Monarch Caterpillar on Common Milkweed. ~2 inches. in transplanted field.
Robins are back, moved in a few weeks ago. It appears 1 patrols the front yard and 1 the back; not sure if they're in cahoots or 2 separate territories..
we have consistently counted up to 9 of them together, every day I believe this winter
first time we've seen this one this year
Let the cat out with a harness thingy maybe for 30min. She was very subdued in the jacket, I didn't even click on the leash. She stayed on the paths and sniffed plants. We do have at least 2 jacket free cats that visit the garden (which we chase off with water guns)
Cooperrider-Kent Bog. The largest, southernmost stand of tamarack in the continental United States. The fall color of these deciduous conifers is just magical. We felt so lucky catching it here and also at Herrick Fen and Triangle Lake Preserves. Tho I'd try the weekend before next time, many needles had already fallen
It has just emerged from it's chrysalis on a passionflower vine.