It’s orb weaver time of year. Throughout the pastures, the industrious creatures have been at work, draping their webs between stalks of grass. Wet with morning dew, they’re stunning to behold. I try my best to avoid damaging those webs as I move through, but, sometimes, a spider will decide to make a web in a place where it can’t be – like atop the wire “cage” that secures the ramp from the chicken coop – and I have to ruin the spider’s masterpiece.
Continue reading “Haiku: Obstinate Orb Weaver”Category: Wildlife
Around The Farm: Cool Camouflaged Critters
Insect life is fascinating. Our property teems with flying, jumping, running, inching, and digging insects and bugs. Recently, a few stealthy specimens revealed themselves – just long enough for me to get a quick pic before they made themselves scarce (as they do).
Continue reading “Around The Farm: Cool Camouflaged Critters”Haiku: Mesmerizing Micrathena
This unusual beauty is a Spined Micrathena. She sits in her daily-spun web, right outside the window.
Continue reading “Haiku: Mesmerizing Micrathena”Short Read: A Snail’s Search, Part VII
As he contemplated how to get across the Gray, Sylvie’s warnings about its terrible dangers were still fresh in Gaston’s memory. Yet, he felt compelled to go there, feeling that some important event loomed in his future, and that it was inextricably entwined with his quest. He gazed at it with trepidation and worked up his courage.
Continue reading “Short Read: A Snail’s Search, Part VII”Sunday Spotlight: Colorado Potato Beetle…Or Not?
Gardeners no doubt wince (or unleash expletives, perhaps?) at the mention of this insect. The voracious eater of nightshade plants – and notorious potato plant pest – may be hated and reviled, but it has a lookalike that’s just as lovely and arguably less troublesome!
Continue reading “Sunday Spotlight: Colorado Potato Beetle…Or Not?”Haiku: Rain’s Reprieve
It rained today. The morning clouds were angry and the humidity was oppressive, suggesting a coming storm. I didn’t get my hopes up, though, because lately the forecasted rain has failed to materialize. As a result, grasses are turning brown, and our clay soil has baked itself into subterranean pottery. We needed rain… badly.
Continue reading “Haiku: Rain’s Reprieve”