snakes on (an inclined) plane

 All sorts of brambles are flowering right now...

...which inspired me to make a berry cobbler!

Actually, looking at brambles led me to an interesting adventure this week.  We've got multiflora roses growing all along the fence line.  They're invasive, but at least they're pretty in bloom.  I love how they wind around our birdhouses.

I went in for a closer look at this particular birdhouse, and...someone looked back!

It's a harmless young black rat snake.  They, of course, will eat bird eggs, although I'm not sure if any bird was nesting here.  It might just be temporary housing for this guy, and at this size, it's a perfect fit for him!  

On our front porch, a small Cope's tree frog rested before his big nightly solo.  We have so many frogs here, with 2 ponds and a stream and lots of trees.  I don't usually see them on the porch, though!  

I've seen other little fellows, like this praying mantis nymph, just an inch long.

A green stink bug watched from nearby.  I actually haven't seen too many insects yet...other than ticks...so I'm loving all of these visitors right now!

Todd and I are continuing with our daily walks, and the trail is so pretty.  

It's lined with the Indiana state tree, the tulip.  This time of year, they're dropping their flowers.  I love to pick them up and put them in water.

I love the variety of trees there.

Different trees, different galls.  These bullseye spots are caused by the oscellate maple gall midge.

The midge, which looks similar to a mosquito, laid eggs here.  The eggs hatched, and tiny maggots live on the leaf tissue, which creates the raised circles.  

Galls are so cool, and all so different.  Here's another that I found recently, caused by eriophyid mites.

I always keep an eye out for something new, even though we walk the same path every day.  I usually find it!  

Even at home.  For example, Frances paid no attention to the barrier I stacked in the upstairs window sill, to keep him away from the screen.  He wanted to stretch out, so he simply stretched over the barrier and busted out a convenient hole in the screen for his paw.  Ah, that's better!  

terrible cell phone pic!

That was definitely a new one for me.  These cats keep us on our toes!

Have a great week!