Surprise Among The Blanket Flowers

   It is a little before sunrise here with a slight drizzly rain pitter-pattering on the rooftop.  Normally, I would be preparing to slip down to the pier to greet the day but a certain achiness in the old bones says otherwise.  I shall stay indoors and try to calm the feeling of being cooped up with this unrelenting thing called age.  Folks, do what you want to do before that entity creeps in and tells you that it has different ideas.  

  Yesterday, I did manage to putter around in the Small Gardens a bit regardless of shoulder pains.  The blanket flowers had shared company with the cogon grass for long enough.  As I was weeding, my hand suddenly closed on something "slithery".  Hmmm...since this flower garden abuts "Pebble Creek" and is not far from "Puddle Pond", the heart started thumping a wee bit faster.  I peered down amongst the grasses and then sighed a bit of relief.  My friendly Ribbon Snake was just as surprised by our encounter as I was.

  Ribbon Snakes are tiny, very slender snakes that often inhabit gardens especially gardens that are near water sources.  Here, they dine upon the usual garden pests but, sad to say, they also eat the tiny frogs and toads that also call the place home.  (It seems my frogs just cannot catch a break!)  The snakes are harmless to humans, thankfully, since I had thrown caution to the wind while weeding.  

  I smiled at my little friend and wished him well but left him with a stern warning.  "Be careful!  Any number of larger critters would love to dine upon you! Stay hidden under the blanket flowers as they will disguise you well."  The Small Gardens are always a delightful source of happy surprises...with the Ribbon Snake being just one.

Orange Tree Frogs!

   No, our tree frogs are not orange.  They are green just like most tree frogs in our yard.  But!  These little froggies seem to really love living in the citrus trees so...hence, the "orange tree" frogs! 

  Actually, I am really happy to find the frogs living in among the leaves of the fruit trees.  For a while, the whiteflies were causing major problems for all of the citrus trees and I resorted to spraying apple cider vinegar on each tree in the small orchard.  The vinegar did the job after several sprayings but it was quite the chore to reach the tiptop of the trees.  The grapefruit trees especially since they are some thirty feet tall.  Climbing fruit trees is not something I wish to do.  Well, climbing trees in general...I am old.  Anyway, after two seasons of battling the whiteflies, I thought I had won.  Then...two years later, the bugs were back making a mess of the trees.  Sickened, I prepared to wage war again but, as I began to spray, I noticed the frogs were eating the critters!  Well, now!  Immediately, the apple cider vinegar went back to being a kitchen staple instead of bug spray!

  That was several years ago and since the froggies have taken up residence (and immediately started multiplying), there are a lot less bugs of all kinds.  Yes, I have thousands of frogs climbing everywhere but I do think they are better than the garden pests...and...they are a lot cuter.  Carry on, Little Froggies! 

Killers On The Prowl!

   September usually sees the garden filled with insects.  While a lot of these are classified as "garden pests", there are equally as many that are garden helpers.   They are there simply to munch on the pesky sort.  The turmeric plants are a good four feet in height now with leaves approximately eight inches wide.  A myriad of critters can easily hide in this tropical-like forest!  Lizards, frogs, ribbon snakes...all have been found there.  They are there simply because of the multitude of bugs that can be an easy meal.  There is also a lovely bug that is hunting for its meal, as well. 

  This morning, the bright orange Milkweed Assassin Bugs were on the prowl.  These expert killers are hunting insects that are on the plants to either eat or lay eggs.  They are Mother Nature's "insecticide".  These bugs keep things in check so there will not be an overabundance of other critters.  Most of the ones I found this morning were still juveniles that were just getting their wings.  They still had the white spots on their bodies.  

  I rather enjoy having the critters in the garden but keep in mind that Milkweed Assassin Bugs can and will bite if handled.  Their bite is not unlike a bee sting in pain level comparisons.  The only main difference is the lack of toxins.  The Assassin Bug's defense is just a bite...nothing more.  While the wound site may have a welt that lingers for a bit, there is no real danger.  That said, it is wise to avoid one and let it go on its merry way.  That way, the bug can do its job of eating all the pests.

