Winter Walk: Hibernating Ladbyugs

 

I use the term "winter" quite loosely, as this is the most mild winter we've had since moving here.

It hasn't even been freezing at night for the past couple of weeks.

We've been up in the 50's during the days.

 

Just look we found at the cattail park!

 

I've never really seen ladybugs hibernating like this.

It was amazing and wonderful!

There was a wood chip path, with this dead, weedy grass all along it, with these huge clumps of ladybugs all along it as well.

 

These little adventurers were thrilled!

(Mine is the one on the left in the heart sweatshirt.)

Gardening With Kids: Raising Butterflies

I have very fond memories of raising monarch butterflies, as a kid.

We had a whole patch of milkweed down in one spot on our Idaho farm, and there were always caterpillars to be found. My mom would help us get them all set up in a jar, with holes punched in the lid. We put fresh leaves in every day, and watched with delight as they eventually formed their chrysalis'. When they emerged, it was magical!

We would let them sit on our fingers, and "teach them" how to fly, by slowly moving our fingers up and down, as their wings dried.

 

By the way, Carolyn, over at This Grandmother's Garden, has recently posted some beautiful pictures showing this whole process.

 

So when my kids wanted a caterpillar for a pet, I had an idea where to go. No, we don't have any milkweed, unfortunately. We decided to head out to the broccoli patch.

Judging by the number of cabbage whites flying around, I was fairly certain we would be able to find a couple of candidates.

 

Sure enough, we found two: one big, one little.

They named the big one Jack and the little one Annie.

We got them all set up in their new home in a jar, much to the kids' delight.

Well, Annie didn't make it.

But Jack thrived and eventually made a tiny chryalis that stuck right onto the glass!

We were all impressed by that.

 

After about a week or so, my oldest came running out of his bedroom one morning, saying that there was a butterfly in the jar!

"Wow! Awesome!" he said.

Jack had emerged and was flapping around.

We knew we needed to get him outside to some nectar soon.

Butterfly on right.

 

Two attempts to get a picture of Butterfly Jack inside the jar were only marginally successful, as you can see.

Butterfly on left, broccoli leaf on right.

 

We took Jack outside and opened the lid.

Off he fluttered above our heads and away out of sight.

So long, Jack!

May you enjoy what's left of the broccoli patch.

Swallowtail

Speaking of containers, we had a visitor the other day.

 

You can see it well in this photo.

Not so well in this one.

It's on the left-hand side, with the back sides of its wings showing.

 

The kids were thrilled, especially since it didn't seem to even be aware of them watching so closely.

May there be many more!

 

Yellow-headed Blackbird

You have to look closely to spot this guy amongst the cattails.

I'm still learning how to zoom in without making everything blurry!

We have lots of the red-winged blackbirds around, but this was the first time I had seen this kind. Of course, I went home and tried to find it in my favorite bird book:

 

"The Backyard Bird Lover's Field Guide" by Sally Roth.

 

[Quick plug for this book: I have found it so useful! It includes a section of the most common backyard birds, followed by separate sections for different regions of the country. Best thing about it though, are the descriptions, including a "first impression," call or sounds, telltale traits, and where to find it. Also, ideas for how to lure each type of bird into your yard, including plant picks, feeder pleasers and tricks and treats.

No I am not getting a kickback for this review! I just use this book all the time!]

 

I knew I had the right one when it said you could find this bird "In marshes with cattails or other reeds."

Check.

 

It's so handy when the bird's name reflects its most obvious characteristic.

Makes it easy to remember and to point out to the kiddos.

Sunday walk: Dandelion Pockets

It has been cold this week!

We were spoiled with a week in the 60's, then brought back to reality with a jolt by this week of snow, hail, and temperatures in the 40's.

 

We bundled up good and planned to make it short.

 

 crab spider (I think) waiting for a meal

 

 

 What would we do without pockets to put dandelions in?

 

 

Oh, then we found the violets along the fence: some purple, some pure white.

Plan B: one pocket for dandelions, one for violets

 

 Donkey Tail Spurge.

I have some dry spots this would do well in.

Now here comes the real challenge:

a treasure trove of pine cones!

 Do they get their own pocket or share with the flowers?

 

I'm thinking maybe it's time to make some treasure bags for our walks.

 

I guess we got used to the cold.

We decided to take a spin around the cattail park as well.

 

A pair of mallards in the runoff pond.

We looked for a nest, but didn't see one.

 



Ladybug Convention

There are ladybugs all over the place right now!

I was planting some tulips on the slope by the fence (just below where the alliums are) and noticed this clump of grass. There were 5 right in view, plus at least 3 more in the immediate vicinity that didn't get in the picture. It's awesome! Guess all that weedy grass is good for something!

Garden Tour

Remember this flowerbed from last fall? 

Left to right: hyacinths, sedum, transplanted peony

The little white fence is to keep Diamond out of there--she had been using the mulch as a bed before the spring flowers had grown in.

Daffodils are starting to fade now--looking a little ragged around the edges.

The lovely, understated snow-drop.

Resident of the wood pile. 

There was a baby garter snake that Jacob and I saw in there as well, but I haven't seen it since.  It may have met an untimely demise.