http://statebystategardening.com/va/blog_01_summary/ en starlight1957@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-03-16T01:40:33+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/march_blooms_way_ahead_of_schedule/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/march_blooms_way_ahead_of_schedule/   As others in various parts of the country have been noticing, this was the winter that wasn't. At least where I live it wasn't was;~}  Many of my plants are at least 2 weeks ahead this year. Others seem more like months ahead...     Dicentra, Brunnera and Pulmonaria did not bloom until April last year...but not this year!    Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Heart) Dicentra spectabilis 'alba'   Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Buglose) Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash' (Lungwort) I have barely been able to keep up with the blooms that pop daily out of the ground and begin to show off their colors. Every day I walk through the garden and take photos--and without fail, the very next day, there is something new. Sometimes it all happens within the same day: I'll go for a garden walk in the morning, and again in the afternoon--and there is frequently something new that has emerged or opened up within a span of a few hours. It's overwhelming at times, very surprising, and wonderful!     Mertensia surprised me about a week ago...   Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)   ...and Hepatica has been blooming for at least a week and a half--again, weeks before last year as shown in my March 23, 2011 post.             Hepatica acutiloba 'f. rosea'   Hepatica nobilis 'v. acuta' (white)   Hepatica nobilis (Liverwort) pink This has been the best March I can ever remember! (Of course, February was pretty good, too. Plants were surprising me then, as well). It's just that this month, some of the plants that have opened don't usually bloom until later on in the spring. So it sometimes feels as if I've hit the jackpot when I do a walk-through! Look at my Bloom Day post from mid-March, 2011. There wasn't much blooming last year! This year things are definitely different.     The Kerria opened on the 15th--my post on Kerria from a year ago showed it opening the last week of the month (about the 27th).           Kerria japonica   Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) started blooming in January, which is normal...but many Helleborus hybrids were blooming in February, and by early March, all were blooming. (Except for those gnawed off by squirrels. Luckily I have found a way to keep them at bay and have been spraying with Bobbex regularly. It seems to be working!).     Decided to beat the squirrels and pick off a few blooms before they could get to them!                                           Buds are ready to pop on the native Rue Anemone:     Anemonella thalictroides (Rue anemone) In fact, on one of them, they already have:       Just planted Fritillaria bulbs (in January--very late!) so this is the first I've had one coming into bloom in my garden. I don't know if it's early or not, but I'm happy I 'Bobbexed' it before the critters could get to it:   Fritillaria meleagris  (Checkered Daffodil, aka Snakes Head)   Lots of Heuchera are up and have small blooms already (such as Heuchera 'Georgia Peach', and others). Heucherella is also blooming in my garden:     Heucherella 'Day Glow Pink' (Coral Bells and Tiarella combo)   As are the Tiarella...many are leafing out and sending out blooms:   Tiarella cordifolia (Foam Flower)   The Arabis has taken off, as has the Creeping Phlox (both lining the driveway):   Left: Arabis 'Snow Cap' (Rock Cress) and Right: Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)   Iberis sempervirens 'Purity' (Candytuft) Euphoria 'Blackbird' with blooms opening:   Euphorbia 'Blackbird'   Blooming for a couple of weeks, with plants opening at various times, are Hyacinth:   Hyacinths...Blue and Pink  (Surprisingly few of the pink varieties have bloomed at this point... but that's ok, since the blues are my faves)   ...and of course, Narcissus.  While some daffodils bloomed early and are finished, others are still in full bloom, with yet my newest varieties just now popping their foliage through the soil. I'll upload the newer ones when they start to bloom, but those that have been in bloom and are currently blooming are:   2 unidentified Narcissus varieties, with Hyancith      Narcissus--unidentified smaller bloom, many have still not flowered yet.     Narcissus 'Jetfire'  Pieris 'Valley Valentine' has really increased her blossoms since my last post:         Hydrangea is really budding out...   Hydrangea is really filling out The Trillium haven't bloomed yet but are above ground, fairly early;  I just hope I can stay ahead of the squirrels with the 'Bobbex'.  So far, so good:     Trillium recurvatum (Bloody Butchar)   Trillium luteum (Yellow Wakerobin)   More T. recurvatum 'Red Trillium'   Trillium pusillum (Dwarf Wakerobin)   I was surprised over a week ago when Polemonium began to bloom...   Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob's Ladder) It just gets more lovely each day:     I just planted light blue Muscari (in January, when I planted other bulbs) and they are coming up nicely:     Muscari 'Valerie finnis' (light blue)     3 crocus varieties have been blooming for a couple of weeks:   Crocus 'Blue/White Striped'   Crocus 'Romance'   Crocus 'Ruby Giant'   Many Iris reticulata are still blooming--but I think they are about finished:       I was really surprised to see Golden Groundsel already in bud...it was not this early last year (I got it last year at Carolyn's Shade Gardens in April and didn't bloom until late April)!     Native Senecio aureus (Golden Groundsel, aka Squaw Weed) *The blooms will be bright yellow. With several Forsythia varieties, 2 have been in bloom for about a week, with one type a much later bloomer. It's funny to see in person, as they are planted right next to each other:       A 3rd variety is planted in a different location, with about half of the branches in bloom:       Creeping Speedwell and Lamium are really pretty on one side of the house:     Veronica (Creeping Speedwell)   Lamium maculatum (spotted dead nettle) Bloodroot was another plant that I posted for Bloom Day last year in mid-April...this year, it bloomed  before mid-March!     Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)   Another batch of Bloodroot, in bloom     I am linking this with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens. GBBD is on the 15th of each month, and features garden bloggers around the world who show us what is blooming in their part of the planet.  Even though I am a few days late, my photos show a pretty good 'mid month view' of my Virginia garden. After I publish this, I can guarantee something will have changed in the garden. Another bud will have opened up, another plant sprouted. I'll walk outside and hosta leaves will have shot up a quarter of an inch from where they were this morning. It is truly a season of change!   Well, that's all for now. I hope you are discovering gifts every day in your garden of life, too:-)   Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Native Plants, Perennials, Woodland Garden 2012-03-16T00:40:33+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/march_garden_bloggers_bloom_day/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/march_garden_bloggers_bloom_day/   It's March 8th and I've decided to show 'what's blooming right now' in my garden. The last time I blogged was in January and I had 'vowed' to blog at least twice a month. Somehow, February completely slipped away without a single post. Did anyone notice?! Probably not!     Crocus 'Romance' (Just planted bulbs in January!)       Hyacinth     I took photos daily, or at least several times a week, throughout the month of February, so it's all 'on record' if I want to share anything. I'm not sure what the reason for lack of blogging was, but it could have been the fact that most of my blooming plants were being completely destroyed by squirrels. It was kind of depressing, to say the least!   Anyway, I just noticed today that the Candytuft is blooming...it seems early to me:   Iberis sempervirins (Candytuft) The Pulmonaria started blooming in late February...I could hardly believe it. Much earlier than last year!:   Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash' (Lungwort)    Here are some of the Hellebore's that are and have been blooming. Some since January, most of the others were blooming the whole month of February. I couldn't show them in February, however, because they were gnawed and eaten, with blooms cut off and looking scraggly! I finally got some good 'critter spray' (Bobbex) and have had good luck with it so these photos show 'intact' plants. (Wait until my next post when I show all the ugliness that the squirrels created here...!):   Helleborus hybridus               Helleborus hybridus (Pine Knot Strain)           A couple of different Hellebores...both 'hybrids'. (The one below had part of the flower eaten by squirrels but you can still see the pretty interior as it opened up).       Helleborus hybridus 'Phoenix' H. 'Phoenix' (above) was totally chewed off so I had to wait for a new flower to form...         Corsican Hellebore was the only plant that wasn't touched by the squirrels: Helleborus x nigercors 'Green Corsican'         I have a lot more Hellobores but couldn't show any blooms because either they bloomed and were destroyed, or they haven't bloomed yet. As I said earlier, I have another post 'brewing' about that issue.   I think it's early for Hepatica, compared to last year: H. nobilis: Hepatica nobilis (Liverwort)   H. acutiloba: Hepatica acutiloba (Sharp-lobed Hepatica) - pink     Same with Jacob's Ladder...it is much earlier than last year!:   Polymonium reptans 'Jacob's Ladder'     I just planted these Iris reticulata bulbs in January...so not sure if they are 'early' or not. They began blooming over a week ago:   Iris reticulata (Just planted bulbs in January!)       