Redheaded Pine Sawfly

Dad has discovered the name of our devastating catapillar. Thanks Dad! I was too creeped out to find out.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG6703.html#4

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/DG6703fig04.html

Here is a shot of them today doing some ritualistic hanging out, upside down.


Dad says "kill them all" with soapy water.

Another Disappearing Act

Where there had been three volunteer pine trees there were only two.

What on earth had happened to the other one. It looked as if it were dead. All the needles had fallen off, or had they? All I could see was a stick of a tree left. This was worse than Charlie Browns little disaster. As I looked in closer I saw something in the wild world akin to a Stephen King Novel...


I have no idea what these buggers are except that they are some kind of catepillar or moth. I looked in my butterfly ID book and saw no immediate answers. I would love anyones comments on exactly what the hect they are - and I'd love to know if the situation is about to get worse. Does anyone know if a pine tree can survive such a disaster? I think not, but our yard will be the testing ground.

Wild Things

Wild grapes growing along the back of our yard in the Riparian Zone. I've tested them twice for ripeness, and it will be a while. Yes, they are edible. They are growing everywhere, up into the Blackwillows back there.
Here is our friend Poison Ivy. Lovely friend, has left another calling card on my shin. Poison Ivy likes to hang out among the feild flowers Bluew is always playing in.
Here is one picture of many attempts to photograph the feild of flowers growing over the pipeline. This feild of flowers also include Yarrow and Queen Annes lace and has been a real joy.
This bug was huge and creepy and it took some nerves to let it climb up my arm as Mark took the picture! Mark spotted it first so he gets finders credit.
This little wild flower is blooming currently in the back yard near the "Deer Beds". It distantly reminds me of Columbine but I do not know its ID. I has a sof blue or purple quality.

The Flutterby!

I am very excited!

I have just stumbled upon what I think is the correct identification of the butterfly pictured here yesterday (below).

It is an American Painted Lady!

One Sunny Day

Cabbage Seedling



Cucumber - the only one that has really taken.



New pumkin seedlings from last falls pie pumkins we made pie from from the store.



Bright Squash



A Flutterby on my Echinecea (cone flower) plant.



More hibiscus blooms.



Wild black berries that we are babying along. Taste real good.

It is bright out and I thought it would be great to post some photos of our yard as things out there are always changing. I'm learning we humans are not the only hungry creatures. I thought I knew this but I am now learning just how very hungry the rest of all nature really is. There is also a cool snake and a cool centipede I see regularly in the yard now. I keep trying to have the camera with me at the right times but no luck so far. Also I've seen my first official Bunny bottom as it ran away from Bluew. It just waited him out and when he turned to look at me little bunny FOoFOo went boppin' through the field.