hare today...

 Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits!

Every day...they are everywhere.

Standing still...and then streaking away.

We've got quite a few turkey vultures hanging around, looking for one of these tasty morsels.

The rabbits (and the deer) have done quite a bit of damage in the garden, but there's still enough flowers remaining to attract pollinators!

megachile bee

cabbage white butterfly

alfalfa bug

black firefly

cluster fly

eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly

spicebush swallowtail butterfly

Most are attracted to the milkweed, which is in full bloom - and fragrance - right now.

Insects have to watch out for the sticky sap.  This honey bee got caught in it!

I've found some pests, too...

tent caterpillars

Japanese beetles

false potato beetles

...but it's overwhelmingly positive.

great spangled fritillaries

It's hot now, so I'm not outside nearly as much.  Hanging out inside with the usual crew!

Hopefully next week will be a little cooler!

Getting things done when weather allows!

helter swelter

It's July at last!  I know that we've really only had about 3 weeks of summer weather, but that's been plenty for me.  Taking a puppy outside in the heat every 30 minutes (plus romp sessions) has pretty much done me in.  I'm already counting the days 'til fall.  I'm trying to appreciate 'summer' things, though. 

Like interesting insects.

ringed assassin bug

carpenter bees

spiny oakworm moth with two serious inspectors!

Japanese beetles

milkweed beetle

paper wasp

...and others, too!  It was so humid when I went outside to confront this flower-munching deer that my camera lens instantly fogged, so I didn't get a great picture, but...he's definitely licking his lips!

Deer have been getting into the hostas by the house too, so I'm definitely paying attention in case they need to be chased off.

I caught this guy ambling by as well!

eastern box turtle

The annual garden is putting on blooms, although it's definitely subdued this year.

I'm glad to have ANY flowers after our cold, wet spring!  The perennial garden is still blazing.

Nice to have a little color.  It's not autumn leaves, but it'll do!

Meanwhile, Pepita is keeping us busy.

We've had her for going on three weeks now and she's definitely more confident...and stubborn, which is a hallmark of her breed!

learning to leash-walk with Daddy

She is still sweet and cuddly, but has a lot more puppy energy.  Thankfully she doesn't bite like a lot of puppies, and not much barking either.  Just a few potty accidents...

who, me?

...and a lot of outside romps!

She does not love being outside, which is kind of surprising.  We end up having to carry her out to the field to try to get her to run.

Todd carrying Pepita to the back field

When I check the trail cams, it's a lot of Todd letting Pepita go and Pepita running for the house!  :)

But at least she's getting exercise...and we are too!  Just wish it was a little cooler...at least August is only three weeks away.

Have a great week! 

those that devour coneflower

The bee balm is starting to fade, and it's a shame because it draws so...many...insects.  One of my favorites is the hummingbird moth.

Like hummingbirds, they can hover, and they are fast...up to 35 mph!

I love seeing them in the bee balm.

Of course, there's still plenty of bees there...

Butterflies, like this pipevine swallowtail...

Really, the only other flower that comes close is the coneflower.  Now, I planted a few coneflowers when we moved here, but they have spread...

...and spread.

I think our huge population of goldfinches helped to spread the seeds.  Before they really got going, I counted over one hundred plants!

Butterflies love 'em.

Great Spangled Fritillary

Eastern Swallowtail

Of course, we have lots of other personalities...

Damselfly

Ladybug

Japanese beetles

red milkweed beetle

so many bees!

I've also been delighted to find lacewing eggs around the garden, suspended by a stiff stalk.  The eggs are tiny, like a little poppy seed.

After a bit of searching, sure enough...I found the lacewing.

Lacewings are great to have around because they eat aphids...something we have in abundance here.  I'd been fretting about our milkweed in the back, covered with sugarcane aphids.  I didn't want to rinse the leaves with soap and water, for fear of destroying any monarch eggs.  However, nature balanced it out.

This is a ladybug nymph:

In the few weeks before he pupates, he will eat hundreds and hundreds of aphids.  They are voracious!  They're all over my milkweed, and the aphid population is looking decidedly thin.

snacking on an aphid

What a relief!  Now to keep an eye out for those monarchs!

So much to do in these mid-summer days, but still seeking out those quiet, peaceful moments when I can find them.

Have a great week!