Daffodils have been blooming for a few weeks, on and off...but I still have several varieties that haven't even broken ground yet. Here are some I've had for years...nothing 'special', really. I planted a bunch of new ones in January and will photograph them when they bloom...           I had to show this guy...usually I'd pull him out but in February, he was welcome!   Dandelion (so-called 'weed' but adds color!)   Veronica repens (ground creeper)   Pieris japonica (Andromeda) 'Valley Valentine'   Vinca Minor (*An 'invasive' vine but I keep it contained, although I wouldn't mind getting rid of it entirely! I do admire the blue flowers, though)   Ilex Berries (Holly Tree) -- just because it's pretty against the blue sky If you noticed a white 'film' on any of the plants, it is spray to keep away the squirrels and deer. You might wonder why it would be on things like daffodils, hellebore and pieris. If I didn't know better, I would wonder myself. However, it is necessary, believe me! I have a whole series of photos showing the damage and destruction caused by squirrels alone. I have never had so much hellebore damage. It's a crime, it really is! I'll explain in my next post...   Until then, did you remember to say Thanks for Today! Unwrap the present; discover the gifts! ?   What gifts did you discover today?     Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Native Plants, Perennials, Woodland Garden 2012-03-09T00:24:11+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/backyard_birds--weve_got_em_here/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/backyard_birds--weve_got_em_here/   Every year we look forward to an influx of colorful birds in our yard. The numbers generally pick up in January, and usually coincide with colder temperatures. While birds are here at any given time throughout the year, there is more obvious activity at the feeders during the winter months:   Finches and a Bluebird at one of the feeding stations   What do we do to attract the birds?  One thing we do is provide a variety of seeds, nuts and berries in several different bird feeders.  Black oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower nuts, peanut pieces, safflower seed, nijer seed, and suet is available and enjoyed by many different birds.  Here are some birds on the suet feeders:   Downy Woodpecker (female) on suet feeder     Downy Woodpecker (male) on suet feeder   Starling on suet feeder   Carolina Chickadee on suet feeder   Eastern Bluebirds on suet feeder       Here are others on the seed feeders:   Eastern Bluebird     Eastern Bluebirds (Male and Female)     Eastern Bluebirds and House Finch       Red Winged Blackbird       Female Cardinal     Northern Cardinal (male)   Downy Woodpecker (female)   Carolina Wren   Downy Woodpecker and Starling     Chickadee   American Goldfinch   Nijer (Thistle Seed) feeder:   American Goldfinch   Goldfinch    Eastern Bluebird (male)   House Finch (female)     Despite the food offerings, probably the most important thing we do is offer water. Birds love bird seed, but they need water. We started out with a heated birdbath which the birds really love because it prevents the water from freezing over:   Eastern Bluebird (male)   Bluebird (female)   Male House Finch and Female Bluebird   Female (L) and Male (R) Bluebirds   Female Goldfinch Last summer we also installed a meandering stream. It has proven to be an attractive addition and/or alternative to the birdbath and I've immensely enjoyed watching the birds get to know it:   American Robin   Mourning Dove   House Finch (male) and Goldfinch (male)   Goldfinch (female)   Dark Eyed Juncos   Eastern Bluebird (male) and Junco (male)   Bluebird (female) and Junco (female)   Something else that helps to make the birds feel safe is having some shelter, such as evergreens or bushes/shrubs that don't lose their leaves in the winter. We planted Leyland Cypress on either side of the house, and birds can frequently be seen resting on the bows of the trees, seemingly hidden from sight (except for mine!):   Male (L) and Female (R) Northern Cardinals   We also have holly trees in the front yard, and on either side of the house. This morning I spotted this colorful guy up in the icy-covered branches:   Northern Cardinal (male)   Many birds don't even go to the feeders, but enjoy the food that drops to the ground:   Dark Eyed Junco     Tree White Throated Sparrow (I had my short lens on and had to enlarge this photo to see it. Not the clearest photo...)   Even when birds aren't eating, they are simply fun to watch, as they hop on railings, bird feeder poles or tree branches:   House Finch (male)   House Finch (female)   Northern Cardinal (male)     Mourning Dove     American Goldfinch     House Finch and Eastern Bluebird   Eastern Bluebird (male)   Eastern Bluebird (female)     Downy Woodpeckers   White Breasted Nuthatch   Brown Creeper   I hope you've enjoyed these photos--I have captured them all within the past couple of weeks. Our weather has finally gotten cold and we've had a little snow a couple of times and even a minor 'icing'. I've said it before, but I do believe it: Winter is for the birds!   