Out and About: What a Lovely September!

I remember last year's September weather taking a nose dive after mid-month. Thankfully, this September had many beautiful blue sky and sunny seventy degree days which made us very happy. On September third while out in my garden in the afternoon, I came across two Monarch caterpillars munching on milkweed. By evening one caterpillar had attached itself horizontally to the back of the house. It was about two inches long. The next day the caterpillar was in a J shape on the house. They get into this position when becoming a chrysalis. I couldn't locate the second caterpillar and wondered if it had gone off to become a chrysalis too. On September sixth at 9:30 a.m. the caterpillar was still in its J shape but at 2:30 p.m. it was a chrysalis! I missed the transformation. That same afternoon Amelia Rigney found a praying mantis in the children's playground on the merry-go-round. It spun around with her and didn't seem to mind the motion. Its eyes and face made me think of an alien. Great find Amelia! So back to the chrysalis. I checked on it everyday and by September fourteenth  it was becoming clear and I could see the butterfly colors. The next day when I looked nothing was there not even an empty chrysalis. I couldn't believe it and was so disappointed. I hope the butterfly came out, dried its wings, went on its way and has a good trip to Mexico! Through the rest of September I had three or four Monarchs at a time taking nectar from the asters and butterfly bush in my garden. Painted Lady and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies were constant visitors too. My last hummingbird sighting was on September twentieth.  No frost yet. Fingers crossed that we don't get one for awhile because my pepper plants are still flowering and fruiting. That sums up September. Happy Fall to All!!!

Monarch Caterpillar Eating Milkweed

Attached to House

Munched Milkweed

Monarch Caterpillar in J Shape

Newly Formed Monarch Chrysalis

Monarch Chrysalis Day Nine

Praying Mantis

Alien Looking

Great Find Amelia!!!

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Painted Lady Butterfly

I O Moth Caterpillar on Cleveland Avenue

Nasturium. It was a nectar source for hummingbirds

Monarch Butterflies enjoying Asters

 I got out of town: Rocky Falls on Indian Pass Brook in Adirondacks

Split Rock Falls on Boquet River in New Russia Adirondacks

Out and About: It's September Isn't It?

Right now I am wrapping my head around the fact that September is already here. I really enjoyed July and August and spent many days gardening, watching wildlife, hiking, camping and kayaking. It was another great summer for Monarch butterflies in the village. Many gardens have milkweed which supports the life cycle of this butterfly. Hummingbirds and a variety of butterflies also have generous flower plantings around town to take nectar from, as well as, supplemental feeders. Bald Eagles were sighted flying through town and above the lake. They hold their wings straight out without a curve. Their head and tail protrude out from their body and are white in adults. Juveniles have dark heads and tails. I love seeing Great Blue Herons flying and fishing. They look prehistoric to me. The Children's Taco Garden at the Round Lake Library was well tended by the two to five year old gardeners and some older siblings. We harvested lettuce, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, garlic chives, herbs and several mint varieties. At the end of the program we enjoyed a taco bar with homemade salsa and all the fixings. Well done gardeners!!! I have started to hear Great-horned owls hooting to mark their territory reminding me Autumn is coming. Hopefully, no frost for awhile as there are still tomatoes on the vine. Happy Back to School Everyone!

Monarch on Joe-Pye Weed. Sometimes there have been three on it at once.

Cabbage White Butterfly Blending in with Mountain Mint

Monarchs Love the Purple Coneflower Too

New Resident: Margined Leatherwing Beetle

Northern Catbird. I swear he calls out the name "Eric"

Lovely Lilies

Hanging in the Apple Tree

Bald Eagle Over Round Lake. Can You See It? It was high up.

Male Widow Skimmer on Liatrus

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Butterfly Bush

Got to see the whole Monarch life cycle in my garden starting with the egg

Monarch Caterpillar and a Milkweed Bug on a Milkweed Plant

Monarch Chrysalis. An Hour Later...

Out Came a New Monarch. It dried off for several hours before flying away

Great Blue Heron Fishing at Putnam Pond

Sunflower House at Fort Ticonderoga

Why hadn't squirrels munched it down like in Round Lake? Look to the right.

AHA! An Osprey nest was just steps away. Although they mainly eat fish a squirrel would do in a pinch

Out on a Limb at Gull Bay Preserve

Too Crowded

Indian Pipe at Putnam Pond. No chlorophyll

Loon Family on Rollins Pond

This Loon came in to shore creating the waves and caught the fish

Black Duck visiting my campsite

Feel the Calm. Early Morning on Rollins Pond

Out and About: I Turned Around and June was Gone!

June is always a whirlwind of a month for me with gardening and gatherings. Then it fast slips away and July is usually calmer. Vegetable gardens are in at my house and the children's garden. This season the two to five year old gardeners planted a Taco Garden. They put in tomatoes, lettuce, peppers,(both hot and sweet), cilantro and different peppermints. We will have a taco party at the end of August. We already had a lettuce tasting and then clear cut the lettuce. It grew back well and another tasting will happen this week. Our cherry tomatoes are ripening so we will give them a taste along with edible nasturiums and garlic chives. During gardening the children saw birds going into the nest box we put up. The birds were Tufted Titmice. I was at the garden watering one afternoon when the last baby was fledging. The parents were nearby in a tree calling to it. Finally it made the jump and crossed the street. Mama came down to feed it and then it walked and flew away. I wish the children had gotten to see this. We cleaned out the box the next week and looked at how the nest was constructed. Bits of cellophane and paper were included in it.
I was invited to The Round Lake School for the Painted Lady Butterfly release party. The students raised the butterflies from caterpillars. Some were sad to let them go. It always seems that one butterfly is reluctant to leave. The students had planted zinnias and hoped to see the butterflies visiting.
I have seen several Monarch butterflies in the children's and my garden and there are some eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has been at the milkweed too. The milkweed flower is extremely fragrant. Look for bees before taking a sniff! Make sure to take a look at the firefly display as it gets dark They are amazing this year! Enjoy these great summer days. And tell July to take it slow.

Painted Lady Butterfly Release

Looking at the empty Chrysalises

Reluctant to Leave

About to Fledge

Should I stay or should I go now?

Stepping Out!

Nest that was in the box

Zinnia

Lupine Field at Wilton Wildlife Preserve. Host Plant for Karner Blue Butterflies

Peas Please! (They must be planted out of reach of rabbits)

Open Sesame

Butterfly Weed

Blue Mud Dauber

Swallowtail at Milkweed

Monarch

Garden Phlox