth. It had been pretty battered up, so I didn’t expect much, but I put it in a huge glass jar with a piece of screening over the top, and left it outside the kitchen window so it was sheltered but I could immediately see if anything hatched.

Bleeding hearts

I took over 500 photos of flowers, yesterday, which sets me a fairly daunting task when it comes to sorting through them. So in the meantime, have some pictures of bleeding hearts from May.

Giant crane fly

Most of the crane flies I see, giant or otherwise, are pretty drab. This one must be quite newly out of its pupa.

Dew on leaves

Or raindrops. It’s all much of a muchness.

A walk in the woodsish parts

And back to tulips

Of course.