And now, a fresh and beautiful butterfly!

Resilient monarch

A few weeks ago, I collected a couple of monarch caterpillars to bring, along with a milkweed plant, to a classroom I was visiting. I had them sitting on my front porch for a day or two. On the morning of the visit, I discovered that the larger caterpillar appeared to be injured. Maybe it was pecked at by a bird or something, but it was bleeding and motionless, so I couldn't take it to the school. But I kept it, and it recovered and eventually made a chrysalis. I have been watching it every day. Yesterday, I thought it looked like I could almost see the wings, but it could have been wishful thinking. This morning, my wish has been granted.



Awaiting the moment...

Froggie goes for a little "explore"

Yesterday I gave my frog a much-needed cage cleaning. While I rinsed out his container, I let him "play" in the ivy for a few minutes. He looked so cute, I had to take his picture.

And now, a plug for PBS

Forget American Idol, Lost, and Desperate Housewives. I can't actually say I hate those kind of shows. I simply have no interest in watching them. Now I might be one of the few people who still don't have cable TV, but of the "regular" TV shows accessible to me, I'll pick a nature show on PBS any day. The latest Nature episodes are captivating. I think in a parallell universe, I could have been some kind of field scientist.
NATURE. Deep Jungle: New Frontiers | PBS

I learned something new the other day...

Earwigs can fly!

Caught in the act

Yesterday I observed a partial hatch-out of praying mantids in my yard. One little mantis clings to the egg case, as his siblings dangle precariously from a thin silken thread.