Insects in the Gardens
And some spiders too…
Mason Bees
Last winter, I created a page for the solitary bees I photographed in my garden the previous spring and summer. At that time, I didn't have any shots of mason bees. Most of the shots I did have were just dumb luck: I accidentally got photos of bees while I was...
Flies in the Garden
Mydas fly on mint.Mimic fly, Mallota posticata, on viburnum. When we think of pollinators, we often think of bees and butterflies; flies might not come to mind. However, the Penn State College of Agricultural Science noted that flies are the second most important...
Spring Fever
Every year, it's exciting to see seeds germinate, new shoots emerge, and flowers appear. But this year, I seem to have amplified spring fever. The difference, I suspect, is that I went through all of my photos from last year to share on willowdalefarm.org. I found so...
Fall Beauty
So far, we’ve had what I believe is an unseasonably warm fall. The tropical milkweed is still going strong, and the cleome is just starting to look worse for the wear. The bees are out and about: the bumble bees are tending my fall-bearing raspberries and they...
Skippers
Skippers are the unsung and underappreciated butterflies of the garden. They are not big, or bold, or fancy like the swallowtails. They don't have their own rescue and Facebook groups like the monarchs, at least not to my knowledge. People don’t obsess over the fate...
Sunday
It’s Sunday. I’m doing laundry, cleaning, shredding zucchini for bread and to freeze. I should be scrubbing the kitchen floor. Instead, I decided to walk around the yard with my camera,and this is what I found.[gallery size="large" type="divi" link="file"...
Stoney Creek Valley Farm
Early this year, I was very lucky to find a group on Facebook called Katie's Spring Plant Sale at Stoney Creek Valley Farm (I've forgotten if someone invited me--if so thank you). Katie Hutchison College has a farm in Dauphin PA, which is just outside of Harrisburg....
Beauty by the Roadside
When I go to visit Mom and Dad, half of my drive is on highways and half is on back country roads. Today I took my camera because I was hoping to get some photos of the sheep that live on a farm I pass on the drive. The back roads border cornfields, and many times...
Emerald Jumper
Emerald jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius). A few weeks ago, I found one on a lily tree. This week, one was busy in a hosta on the side porch. These are beautiful spiders and I feel fortunate when I come across one in the garden. [gallery size="full"...