Fall

There's very little flowering, or producing in the garden now that fall is official.  Beans and zucchini continue to yield enough for supper, and will as long as the frost holds off.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Collecting a small bouquet to place before a statue of Our Lady--wild flowers fill in the gap where all that remains in the garden are a few determined phlox, cosmos, and anise hyssop.

Evening temperatures are dropping and the trees are just beginning to change.  I do miss my garden flowers, but the leaves are always rich in fall colors and signal that life has its seasons.  

Promethea Moth

Last year my husband was thinning some of the trees in the yard and asked me to come look at this caterpillar feasting on the leaves of one of the felled trees.  I've only seen the Cecropia silkmoth caterpillar twice in my lifetime: once when we were camping up in Northern Maine, and now this one munching on the foliage of a wild cherry tree.  The colors and shapes on this caterpillar could be a stand-in for a Dr. Seuss illustration--it's quite amazing to see.

Mid-summer I spotted something floundering about in the garden around dusk--every once in a while something catches your eye when you're at the sink doing dishes.  Curious I went to see what it was and spotted a Cecropia silkmoth nearing the end of its lifespan. It didn't make it past evening, so it was put aside for the grand children's collection. 

I've been trying to finish up a drawing of this moth and have a little further color to add to it.  It was only after taking notice of some of the moth's markings, and coloration that things didn't add up. While consulting some Internet sites and insect guides, I realized I was going down the wrong path with this one: this was a Promethea silkmoth--whose caterpillar I have yet to see.  Recalling a large dark moth I had seen the summer before on our bedroom window, but was unable to identity, was now known as well;  it had been the male Promethea: its wings are most black, unlike the female's which are an array of dark browns and rust-colored reds. 

Mother Nature shares bits and pieces at her choosing. You can't assume anything.  You just wait and perhaps another time your hands are in the kitchen sink, a little something more may be revealed. 

All in a Day

I don't have to wander any further than our backyard to be captivated by Mother Nature.

Note: Eastern Wild Turkeys; Hummingbird Moth; Himalayan Balsam; Black-winged Damselfly

Birth of Mary

It comes as no surprise that Pope Francis asked for prayers for peace in Syria on the vigil of the Birth of Mary. 

Our prayers are joined with everyone throughout the world who kneeled and begged for peace today.