A Jewel Of A Friend!

  Since finding that the garlic chives are blooming and that those blossoms attract numerous insects, the herb garden is first on my early morning hikes.  I find it interesting to see just who comes to visit and in the wee hours of the morn, I am able to see a mishmash of nocturnal and diurnal critters.  This morning, the blossoms were literally buzzing with insects but a lone critter on the turmeric leaf caught my eye.  A gorgeous Long-legged Fly was lounging in the first sunbeams to reach the garden plot. The green and coppery colors of the fly shimmered in the sunlight making the insect look a lot like some misplaced jewel. 

  The Long-legged fly (Condylostylus spp.) is an often maltreated critter since it so greatly resembles something that should bite.  Many folks think this is a weird type of mosquito or biting fly (esp. yellowfly) when actually it is a mild mannered critter that is quite helpful to gardeners.  The adult fly dines upon smaller garden pests such as plant mites and aphids while its larvae feasts upon other insect larvae and rotting leaf matter.  Neither have a propensity of biting humans nor pets. They really just want to flit about the plants and keep them pest free.  It is not often that you find such a grand helper and folks really need to stop spraying them!  So...look carefully and learn to recognize this fine friend...big eyes, long legs and a beautiful coppery/green coloring!

Encouraging Find

   Way back in February, I was surprised to find a beautiful, green lacewing on my front steps.  The small bug had just recently changed from its larvae state to an adult and was a bit sluggish yet.  Of course, I HAD to sit next to the insect to protect it from the (at the time) kitten, Bat.  Bat was at that curious age where everything that moved was a target of interest.  So, I "babysat" the bug until it was strong enough to venture out into the world.  Finding the insect made me happy as they are delightful things to have in the garden.  While in the larvae state, they have voracious appetites for a lot of garden pests.  Most people would rather dump a bunch of chemicals on the plants and call it a day but I am a bit more careful about my gardens.  No chemical sprays are used.  Those kill both the good and the bad.  Personally, I would rather let the lacewings do the job for me.

  I had high hopes that the lacewing would return to the steps to lay her eggs thus starting a new generation of helpers.  Imagine my delight when I found the telltale spiral of tiny, pale green eggs on the underside of the turmeric leaf!  This turmeric plant is in a large pot sitting on the bottom step near where the original lacewing was found.  In a few days, these eggs should hatch and the larva will start their hunt for prey.  This gives me hope that there may be less garden pests in the future.  Carry on, Little Lacewings!  

The Making of a Garden Cat

   Since I have been pretty much the only "mother" that this rescue cat has ever known, he treats me as if he is my true kid...a toddler but a kid nonetheless.  He follows me just about everywhere I go.  My hikes will never be the same with an inquisitive cat on the trail.  Critters are not keen on "posing" for photographs while there is a potential predator nearby.  I do not blame them.  This cat is proving to be quite the hunter!  So far, he has only been interested in shrews, mice and rats and is highly praised if he presents one to me, whereas, if he shows any bit of stalking birds, he is reprimanded.  I know it will happen but, hopefully, the birds will take flight before he gets too near.  That said, the cat does show a high interest in protecting the gardens and greenhouse from the aforementioned critters.  Bat is becoming quite the garden cat!

  One of his favorite places (also mine) is the greenhouse.  This time of year, the greenhouse provides a bit of warmth and, also, blocks the cold winds.  Bat and I can be found there in the early morning hours after our trip to the pier.  I putter among the plants and he stalks anything that wiggles.  This morning, he was highly interested in a tunnel under the prayer plant.  His sniffing did not provide any results so he decided it was time to play a game of "Hide and Seek".  As I moved plants in more favorable spots, he pounced in and among the pots. 

  While I have been criticized for allowing Bat to be a mostly outdoor cat, I feel it is necessary.  Here, he has about 20 acres of family owned land to explore and keep rodent free.  I have always said that any critter that calls the place home has to earn his keep.  We have only had two pets that were more lackadaisical in that area and both were elderly when they arrived.  The others quickly came to understand that "everyone works".  Bat is off to a good start.  If he just keeps the gardens and greenhouse pest free, I will be one "proud mama".

