Checking out the goods

Although I had a lot of options today, it had to be a hummer.  For starters, there are a lot of them buzzing around right now - in fact, I had one spend a good minute circling very close to my head and eventually hovering so close to my face that I had a hard time getting my eyes to focus.  It's always fun when they do that.  And I liked this shot because I find it's harder to catch them in focus from this angle. This is a young male - although he hasn't sprouted any red feathers yet, you can see his "five o'clock shadow".  

I was able to get a shot of a Great Black Digger Wasp in the garden today - they are slightly larger than the Great Golden DIggers which makes them a very formidable looking creature.  But like the goldens, they are gentle and completely non-aggressive.  I am hoping to get a better shot, maybe tomorrow.  I also found a new fly species which was fun.  It's a very tricked-out fly and worth having a look HERE on Flickr

I have four caterpillars getting ready to pupate into their chrysalis form and when I ran out to get milkweed this morning, I came home with a couple of eggs on the plants I snipped for cat-food.  Then, when I was pottering outside, I watched a monarch leaving eggs all over my remaining swamp and butterfly milkweed so gathered some of those up too.  I never really have a plan as to how many monarchs I want to raise - it all just sort of happens.  I am keeping a list of requests for release dedications, so feel free to drop me a note in comments if you want me to remember a loved one with a butterfly release.  I do try to match genders whenever possible, but no guarantees.  I'll do my best.

Hubs has my car today (a rare week where he has to be in the office for a few days) and again tomorrow so I'm on lockdown at home.  Not exactly a hardship as there is so much going on out in the garden right now.  

Dark with ginger today.  

Be safe, people.

xo
Debbi