What do you do to attract birds?     Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Birds 2012-01-23T23:07:50+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/fire_ice_and_bulbs/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/fire_ice_and_bulbs/   Last Thursday found the edges and still sections of our stream glazed over with ice crystals. It was a pretty sight to view up close:                 The next day, I awoke extra-early and glanced outside to see an unusually fiery, spectacular sunrise:           There's an old saying that goes, 'Red sky in the morning, sailor's take warning'...but that did not end up applying. As it turned out, last Friday was a pretty day and no 'warnings' were necessary.   The dogs spent more time than usual romping around in the back yard. It was not at all cold--quite mild, as I remember--although I don't recall the exact temperature:   James, our Standard Poodle     Ginny, our Miniature Dachshund     Later that afternoon, I remembered the boxes that had been sitting in the garage since mid-November. Their contents were not 'inexpensive' yet I had lazily set them aside, seemingly willing to forget them. The two shipments of spring bulbs had arrived in the mail well into the fall planting season and I had promptly placed them in the garage, where they sat, as one excuse led to another and I (almost) made peace with the fact that they would rot and I'd just throw them all out. Thanksgiving, Christmas and even New Years Day passed by until, finally, this uncommonly beautiful Friday in January jump-started me into taking a look at them. Out of 433 bulbs, only the Erythronium 'Pagoda' had gotten soft and begun to rot. Suddenly I was excited that the remaining bulbs (all 428 of them!) were fine.   When I proclaimed that I would tackle the bulbs on Saturday, I had no idea that I would wake up to what could have passed as spring--maybe even summer in some climates--but that's exactly what happened! It turned out to be a 70 degree day! So in jeans and just a t-shirt, I planted about half of them in the backyard gardens and along the fence in the side yard:           Sunday turned out to be slightly cooler, but 50 degrees was still great bulb-planting weather and jeans and a light jacket were all that were needed. The ground was still workable, so I got everything else in except for 40 Narcissi, the 3 Allium and a few Crocus and Anemone--which I saved for the following day.   What I didn't foresee was that Monday would bring 30 degree temps and snow--and with it, my ski-jacket and wool hat! Nonetheless, I finished the job, planting the remaining bulbs in pots on the deck:     It felt good to have planted hope! I am looking forward to the color they will bring in mid to late winter and early to mid spring!       Additional views of Muscari plantings: Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' was planted along the top and sides which surround the waterfall ...Iris reticulata plantings along stream edges: Iris reticulata was planted along the edges of the stream Since our brief snow on Monday, the weather has remained moderately temperate. Last night we had a long, soaking rain. Today was up into the 60's. I am wondering if all of the bulbs I planted are going to rot in the ground. When will winter arrive? Here in northern Virginia, it's keeping us guessing. Has it arrived where you live?   *List of Bulbs planted include: 10 Fritillaria meleagris; 3 Allium 'Globemaster'; 30 Anemone blanda 'White Splendour'; 90 Iris reticulata; 30 Scilla siberica; 30 Muscari 'Valerie Finnis'; 30 Dutch Crocus (Blue/White Striped); 100 Species Crocus--50 'Ruby Giant' and 50 'Romance'; and 105 Narcissus--25 'Jetfire', 20 Dutch Master, 20 'Orangery', 20 'Professor Einstein' and 20 'Tahiti'.   Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Perennials 2012-01-13T02:26:45+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/wordless_wednesday_garden_blogger_bloom_day/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/wordless_wednesday_garden_blogger_bloom_day/ Today I'm thankful for the flowers that continue to bloom in my mid-November garden:                                                                                                                                                                      (*click on photos to enlarge)         ...and in the containers, a few colorful blooms also remain:       Yesterday was Garden Bloggers Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens. Despite a yard full of leaves covering just about every inch of garden space, I wanted to share the few colorful blooms that managed to survive our recent bizarre temperature fluctuations and unusual precipitation in the form of frost, snow and rain, interspersed with temps between the 30's and 70's on any given day.   