Smelly Helper!

   While it still seems early for insects to be devouring the garden, they are.  You would think that not many could stand the chilly weather but my cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower will beg to differ with that idea.  I can handle the caterpillars or cabbage worms as they are easy to spot and, also, the wrens love them.  They are not the problem.  The worst is the cabbage aphids (often called plant lice).  Those little critters can suck the life out of a broccoli plant in a few days.  Plus, they just keep on multiplying.  It is an endless task trying to beat those little suckers.

  Then...today, a helper came to lend a hand and I am in hopes that many more will find their way to the garden.  I was sitting on the front steps as I sipped a glass of water.  I had been planting blueberry bushes and, well, digging that many holes is a tad difficult.  As I was resting, I noticed a slight movement to my left.  There, a pretty little green bug was trying to dry its wings.  Oh, my goodness!  The warmth of the bright sunshine had brought out a lovely Stink Lacewing.  (A not so lovely name for the pretty little thing but they do smell bad if you poke at them.)  The Lacewings are garden helpers in the best way!  They eat a ton of pests.

  I watched as the little thing sunned and tested the area with its cute antennae!  Once its wings were stable, the lacewing took flight over the garden fence and to the broccoli!  I can only hope it has a ton of siblings as there are enough aphids to feed an entire army of them!  Carry on, Stink Lacewing!  Carry on.

Just A Friendly Spider!

   Oh, the things we find!  Son has been doing a huge cleanup of the yard this past week.  With most of the termite-damage reconstruction of the Little Bayou House completed, it was time to regain the yard.  This has gone on for too long.  I had started the cleanup and relandscaping back before falling ill but that all came to a standstill during my recuperation period.  When he finished rebuilding the pier, Son took over the cleanup.  He has done most of the "heavy" work but has no clue how I want to "pretty" up the place.  His idea of the perfect yard would have no gardens, no ponds, no fences and definitely no decorations of any kind.  A clean, clear lawn would suit him fine.  Me?  I need the mystery that outdoor "rooms" create.  Winding pathways, dark, shady nooks, babbling water features (snakes and frogs included) and funky gates.  All of those things are up to me.  He does, however, call me whenever he finds some odd critter during his work.  Today, a spider put a halt to the chores.

  Son called me as he was clearing a pile of lumber.  "Hey, there is a bug."  I knew to grab the camera because it had to be something out of the ordinary if he brought attention to it.  Sure enough, it was an odd looking critter.  When I told him it was a Long-jawed Spider, he shrugged and muttered something about it had long legs not a long jaw.  Well, he had a point but the spider's name would have to stay.

  Long-jawed Spiders are pretty neat critters.  They have figured out that nighttime provides for the best hunting and so they while away the daytime hours in hiding (like this one).  In the evening, the spider will crawl out of its nook and spin a large web usually over water.  They depend on the morphing of water bound larvae to adults as a food source.  Mosquitoes, mayflies and midges all lay eggs in water. When the larvae develop into adults and leave the water, they become ensnared in the spider's web.  Spider is happy....I am happy....a lot less bugs.  

  Since Son wanted to complete his chore, I gently moved our friendly spider to a spot closer to the little Puddle Pond.  She can have lots of hiding places and will be able to catch any flying critters tonight.  Happy hunting, Long-jawed Spider!  You are welcome to stay here!

Queens and Fiery Dragons!

  When you are starved for adventure and have no way of exploring for it, you create it.  If you truly wish, most everything can be turned into something different than it really is and even the most mundane find can become that long-wished adventure.  That is what occurred today.  

  While out surveying my queendom better known as the Small Gardens, I came across a fiery dragon!  This was no foul being, however, as this was one of my subjects. As Queen of the Small Gardens, I get to pick and choose who shall be deemed friendly and who shall be considered an enemy of the queendom.  This dragon shall serve a purpose and that purpose being the added protection from enemies of the queendom.   The dragon, albeit still a babe, will fight to save the Small Gardens from attack!  It pays to have such brave subjects!

