The Caught in the Headlights Look

 
 
 
 

The Buck Stops Here

 
 
 

Raccoons Visit the Compost Pile

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Mangey Fox Jumps Into Woods

 

Foxes Visit the Compost Pile

 
 
 

 
 
 

New Species!

I was just pining for a new species the other day, and I got what I wished for. Our yard has ugly black plastic apparently used as a weed barrier that shows when the dirt washes away. I bent down to rip off the plastic, when I saw something that at first I thought was a worm. Its head was buried in the dirt and it tried crawling under a stepping stone. I tried scooping dirt off with a stick to get a better look. Just then I noticed a deer, that stomped at me, like "Hey! This is my territory.". After my new species disappeared, I stood up and the deer made its alarm call to the other deer and ran off. I think the new species was a salamander. The closest thing I can find on the internet that looks like it is the Redback Salamander. It had a reddish brown stripe down its back, sort of the color of the clay around here. I never did see its head, but now I know its hiding place.

The Surprise

 
 
When your husband brings you home a surprise, and it's a toad, would you be excited? I would! I love toads! This toad didn't even pee on us! What more could you ask for in a toad? The poor thing almost was going to get hit by a car in the road one night, til my husband happened upon it and rescued it. I released it in the backyard.

Fruits and Nuts

 
 
 
 
No, I'm not talking about Californians. Here are those persimmons I collected, and some walnuts and hickory nuts. I was thinking if I had to survive in my own backyard, what would I eat? I came to the conclusion I'd have venison with a mushroom walnut sauce, poke greens, and persimmons for dessert.

Persimmon Is Correct!

 
 
A year ago my father pointed out the persimmon tree in our neighborhood. About the second week of September I noticed it had persimmons on it. By the third week, they were littering the ground. I couldn't resist collecting them. I took them home and tasted one, which wasn't half bad, but it was mostly seeds and not much was edible.

Guess What Tree This Is

 
 

Miniature Watermelons

 
After the gargantuan moth, it makes sense to have a picture of miniature watermelons. These weren't in my backyard, but within walking distance. I had seen blossoms, and then noticed the small fruits, probably less than an inch in diameter. I don't know what they are, but they look like watermelons to me. These also sat on my kitchen counter for a week, and then I threw them away. Too bad I didn't think to cut one open...maybe there would have been pink flesh with tiny seeds inside.

Gargantuan Moth

 
 
This is the largest moth I've ever seen, except I forgot to measure it. I took it inside to take pictures (it was dead), and then after it sat on my kitchen counter for a week, I decided I better throw it back outside. Its wingspan must have been at least 4 inches long. After some googling, my guess would be that this is a polyphemus moth. It brings back memories of my first (and last) summer job, which involved collecting "frass" (look that one up) of gypsy moth larvae, collecting squirming pupae, and measuring the wing spans of the moths. I don't know what was worse, feeling the pupae squirm, or clearing the frass catchers after the rain, which was achieved by blowing on the mesh covered tubes with our mouths. Nevertheless, I still somehow have a fondness for moths I guess, which was an acquired fondness, I must say.