An Accidental Insect Photo + Turtle Night Light

I went out after the rain stopped this afternoon and was taking random photos again. I didn't notice the insect until after the photo was snapped.

It was a Spotted Lanternfly and he flew away before I could squash him.

Sometimes I forget to look up. I captured the 5 minutes or so of blue sky and white clouds before it became overcast again.

This realistic tortoise night light is one of my favorite things. The body is iron and the shell is glass. I leave it on all the time down stairs and it makes me happy each time I walk by. I got it years ago at a house sale and I've never seen another one.🐢 I have a 5W bulb inside so it doesn't use too much electricity.

UPDATE: I had a special request for interior photos of my turtle lamp from Charlene. I went downstairs and took 5 more. She has a snail lamp that she thinks is similar to my turtle.

I couldn't resist posting this engraving of a snail

from my Royal Book of Crests!

xo

Ants have Aphid Friends: Who Knew?

“Ants and the Aphids” (© Prathamesh Ghadekar. All rights reserved.) Winner, Natural World. Aphids and ants coexist in a symbiotic relationship: The aphids suck the sap of plants and then secrete a substance called honeydew that feeds the ants, who in turn protect the aphids from predators.

The above photo was the winner of the Natural World Category. See all the winners🏆 of this contest -- Smithsonian Magazine Announces Winners of Its 19th Annual Photo Contest Be sure and click on the link. Each and every photograph is absolutely wonderful. xo

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

My milkweed is almost defoliated because the leaves are being devoured by these amazing yellow, black and white striped caterpillars. I took this photo last evening when I was closing up shop downstairs. They "head-butt" when competing for food. Click here for the really interesting article with a video if you want to watch them fight. Plant more milkweed! That is all Monarch caterpillars eat. Really.

Explained here.

Busy as A Bee

There are no words for the tiredness of my bones. I don't think I even combed my hair because I hit the ground running this morning and never stopped. I worked in my basement and in the garage and moved mountains. I am not finished but I made a major dent. The bee above is feasting on one of my milkweed flowers. I haven't seen many butterflies this year. Wonder why? See you tomorrow. xo

Alien Visitor this Evening

This alien-looking creature was not camera shy in the least. He let me get super close to him for his portrait session. I wonder what he told the others when he returned to the mothership? Click to enlarge.

Orbweaving Spiders

Illustration from the Book: American Spiders and Their Spinningwork. A natural history of the orbweaving spiders of the United States, with special regard to their industry and habits. Published in 1889 by Henry C. McCook (1837-1911).

Silly me. I thought all spiders wove these spiral wheel-shaped webs. Leave them alone because  these beneficial spiders catch and eat many pest-type insects. They are nature's insecticides and their webs are beautiful.

Bees Coming Home

Worker bees lining up to deposit today's pollen collection for the hive. I love this slow motion photo. via

Along Came a Spider

I was greeted by this large spider at my front door recently. I am not afraid of them and this one let me take his portrait. xo

Caterpillar Dance

This must be the world's most delicious leaf! I wish I knew the variety so I could plant some for the Monarch butterflies.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Yes, I have been very busy with real estate. Yes, I still am madly in love with my new washing machine. Yes, I am still thrilled with my decision to cut the cord with cable TV and Yes I am still glad I have no landline. Yes, I am happy with my new router and Yes, the WiFi is working beautifully. NO, I do not miss TV at all because I still have it with an air antenna in the attic but I hardly ever watch it. Pluto TV is my go-to TV on my iPad. I have been renting lots of DVDs again from the library. I have been sleeping much better too. The DVR I used to have in my bedroom made a noise that most people couldn't even hear but I have very acute hearing and can hear a pin drop in the next county so it disturbed my sleep. I am on Season 2 of JANET KING, an Australian legal drama from Acorn TV. The DVD is from the library. I still haven't decided what streaming device I should buy since I am so pleased without having anything. Yes, I do want to watch Season 3 of THE CROWN but will probably just get a free month of Netflix for that. No, I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week. Yes, I am invited to share it with friends. If I didn't answer all of your questions, leave a comment. xo, Rosemary

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

This looks a lot like something from Alice in Wonderland, doesn't it? I photographed this Monarch butterfly caterpillar munching on one of my milkweed plants and I honestly did not know they had a head on both ends. No wonder they can defoliate a plant almost overnight. But the milkweed always bounces back and produces more leaves for these beautiful caterpillars. Shot with my iPhone.

Sharing is caring. 

Caterpillar Feasting on A Poppy Pod

Caterpillar Absolem feasting on Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). This stunning photo is straight out of Alice in Wonderland, isn't it? I want to save it forever, I love it so. Mother Nature really outdid herself when designing this caterpillar's body and colorful markings. via

Papaver somniferum "Midnight"

Butterfly: Photo + Video

I could never determine whether this was a butterfly or a moth. It stayed in place for a very long time flapping its wings and staying still. My still photo is shown above (click to enlarge). I posted my video on Instagram yesterday. See it here. Click on the white arrow to start the movement of the wings. I love the antennae that look like threaded beads.

Watercolors and A Butterfly

This animated butterfly gif is so mesmerizing it almost puts me to sleep. via

Milkweed Plant, Monarch Caterpillar, Limelight Hydrangea

This Limelight hydrangea is three years old and 7 feet tall. WOW. I love it so and it's wonderful to have something showy blooming in August through the fall. The pink flowering plant is a Milkweed that planted itself. The pink flowers are lovely and the leaves are food for the Monarch butterfly caterpillars. I saw my first ones today and took a video. I don't know how to do it on Blogger but it's easy as pie on Instagram. Click here to see my monarch caterpillar video. Click on the arrow in the center of the photo to start the movement. I am so happy I am helping save the Monarchs. Milkweed is their primary food source and it is being eradicated by farmers who consider it a nuisance. Did you know each Monarch lays 500 eggs in one season and only 20 survive? I hope my little plant, in a very protected location, has a better ratio of eggs to butterflies. See you later. xo

Heart shaped swarm of ants

via Instagram http://ift.tt/29WXCag

Heart shaped swarm of ants on my front walk trying to make me love them. 

#epicfail #foundheart #ants #mycottageinstincts #saturdaythings #ig #iphoneonly

So Many Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies by Claude Bernard

Lovely Butterfly.

Butterfly or moth? I can never tell which is which. Anyway, it's a lovely composition. via

The Myth of Red Clover and The Bee

Remember last week when I told you I always believed bees could not get the nectar from red clover because their tongues were too short? This bee hasn't heard that rumor. Sorry my photo is a little blurry but I'm glad I got him at all. I have fields of both white and red and the bees seem like both equally. The hummingbirds love the red clover too. It's a nice cool breezy morning here at the cottage and the dark clouds are beginning to gather for a thunder storm. Have a great weekend. xo

Chicken in the Red Clover Patch

I have lots of this red clover here and there on my property mixed in with the white clover which is predominant. I'm told white clover is better for bees because their tongues aren't long enough to get the nectar from the red clover. I have no idea whether this is true or not because I have seen red clover honey on the shelves. via

Busy as a Bee

I have been very busy outside all week long and things are shaping up very nicely. The weather went from 20 degrees above normal for this time of year to below normal and I like that. I can work all day without stopping if it is breezy, cloudy and cool as it was yesterday. My peonies are up and the buds get a little larger each day. via