  A wee babe of a green anole was seeking an equally small insect to have as breakfast.  It climbed about in the potted chrysanthemum plant.  Wow!  This tiny tot must have just recently hatched as it was only about four inches long!   It made me happy to know that it was hiding among the thick leaves of the plant a there were plenty of birds, larger lizards and even a few snakes in the garden that would have gobbled up our sweet friend.  After allowing me a couple of photos, the little one scampered down beneath the plant stalks!

  My fiery dragon will protect the queendom of such things as aphids, caterpillars and even mosquitoes!  The Queen jubilantly welcomes all dragons to her realm!  And so ends today's magnificent adventure of one with limited access to the outside world.

That's FALSE!

  Sometimes we can be mistaken about things and the best thing to do is research the subject to find the facts.  I did just that today.  The Bayou Princess Cat has been ill and needed to go to the Pet Hospital.  That involves getting her in the carrier case which is quite the ordeal.  First the crate had to be retrieved from the shed attic and cleaned.  It was that cleaning that gave me the first inkling that I needed to do a bit of fact-finding.  In the carrier, there was a critter.  A rather unusual looking bug was staring back up at me.  Well, now!  Just who are you, bug?

  The bug was flipped out of the carrier and onto the floor.  It stared at me as if to say "Woman!  Why are you evicting me?  What have I ever done to you?"  The bug did not look particularly mean so I had intentions of letting it go outside.  While it sat still for a photograph, that critter could move when it wanted!  Now, instead of cleaning the cat crate, I was hopping around the kitchen trying to catch a critter!  While I had no intentions of killing the thing, I sure did not want it in the house!  After a good many fruitless attempts, I was finally able to capture said bug and toss it out the back door.  Then...then!  I had second thoughts!  What if that was another of those critters that eat garden plants??  Time to investigate yet another bug.

  Well, thankfully, this was not a garden pest.  This critter is called a False Bombardier Beetle.  (Yeah, I felt bad for the bug, too.  It cannot even get a "true" name...False Bombardier Beetle.  Crazy!)  It seems that this is one of those critters that use mimicry to keep from being eaten.  The (true) Bombardier Beetle shoots some pretty toxic substances at its predators (and humans) but our little buggy just pretends to be the other so it will not be eaten!  After finding out it was harmless, I read further to discover that this is actually one that is good for the garden!  It seems that our little "false" friend eats garden pests...especially caterpillars and larval stage bugs (like those squash bugs and cabbage worms!)  Well now, Little False One, you can live happily in the garden because you will definitely catch more caterpillars there than in the cat crate!

Mrs. Spider

  Yesterday was a work day.  More raised garden beds were made, seeds planted and a lot of weed trimming took up the entire morning.  During one break, I headed to the Little Bayou House to fetch a cooling glass of water.  When I reached for the screen door handle, I was startled by what greeted me.  There, not inches away, was a huge spider!  Well, now!  I had been in and out that door probably ten times already, had sat leaning against the screen door just below the spider while I drank my morning coffee and had swept those steps but did not notice my friend.  

  I called to Son, "Hey, do you recognize this spider?"  He peered at the creature, shrugged his shoulders and muttered "Not personally."  My "man of few words" had done it again.  Ugh!  Well, Mrs. Spider, you really cannot spend the day on the door handle!  She was going to have to vacate her post and be relocated.  Not sure of what type she is, I picked up a small piece of driftwood and slowly moved it toward her.   Mrs. Spider inched over a bit.  The driftwood was moved closer in hopes that she would climb aboard.  Nope.  She sidled to one side. "Oh, come on!  Get on the stick!" I mumbled to the spider.  With that, she did!  Mrs. Spider stepped on the stick and settled down.  Whew!  Now, what was I going to do with her?

  I am happy to say that Mrs. Spider now resides (temporarily, at least) in the hanging fern.  She is only a few feet from her original spot so should not be too upset.  I admit to being a bit squeamish when spiders are crawling on me but have no qualms of sharing my porch with them. They do their part of keeping the place bug-free! Just so you will get the idea of how big she is, that is 1/2 inch square mesh hardware cloth behind the screening. Happy hunting, Mrs. Spider!  Glad we came to an understanding here!