Now, here is what my gardens REALLY look like right now:               It isn't much to look at, is it?! The leaves continue to fall--and the trees are still mostly full(!) The oaks won't lose their leaves much later...so I will probably not clean up the yard until mid-to-late winter.  The leaves serve as a protective cover for the perennials and I like the way the landscape looks when the snow falls on my perennials, so I probably won't cut them back until later, as well. There are a few winter bloomers, such as Hellebore, that I will uncover a bit later, to be sure not to miss those pretty blooms. Everything else can just wait.   Oops, this turned out to be a more 'Wordy' Wednesday than I'd planned...oh well...   Here's wishing you a wonderful week! Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Perennials 2011-11-16T20:03:22+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/toad_lily/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/toad_lily/ This is the first year that I've grown Toad Lily in my garden. Toad Lily is also known by its Botanical name, Tricyrtis.  This particular hybrid is 'Sinonome'...a cross between T. hirta and T. formosana. They say it was named because of its spots. It is not native to the US, but grows wild in parts of Asia. Although I love native plants, I also love shade-loving plants--and this fits in well with other perennials in a shady area of my garden. I love it!         Do you grow Toad Lily in your garden?   Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Perennials, Woodland Garden 2011-10-11T16:31:03+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/still_blooming_in_september/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/still_blooming_in_september/   The weather is cooling down and it's been comfortable, in the 60's and 70's, lately. A few days we've even woken up to 45 degrees here in northern VA. The plants are much happier than they were this summer, and I haven't added any additional water in weeks. It has rained on and off, which is just what my garden needed to lose that 'crispy' look.   Aster novae angliae (New England Aster) -- with a friendly fly visitor Since I didn't get around to posting a 'Bloom-day' post on the 15th, I thought I would do it now because it helps me to keep a record of what's happening in my garden from year to year.  I don't have much to write about--so you can just scroll down and view the photos.   Clockwise, from top L: Rudbeckia hirta (the last Black-Eyed Susan bloom), Gaura, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Phlox paniculata 'Andre', Echinacea purpurea 'Pink Double Delight', Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles', and center: Perovskia (Russian Sage) with Verbena bonariensis (Purpletop Verbane)   Liriope muscari 'variegata' (Variegated Liriope)   Clockwise, from top L: Coreopsis 'Limerick Ruby' (overwintered well here in zone 7-A), Caryopteris (Blue Mist Shrub), Agastache cana 'purple pygmy' (Hummingbird Mint), Rudbeckia laciniata (Tall Yellow Coneflower), Coreopsis 'Sienna Sunset', and center: Veronica spicata 'icicle' (Spike Speedwell) -- with friend     Agastache 'Purple Pygmy' with a lighter, orangy-yellow Agastache variety that I planted last year, which I seem to have forgotten the name of.   Carpet Rose (red and pink varieties) and hips from Rosa rugosa      Buddleia davidii 'Adonis Blue' (L) & a lighter blue variety -- with a spider friend     Clockwise, from top:  Chelone (Pink Turtlehead), Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Salvia greggii 'Flame', Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing', Commonelina communis (Common Dayflower - a 'weed' to some), and center: Kalimeris pinnatafida (Japanese Aster) (Another photo/collage of Turtlehead with Bluebeard...makes me want to dig them up and plant them closer together!):       In various areas around the front, side and back yards, I have annuals both in the ground, and in pots:   Impatiens Zinnia   Clockwise, from top L:  Salvia (a variety I planted from seed several years ago, reappears every year in the pot); Lantana camara (Lantana 'Ham & Eggs' -- NOT a perennial here in zone 7a); Heliotrope; Geranium; False Heather; Bacoba 'Giant Snowflake'; and center: Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' There are a few plants I haven't featured (such as Agastache 'Blue Fortune') but that's because it is looking scraggly now so I didn't bother to include it. This time last year, it looked quite a lot better and was loaded with butterflies. Unfortunately, the butterflies were far and few between this year. I do have photos of a few, however, which I'll include in a later post.     Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Perennials 2011-09-21T12:54:58+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/garter_snake_ingests_toad_not_for_the_faint_of_heart/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/garter_snake_ingests_toad_not_for_the_faint_of_heart/   I've been trying to think of a way to share this post without 'grossing' anyone out...but I don't think that's possible. So if you choose to read this, be forewarned there will be some photos of blood and guts. The garden is always full of surprises, and this afternoon, no one was more surprised than my son and me when we watched a garter snake completely ingest a fairly large toad! We had just taken our two dogs out when my son saw the dog jump back; then he saw the snake. We both walked closer and saw that it had part of a frog in it's mouth. I have to admit, my first thought was to try and save the frog. But it already had a pretty good injury, which was bleeding, so it was probably too late to do anything even if I'd wanted to. I didn't quite know, at first, what type of snake it was--even though I have seen garter snakes before. It was light green with a black checkerboard pattern. I went in and grabbed my camera and had my son check online for an ID on the snake. If it had been venomous, I contemplated getting an axe! I don't like to kill anything but a poisonous snake in my yard could test my outer limits...   Anyway, I took a series of photos of the whole event and despite the blood and gore, want to share them here. Even though I like both frogs and (most) snakes and really don't like to see them injured or killed, it was quite fascinating and educational--and honestly, just a natural part of life.  It was weird, standing there watching this helpless frog suffer, but I knew there was really nothing I could do but leave the scene, or watch and take some photos. So, for your viewing pleasure--or displeasure--I offer the following--a movie made with a string of clips, using Picasa. You can stop the movie at any point to view individual photos (if you dare!):   https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9gEwVZ4RUNVvxSg2QrhUoIoPxg61ZOX5FDBTxyxUaBs?feat=directlink Garter snakes are beneficial snakes to have in your garden. They are not harmful and eat a lot of pests like mice and voles. Unfortunately, every now and then, a small bird or frog falls prey. But that's life. Thanks for today!       Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Wildlife and Critters 2011-08-31T23:17:44+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/a_rosy_surprise1/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/a_rosy_surprise1/   While walking around the garden Sunday afternoon, I glanced down to see this yellow creature with pink legs (and what looked like pink ears and a cute little face) crawling along the ground.     Having no idea what I was looking at, I picked up a stick and held it close to the critter--hoping it would grab hold so I could pick it up and get a better look. When it began crawling up the stick, I called for my son to come out and hold the stick so I could snap a few photos.       After taking a few shots, I set it down in an empty birdbath which was lying on the deck. I ran inside and began to upload the photos, simultaneously doing a Google search for 'pink and yellow caterpillar'.  I'm pretty sure at some point I put in terms like 'with ears', as well!     I was inside for less than five minutes--but when I went back out, this little creature looked nothing like when I left her minutes earlier:     She had attached herself to the side of the birdbath, and those little 'ears' were actually wings! She was a moth. A Rosy Maple Moth, to be exact. It all started to make sense when I looked up and realized I had found her underneath a Maple tree!     I began to realize that she must have recently emerged from her cocoon and, having fallen to the ground, had been in the process of trying to find a place to attach and pump up her wings. I just happened to intercept her as the process was happening.     A few articles I read mentioned this moth could be destructive to trees, but I simply ignored that information and instead, remained in awe by the lemon and raspberry sherbet that looked more sweet than sinister.  I placed her back in the garden, where she attached herself to a Hellebore stem:     She remained there as nightfall came and I went to bed. When I checked for her the next morning, she had flown. I hope Rosy has a good life. I feel blessed to have seen part of the process of changing from 'fat cat' to beautiful moth. It's funny how you can live in a place for 15 years and still find something new, nearly every day. You just never know what surprises await you on any given day!    Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Pollenators 2011-08-09T14:22:05+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/hummingbird_clearwing_on_phlox_paniculata/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/va/blog_01/hummingbird_clearwing_on_phlox_paniculata/   Hummingbird Clearwing on Phlox paniculata       Happy Wordless Wednesday!   Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author. Native Plants, Pollenators 2011-07-28T01:00:00+00:00