Praying Mantis

Spotted "pregnant" praying mantis on the house! Excited to egg-sac hunt once all the leaves on the plants are gone.

Blooming

At one point I didn't think the sensitive plant would survive, more than half of the stalks died off -- and now it's sprouting flowers ha! (No scent that I can detect.) Looks like another five or six are in the works.

Praying Mantis

Found in our entryway this morning, about three inches long. Could it be one of the ones we released this spring?

Success!

I've grown sweet potatoes!!!

Luna Moth

Wood Pile

From the limb off the neighbor's tree: Daddy chopped it and the three girls re-stacked it.

Japanese Peony

First of about a dozen blooms.

Happy Floating

The marimo BB gave me for my birthday floats! Every morning when it starts to get sunshine it floats to the top of its tank, and every evening it sinks back to the bottom. Typical "behavior"?

Chicks in the Sun

Hibiscus

Anniversary Bouquet

Peonies

Crocuses!

Mini Orchid

G bought this for me one Mother's Day, this is the first year I've been able to get it to bloom. Previously, the orchid would spike and set buds, but the buds never opened.

Southwest Tree

Had third oak on our property trimmed/cleared of dead branches. Four guys on this crew, including one fellow that scandalized the girls by wearing short-sleeve shirt in 34F/2C temps. (Other three had bright orange sweatshirts on.)

Other Neighbor's Tree

The Neighbor's Tree

Compost Bins

Stackable compost bins (three bins of four levels each) that I helped Drew assemble last weekend.

Lids to keep pests out. Will be stained/sealed before going into action, just in time for autumn and all those leaves falling off our trees.

Toad

Having feast on bugs that populate our entryway.

Carrots

And a bowl of cherry tomatoes.