Pretty Little Pink Cannibal!

  I was looking back through a few of my older photographs and came across one of a snail.  Ever since I was a tyke, I had been told that the pretty pinks shells I would find were from a "garden snail".  Maybe?  But not exactly.  The empty shells were the remains of a quite different snail with a much darker side.  Garden snails munch on plants and plant matter.  They are the bane of gardeners everywhere.  The snails, along with slugs, have been the driving force behind many methods of eradication.  Home remedies, chemicals, salts...everything imaginable has come forth as a "cure" of the snail curse.  Well...there is no need for that at all.  Those methods are doing nothing more than killing the very savior of your plants.  The eradication methods also kill the snail with the pretty pink shells.  Not good if you are a gardener.

  You see, the pink shells are from the Rosy Wolfsnail.  While alive, the shell and snail look more rosy brown than pink but once the shell is empty and dry, it is rather lovely.  The reputation of the snail?  Not so lovely among other snails.  A Rosy Wolfsnail actually dines upon other snails.  It follows the slime trail of snails and slugs and chows down on them.  It is indiscriminate in its choice of dinner as it will even cannibalize its own type given a half of chance.  The Rosy Wolfsnail eats smaller snails whole but will rip a larger one from its shell.  By putting out "snail/slug" bait or poison, you also kill the Rosy Wolfsnail and it is doing its best to help you.  

  The next time you find a Rosy Wolfsnail make sure to leave it in the garden and make sure to thank it for a job well done!  I am pondering if, once the old dog is well, we should go on a great snail search and rehome those babies right in the veggie garden!  

Thankful for Little Friends

  Sometimes, you only have to look in the garden to find a good friend.  Being as my time outside has been strictly curtailed by caring for the old dog, the gardens are literally on their own.  I do little more than spray a bit of water on them every day or so and then hope of a bit of rain on the days when I cannot even get out to do that.  The plants are suffering greatly and it breaks my heart but there is just not enough time (and I do not have the energy) to tend to their needs. I'm running on empty here.

  I did, however, manage to sneak out for about fifteen minutes early this afternoon. Our temperatures were pushing the triple digits again and there was no rain in sight.  It was not the best time to be outside but since Son was not busy elsewhere at the moment, he volunteered to "dog sit" for Mr. PJ.  I hurriedly sprayed everything with a bit of water and then rushed back indoors.  While I was out, I did find one fine friend in amongst the plants. A huge praying mantis crawled from a young poinsettia plant (leftover from last Christmas!) onto a avocado sapling.  I would not have even noticed had my spraying the water hose not sent a small cricket scurrying.  The cricket sought refuge from the water droplets only to be snatched up by the mantis.  This slight movement was enough to make me grab the camera for a few photos before I headed back to check on the dog. 

  A praying mantis (or any of the several species found around here) is a welcome friend to gardeners.  It is beneficial due to its indiscriminate diet.  A mantis will eat just about anything it can overpower which includes a lot of the nuisance insects that attack plants.  The one today ate a cricket but it would not hesitate to eat squash bugs, stinkbugs, any number of caterpillars, moths or whatever wiggles.  The mantis uses stealth to capture the insects.  It will sit almost motionless or will sway a bit like a leaf in the wind until a critter ventures too near.  Then, the critter will call upon its lightning speed to spring forth and grasp the prey. Those folded front legs are used like arms to clutch its dinner. 

  I was happy to see the mantis in the garden this afternoon and equally as happy to see one on the window screen this evening.  In fact, I would love to see dozens upon dozens of the critters living in the gardens which is exactly why I refuse to use insecticides.  Why poison the plants and yourself when there are those who will do the dirty work of ridding the garden of pests for free?  

Don't Go By Appearances

  Ever wonder why they say "Do not judge a book by its cover!"?  There is good reason.  First, with people even the dowdiest of us can have a good heart while those dressed to the nines with all of the niceties of life can have an underlying mean streak.  It does not depend on what you look like, what you wear or who you pretend to be, the truth of your being lies in how you treat others.  It is best to just not judge at all methinks.

