life is like a box of choglets...

 While we've been busy in the yard, other creatures have been...busy in the yard.  

These margined leatherwing soldier beetles are becoming acquainted on my daisies.

If you look closely, you can see fertilization taking place.  Beetle penises are frequently referred to as "hyper-elongated" and their copulation lasts for hours.  One week, the plants are full of margined leatherwing soldier beetle pairs, and the next, poof!  Nowhere to be seen.  Eggs are being laid in the soil, and we'll have a new crop of beetles very soon.  

These chrysopilus velutinus flies, too, are getting into the spirit of the season.  Snipe flies are blood drinkers, like horse flies, but thankfully they don't feed on humans!

Bluebirds are nesting in our fence boxes and we have BABIES!  Dad brings some food...

...and then he's off for more.

Our chogs have been out and about lately, with a slightly larger family.  Yes...we have CHOGLETS!

They are very hesitant and creeping around us...

...startling easily.

Choglets...climb...trees.  This mulberry tree is full of berries, drawing birds...

...and, well, you know.

We love watching them, although they've already gotten into my tomatoes!

Other visitors this week...a Cope's grey tree frog on the front porch, again...

...and someone that Todd was less than thrilled to see, a gorgeous black rat snake...right on our porch rail, just a few feet from the front door!

This gentle snake is afraid of humans, so it crinkles up its body as a defense mechanism, so that it looks like a crooked stick.  

The tip of its tail almost looks like a fingernail!  A frightened snake will coil and shake this tip like a rattle, hoping to fool people into thinking it's venomous and dangerous. But he's a big softie!  

So much going on around the property this week, with so many visitors and so much work!  We have had mild weather, so even though I've had pretty lousy germination, I've been braving the ticks to get seedlings into the garden.  Speaking of ticks, here's one of our major carriers, down by the back pond.  Look at how many ticks are around its ears...shudder!!

The deer have been extra destructive this spring, too.  

We try to plant things that they like in areas far from the trees, where they don't usually frequent, but they're about as obedient as Frances.  Here he is, THREE YEARS into his obedience training, taking a nap right on top of the dining room table.  

He's incorrigible!  Oh, well.  Maybe 2025 will be his year.

Have a great week!