That would describe my hair mostly, outside doing some much-neglected yard work.
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/275875_1544103224_4498076_n.jpg
I took a “brief” respite from weeding when the temperatures rose above 95F (35C). However, I quickly found the weeds had not. 😦
The other night, hubby spotted a black swallowtail caterpillar on the black-eyed susan (rudbeckia). Silly me thought it was looking for variety in its diet. I should have known better! Today I was deadheading flowers and pruning dead stems. I cut and pulled one stem off the black-eyed susan, OOPS! There was a chrysalis attached to it. I now have it in a vase in the kitchen so we can observe it together. 🙂
The area around the birdbath resembles a jungle, so I pruned some branches so I could fill it, and the birds could find it. I wanted to scrub it, and started to prune some of the ivy where I needed to step closer, and found another caterpillar in the process of attaching itself to a stem. No pruning of the ivy or scrubbing the birdbath today. Sorry for the blur, one of us must have moved. 🙂
I also observed a large caterpillar crawling across the mulch, heading for the vinca and rhododendron. It disappeared quickly, so hopefully it has settled in a safe place where the birds won’t find it. I also found this nest, about the size of a quarter, on another plant. Anyone have an idea what lurks within?
Ooh, you’ll get to see the butterfly emerge from the chrysallis. That is such an amazing process.
I have no idea what’s in the nest, but I hope one of your nature-minded visitors can offer the answer!
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I hope so, Janna. The nest was so tiny, yet perfectly formed. Intrigue!
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Can’t wait to hear what’s in the mystery nest. 🙂
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Me either!
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That round hole makes it look like a tiny clay pot. I’m wondering what it is.
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I was reading about mud daubers, but this one seems too small for that. I read that pollen wasps make a mud nest, and the holes seen are where the young ate their way out. But their pictures didn’t look like this.
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I’ve seen similar mud nests, but don’t know what they are…. We have an insect (almost like a wasp, but it doesn’t sting) in our area that my mom always called a “dirt dauber”. They build nests something like this.
Hope someone can positively identify it for you…I mean – us.
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I remember mud daubers “back home,” but their nests were flat, and usually on a wall. I thought it was a cute nest.
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not sure on the mystery jug nest. i thought maybe something similar to a mud dauber wasp too. our mud daubers build ‘organ pipe’ nests though, not jugs. 🙂
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Yes, that’s what I was used to seeing back in W.Va.
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Obviously, aliens have landed and created a hideaway for themselves. Since you only found one nest, this is very likely a trial invasion and the main force will land within the next week or so. I would be extremely cautious about approaching that mud nest unless you have appropriate defensive measures in place. Of course, my theory might be all wrong and this might be only the empty nest of a potter wasp. Let me know if aliens come out of there. 🙂
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LOL Ed! Missed you at writers group, thought maybe aliens had abducted YOU. A potter wasp? Googled it to make sure you hadn’t created that name, I know how creative your mind is. I mean that in a nice way. 🙂 Gee, I wonder how they came up with the name for that one? Thanks for solving the mystery!
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Ohhhhhh what a treasure! I know I’ve told somewhere about watching this whole butterfly miracle literally unfold with my g-daughters a couple yrs ago. Nothing short of a miracle!
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I witnessed a couple monarchs emerge last year, I can’t wait!
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Love, Love, Love your nature shots! How gifted you are, Patti!
And, the remark about your hair? I had to laugh–the humidity here in the Ozarks makes me feel like that much of the time. 🙂
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Thanks, Cynthia. Only gifted in seeing nature, and God’s fingerprints, but not so much photography. I have a point and shoot camera, but tend to add “shake” to it. I figured someone would be able to envision the hair and identify. You have pretty hair–from what I can tell. 🙂
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God’s marvelous kingdom.
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It is marvelous!
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I had that problem with my hair today…ugh…hate the high humidity and what it does to my hair…great pictures, patti!! You coould likely do a nice book with your pictures and stories!!
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Thanks, Patti. I appreciate your encouragement.
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