  In the critter world, the same can be said about some of the most evil-looking ones out there.  A critter does not have to be flashy, sweet-looking or be as innocent as a lamb to be helpful.  (Good thing about critters, however, is that they do not pretend to be anything but what they are and they don't expect you to be anything but who you are.)  Some can be our allies without ever making an effort to shout out how good they are.  Once such critter has been dubbed a quite fierce name and can bite the bejeebies out of you but is still to be considered a friend.  In the garden today, I found such an ally.  The critter quietly climbed on a ruby lily leaf as it hunted.  While I was watering the plants, I had a "bird's eye view" of the creature and was fully amazed at its stealth.  Slowly, it went from plant to plant completely oblivious to my presence. 

  The critter was an Assassin Bug.  Even though this critter can pack a punch with its bite, it usually will try to avoid a person.  They have no interest in humans because they are far too big to eat! The Assassin Bug has a rather large fang (yes, just one) that it uses to repeatedly stab its prey.  Once caught, that prey is held tightly with the Assassin Bug's long front legs as it jabs and stabs it.  Then, it sucks the insides out of the dead insect.  So, how is this helpful?  It reduces the need for insecticides in the garden.  Assassin Bugs do not eat plants...they eat destructive insects that wreak havoc on the garden.  

  The rather mean looking Assassin Bug is a true friend.  Its appearance lets on that it is one thing but its actions reveal its true worth.  Too bad people cannot see that.  Too bad people cannot see that about other people.  Folks, just be nice.  It does not cost anything, does not take much of your time and the rewards are plenteous.  Don't judge a book (or anything else, for that matter) by its cover.

Friends Not Often Seen

  We usually tend to think friends are those folks who visit often.  Those folks who can drop in unannounced, linger over a cup of coffee and chat as if time is not of essence.  Sometimes, however, friends can be not often seen.  Years can pass before a unplanned event throws folks together.  Friends can pick up where they left off so long ago as if time and distance make no matter.  Then, there are friends of a different ilk.  Those are the ones that are seldom seen but make a huge impact on one's life.  It often make me wonder if those are the truest folks.  They go about life without ever expecting anything in return for the kindness they give.

  With all of this talk of friendship, you knew this writing was going to eventually turn to critters.  It all goes back to the idea that I have far more critter friends than people friends which suits me fine.  Critter friends do not dwell in drama.  Today's critter friend is one of those "rarely seen" ilk.  One may catch a fleeting glimpse of something scurrying beneath the leaves or in between grass blades but getting a long visit is often unheard of.  This morning, I had a quite lengthy visit with a Little Brown Skink.   I was honored that the critter trusted me enough to lounge near where I was sitting. It made no effort to hide nor run away even though we were inches apart.  We just sat and enjoyed each other's company.  

  What makes this a true friend is that the skink is always lending a helping hand.  This little one scurries about the leaf litter in search of small insects.  It pokes its nose under leaves or mulch seeking things such as fleas, spiders, roaches, ants and termites....all which are considered to be pests by most folks. This applies to me, as well, except for the spiders.  In my mind, spiders are good.  That said, this little friend is a friend indeed albeit one that goes unseen by most folks.  The Little Brown Skink...a hard-working friend that lends a helping hand even to those who do not appreciate it.

Ladybug Diner

  This afternoon, I headed out to pick the figs.  This is a twice daily chore as I try to "beat the birds".  No, I do not wallop the thrashers stealing the figs but I try hard to out race them to the ripe ones.  There are only a few more days that this comedy will take place as there are few figs left on the trees.   Between the birds and me, we have picked the trees clean.  After finishing this chore, it is my habit to walk through the garden to check for any remnant veggies.  It was there that a small red dot caught my eye and made me while away a good half hour.

  One of the garden boxes has a mishmash of plants. One volunteer tomato plant, six marigolds, one chrysanthemum, two mints, a few chives, a couple of purple basils and one struggling rose cutting are all growing there.  In the midst of all those leaves, a red dot scampered.  Aha!  A ladybug had found the mother lode of aphids and was a happy camper!  I watched as the ladybug raced around the leaves in search of aphids.  It would then chow down on its prey before starting anew.  The race was on!

