The
Courier has reported major animal sightings locally -- yet another mountain lion in a resident's yard, to be specific. Me? I haven't even glimpsed a javelina lately. No, my critter adventures are pretty tame at this moment.
For example: the columbine is a lovely, photogenic flower. The colors. The curved spurs. The cluster of anthers and pistils. The delicate petals. The aphids. Yes, the native Arizona uplands yellow columbine does attract a goodly supply of little green aphids -- nor did I see overseer ants attending them. The critters show up best on the left stem. FYI, my plants appear to prosper despite the aphids.
Also from my potted garden -- this young fellow, in his 1st or 2nd instar, I'd guess. He had been clinging to this dried out Dutch iris blossom for some time. Perhaps he had recently emerged. In any event, he posed nicely. It took a major wave of my hand to get him to jump.
Just who emerged from this husk clinging to my big-flowered sedum? Certainly not a critter of the butterfly or moth persuasion. I've no idea.
Here's a pic from a recent walk. I don't know if I managed to catch the ant lion's claws or not! When I found this insect trap, the ant lion was busy tossing sand to capture the prey which had fallen in. He was still throwing sand when I left the scene. Hope he managed a good meal.
Now for a critter that's maybe a bit more cuddly -- one of the neighborhood doves. This pole top actually belongs to the acorn woodpeckers, but they've apparently been too busy with nesting activities to venture out gossipping.
As for the bunny, it's entertainment for the ladies and gentlemen over at Las Fuentes Assisted Living. The window glass in the dining room is tinted so that residents can look out, but the rabbit can't see in, thus I found it easy to take several pictures as bunny munched out on grass. Spotting the rabbit is a high point in the day for many of the elders -- a welcome window on the outside world.
For example: the columbine is a lovely, photogenic flower. The colors. The curved spurs. The cluster of anthers and pistils. The delicate petals. The aphids. Yes, the native Arizona uplands yellow columbine does attract a goodly supply of little green aphids -- nor did I see overseer ants attending them. The critters show up best on the left stem. FYI, my plants appear to prosper despite the aphids.
Also from my potted garden -- this young fellow, in his 1st or 2nd instar, I'd guess. He had been clinging to this dried out Dutch iris blossom for some time. Perhaps he had recently emerged. In any event, he posed nicely. It took a major wave of my hand to get him to jump.
Just who emerged from this husk clinging to my big-flowered sedum? Certainly not a critter of the butterfly or moth persuasion. I've no idea.
Here's a pic from a recent walk. I don't know if I managed to catch the ant lion's claws or not! When I found this insect trap, the ant lion was busy tossing sand to capture the prey which had fallen in. He was still throwing sand when I left the scene. Hope he managed a good meal.
Now for a critter that's maybe a bit more cuddly -- one of the neighborhood doves. This pole top actually belongs to the acorn woodpeckers, but they've apparently been too busy with nesting activities to venture out gossipping.
As for the bunny, it's entertainment for the ladies and gentlemen over at Las Fuentes Assisted Living. The window glass in the dining room is tinted so that residents can look out, but the rabbit can't see in, thus I found it easy to take several pictures as bunny munched out on grass. Spotting the rabbit is a high point in the day for many of the elders -- a welcome window on the outside world.
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