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- Salamander
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- Tree frogs
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- Giant dragonfly
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- Pickerel frog
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- Parosol-like fungus
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- Spider in defense mode
In the midst of all the hectic goings-on, I’ve still found time to marvel at the natural world. Frogs, newts and salamanders, who would love to share our pool but alas, the chlorine is not their friend. A fat garden spider whose neck-high web I inadvertently walked into (like a ligature!), inspiring him/her into defensive mode.
One morning, a delicate mushroom suddenly sprouted in a potted plant and which resembled nothing so much as a paper parasol. While on a walk, a dragon fly lying stunned in the road. Once home, I lay it in a bowl on the porch. The next morning the dragon fly was not there; I soon located it clinging to the inside of the screen and looking quite revived. Taken out of doors, it immediately flew up and away.
At first light, I am often awakened by the song of a robin who has roosted on the same branch outside my bedroom for three summers now and who favors an early morning wake-up call (4:30 am). We have several apple trees—presently bursting with fruit and filled with various tribes of song birds gleaning in a ‘mixed species foraging flock‘. The season’s last butterflies crowd those bushes that are yet in bloom and the cadence of the katydids has slowed considerably with the onset of cooler nights.
Back in June, a smallish snapping turtle spent an entire day depositing eggs at the edge of our yard in a decidedly haphazard pattern; we decided it was her first go at motherhood. Several days ago, David spotted a hatchling and now there are several little turtle-shaped slots in the lawn.
The wild grasses have gone to seed; beautiful swaths of yellow green, mauve and champagne colored froth lining the sides of the road. And now that the temperature has dropped into the forties at night, some of the leaves are beginning to turn as well. Goodbye summer, hello autumn.
life and breath: outliving lung cancer 
Linnea, I really love reading your posts. This one especially resonates with me as I am a huge nature lover and find wonder in it everyday.
Susan, it is truly wonder-full (nature).
Linnea
Sounds lovely. I really like the picture of those two frogs in the bowl. ~Catherine
Thanks Catherine. I was washing the chlorine off of them before taking them to their new home (the pond).
Linnea
I would give my eye-teeth to have turtle-shaped slots on my property (tried to say this phrase three times fast and failed). Wonderful post and photos! Are you drinking enough wine?
Love love
J
I don’t know Joan—eye-teeth are pretty useful. But then again, turtle-shaped slots are indeed way cool (tried—the three time thing—couldn’t). And as for the last question….almost enough.
love,love,love
Linnea
Loved the pictures except for the spider! That would have had me shrieking for an hour. EWWWW ! Glad to see you are enjoying life. I look forward to all your posts!
-Kandi
Kandi, it was a really cool spider and not at all dangerous even if it wanted to appear so. And hey, thanks!
Linnea
How wonderful you have time to enjoy all these gifts of nature. Simple moments of pure pleasure are such a blessing to anyone, I think. Stand Strong Lady. Hedy
Thanks Hedy. I found a baby snapping turtle in the pool this morning and I was thinking that not much was cooler than that—simple moments indeed. Stand strong as well…
Linnea
Linnea–
This is a breathtaking post… Thank you so much for this joy, complete with the beauty of your photography. Amazing. And can’t wait for the weekend to catch up on my own nature experiences!!! ❤ m