  On closer inspection, there were many ants on the same plants.  At first, I assumed the ladybug was merely trying to outrun the ants but it kept coming back to run atop them again and again.  Then I realized that the symbiotic relationship between the ants and aphids was how the ladybug found its meal.  Ants literally "farm" aphids.  As the aphids suck the juices out of my plants, they excrete "honeydew" which the ants love.  The nectar rich resource is food for the ants.  In return, the ants protect the aphids.  (There have been cases known where ants will tote aphids with them if they have to move their nests.)  The ladybug, on the other hand, dines upon the aphids, themselves.  

  Usually, the ants and ladybugs tolerate each other and pretty much ignore one another.  Neither are predators to the other.  They both happen to be interested in the third insect..the aphid.  Personally, I would rather have the ladybugs than either the ants or aphids!  Chow down, Ladybug!

Wasp Versus Big Foot

  Around the Bayou, the bees are busy...so are the wasps.  Yesterday, I watched as a small black wasp carried off a huge cross spider.  The spider was stuffed down a small tunnel in the ground to become food for a future generation of the wasps.  This morning was spent watching another wasp do the same job.  Keep in mind that the wasps doing all this hard work are all females.  The males have nothing to do with rearing the young of most ground bees and wasps.  The female digs the hole, creates the birthing cells and catches all of the prey.  The male flies around doing not much of anything.

  This morning's wasp was a weevil wasp.  This one caught me by surprise.  Mark and I were rigging the sprinkler in the garden when I noticed a wasp flying erratically around me.  Hmmm?  "Go away, wasp.  I am not hurting you."  The wasp did not listen.  When I finally identified the wasp and saw that she was carrying prey, I knew immediately what was the problem.  I, obviously, was standing on her tunnel!  Sure enough, as soon as I took a step backward, she honed in on a certain spot on the ground.  She dropped her prey of a stinkbug and started digging out the dirt that I had accidentally pushed over the opening.  After a few seconds, she had the hole cleared and was hauling the paralyzed stinkbug down into the hole.  Her larvae would dine on the bug.  I watched as she backed out of the hole and flew off to find another insect.  On, happy day!  She headed right back to the tomato plants!  The stinkbugs are such a nuisance that I was singing praises for the weevil wasp!

  Sometimes it pays not to kill every bee or wasp you see.  Most solitary ground wasps are not aggressive.  They catch tons of garden-destroying bugs so do us huge favors.  This one is welcome to make as many holes as she wants and I promise that I will try to not to step on them, if I see them!  Carry on, Little Mama!  Carry on!  And just so you will know, I am aware that I probably spend far to much time watching the critters around the Bayou.

They Are Out There!

  Wasps are some of the most feared of all insects due to the fact that they can attack without warning.  It seems that they can build their nests in the most unexpected places and will protect those nests with a vengeance.  Take one step too close and they've got you!  Running is pointless as the wasps can fly much faster than any of us can move.  In some cases, the entire hive can swarm out and cover you in a matter of seconds.  Hornets and yellow jackets can have a hive of thousands (yes, really) of critters and each of those critters is fierce!  It is best to keep a wary eye out for their nests and not venture too near.  

  Paper wasps nest in much smaller colonies.  Their nests are usually dangling like a little umbrella beneath a sheltered area.  Eaves of houses, branches with thick leaves, benches, conical wind chimes and bird feeders all offer shelter for the wasps.  Even a lumber pile covered with a tarp will suffice.  Yep, that is where the wasps were found today.  Mark found it the hard way and received a couple of stings before he was able to retreat to a safe distance.  Crazy thing is that I work in this area daily and see the wasps in the garden constantly.  Perhaps they are accustomed to my presence.  

  Paper wasps are so named because of their nests.  The nest is made from chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva.  This forms a papery substance which is shaped into the nest with open cells.  Each cell is fitted with a paralyzed insect or caterpillar before a single egg is inserted.  The cell is then capped over for the egg to hatch.  The larvae feasts upon its meal and grows to maturity inside that cell. 

