Garden Safari

I returned from Churchill this week and was very happy to see the gardens around the house all in bloom.  After days of weeding, last evening Steve and I decided to go on a garden safari to see what creatures were lurking amongst the flowers.

We have lots of milkweed in the yard: swamp, common and butterfly weed.

I counted nine monarch caterpillars chomping away.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars also can safely eat milkweed.  

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

On the fennel and parsley in the garden were several black swallowtail caterpillars.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Our Serviceberry had a leaf full of these Datana caterpillars ...

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

... they will become Datana Moths

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Not everything was coming up caterpillars, here are some eggs on the back of a NY Ironweed leaf - soon to be caterpillars?  We will have to wait and see.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

But where there are caterpillars, there are butterflies.

Red-banded hairstreak.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Eastern Tailed-blue.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Other invertebrates were lurking in the garden.

This Sharpshooter leafhopper was on the stalk of my rattlesnake plant. Why it's called "Sharpshooter" I don't know.  According to my insect book, they feast on plant sap.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

No safari would be complete without predators.  And if it is death you want, the patch of mountain mint is the place to be.  As per usual, it had lots of insects.  

This 1.5 inch Garden Orb Spider can catch lots of prey in the mint.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

The Ambush bug waits quietly on a leaf for something to wander by.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

The Assassin Bug, ...

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

... with its arms folded up, lays in wait as well. 

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Stay tuned for the next Garden Safari.

Happy Birthday Steve!!

🐝🌼🐛🌻🐞🌸🐜🌺🕷

Thanks to Patty Rehn for guest blogging. 

All words and images copyright Patty Rehn.