  With all of the bad hype surrounding the paper wasps, they do provide one good service.  These wasps do a fine job of keeping the garden a bit more pest free.  If you can get over the fear of being attacked, the wasps can be viewed as helpful.   I hate killing them but this nest was in a spot that was undesirable.  Mark and Son needed the lumber that was housing the nest. We had no choice but getting rid of the nest and the wasps.   I am sure there are numerous nests around the place so we will have to be a little more careful as we work.  

Happy Little Song To Brighten The Day

  For years now, there has been a mockingbird that follows me around the yard as I work.  The bird may or may not be the same one but it always makes me think of two little ones that I raised so long ago.   I am thinking those two, Knox and Shelby, probably have left this world as they came to the Bayou as abandoned tykes some eight years ago.  Not many wild mockingbirds live past that age.  Perhaps the one that follows me is a relative of one of those two.  It is always a lone bird that seems to have no fear of me and thinks that it is grand fun to shadow my every move.  It is most likely looking for a handout in much the same way that the herons do.

  This morning as I worked the gardens, I noticed that my little friend was flitting between the arbor and the fence.  If I moved to a new area, the bird would follow.  Much of the time, it sat singing its beautiful little song for me.  Of the two birds I raised, Knox was the singer which led me to believe that it was male.  It seems that the male mockingbirds sing far more than the females.   The one, today, was a singer!  Occasionally, the bird would stop its singing, look at me, let out a single chirp then swoop to the ground where I was digging.  There it would busy itself in search of an elusive bug or worm.  Then back to the arbor, it would fly.

  This afternoon as I took the old dog out for his last walk, the bird followed until it came upon the rose arbor.  There, it perched on the top and soaked up a good bit of the warm sunshine.  It will need that warmth tonight as the temperatures are going to dip to the low 40s.  Both Knox and Shelby would have been clinging to the screen door begging to come inside.  They knew where the bird cage was and would immediately fly to it when the door was opened.  This bird, was on its own.  There would be no warm, comfy cage for it to retreat to for the night.  It is funny how memories of events like raising two orphaned birds can bring a smile after so many years.  It is funny how a single mockingbird's song can make the heart happy.  It is funny how birds, sunshine and memories all mingle together at times.

Big Mama!

  I think every mother goes through the same thing at some point in their lifetime.  When an exciting tale needs a comparative adjective, invariably, the narrator leans towards "as big as Mom".  Why??? Granted I could stand to lose a few pounds but a lot of moms are tiny!  As big as Mom is the standard comparison for everything from a huge fish that was missed, a long snake hiding in a bush, a black bear ambling down the side of a road or even a bus hauling sixty kids to a field trip. "It was as big as Mom!"  Moms are huge evidently.  My siblings and I did it even though our mom was a mere five foot tall.  My kids did it even when I was nice and slim.  Every kid, everywhere has gushed the words when describing a scene in need of a synonym for gigantic.  "As big as Mom!" has always been a standard of measurement.  It probably always will be.

  Today, the phrase spun around in the brain as Son and I were digging a new garden area.  I needed a place to plant pumpkins and the original garden is jam packed.  The area was already sectioned off since it was a "bog" used during one of the previous clue hunts.  To prepare the site, I raked and son turned the soil.  We had already finished several of the sections so this was just adding extra ground to an existing garden. Son suddenly stopped and knelt down.  He was studying something on the ground.  I pondered a moment then asked what he found so interesting.  "That's one big mama." was all he said.  (At least, he did not utter the "as big as Mama" phrase!)  Curiosity got the best of me, so I joined him.  Once I plopped down to my knees, I came face to face with Big Mama and she was HUGE!  He had uncovered a beautiful wolf spider!

  We stared at Big Mama for a few moments before continuing our work. We were extremely careful not to disturb her any more than necessary as I love having these critters in the garden.  A wolf spider can munch tons of bugs that might eat my plants.  I would much rather have her in the garden than a lot of plant eating critters!  Big Mama is welcome to stay right where she is!