Red-spotted Purple or Orange-spotted Blue?

This beauty was beating itself against a plastic barrier and I managed to catch it and (try to) release it. It seemed to find perching on my finger restful and stayed there for quite a long time. When I finally got it to take off, it circled back and landed on me again. It did, finally, flutter off on its appointed rounds, but I enjoyed the opportunity to get a really good look at it. 

I wonder how this species ended up bearing the name "Red-spotted Purple". The particular specimen pictured here, at least, was orange-spotted and the most striking color was blue. I'm not a scientist, though, so I merely wonder whether someone might have been a little bit color blind. Maybe me. Who knows?

I also looked up information about the caterpillars of this species of butterfly. It turns out that it disguises itself from predators by looking like bird droppings. I went searching for images and, sure enough, it looks a lot like that. Pretty clever! Don't you just love nature?

Happily, they didn't name it the Bird Poop Butterfly.  That would have been bad. 

Oh, Honey!

Baloo and I walked back to the magical goldenrod field again yesterday afternoon, but there was only one bloom open and only one (very busy) visitor. 

This little fellow worked over every inch of the flower and packed his pollen baskets to the brim. 

I had to look up honey bee anatomy to learn what to call those bulging leg parts. Pollen basket seems so simple and descriptive, doesn't it? I love learning new things!

We'll have to try again next week to see if the flowers have opened and enticed the monarchs to return or not. 

Golden Moments

There's a loop trail that Baloo and I take through the woods and at one end of it there's a semi-open brush covered field that often has deer lounging around in it. 

At about this time last year, we walked it and while we didn't wake any deer from their naps, we found it bursting with color and movement. 

Goldenrod was blooming everywhere and between the monarch butterflies and the honeybees, there was constant movement and humming. 

Sadly, it was one of the few days that I had forgotten to bring along my regular camera, so I had to make do with my telephone. 

I couldn't believe the number of monarch butterflies. There were often three or four on a single goldenrod head. (There's a sneaky honeybee on the lower left blossom, if you look really closely.)

These pictures don't begin to do it justice, but I thought I would share them anyway and let your imaginations fill in the rest of the scene. 

Hmmm... Posting this has inspired me. Goldenrod is beginning to bloom again, so I think I'll take Baloo to that trail to see if we can catch a repeat performance! If we do, you may have to put up with another post about butterflies and flowers. 

Who knows? It might be worth it. :)

Being Green

Oh, look! A green frog. No, really. That's what it is. It's not just green and a frog, but it is actually called a green frog - or sometimes a bronze frog because of the somewhat bronze coloration amid all the green. (This odd introduction is a fond nod to my father's habit of teasing me about creatures with obvious names - like the green frog or the black and white warbler.)

The green frog looks a lot like a bullfrog, but the ridges of skin along the sides of its back distinguish it from its loud basso profundo cousin. As to voices, if I had to describe it, I'd say the green frog sounds a little bit like a banjo with loose strings being plucked enthusiastically.  I'm being completely serious (in a slightly tongue in cheek way). If you don't believe me, look up an mp3 recording of the green frog's song online. You'll see what I mean. 

So, does anybody else out there remember Bozo, the Clown's song about the Filbert, the Frog? No? Just wondering. I still remember all the words - and that's a little frightening. Pinto Colvig sang it and did amazing glottal stop renditions of frog croaking, also bringing green frogs to mind. 

Okay, it must be bedtime. This post has gotten even more peculiar than usual. :)

Make New Friends!

I love meeting new friends when I'm out wandering around in the wide world with Baloo. 

This vine was covered with little six-petaled flowers and the effect reminded me of a cascading whitewater rapids or waterfall. Of course, we were walking along the river, so the association was completely natural. 

I didn't know who this plant might be and had to go look it up. I learned that it's a wild cucumber vine! When the fruits ripen, they look like cucumbers - except they're really spiny.  Imagine if you crossed a porcupine with a cucumber - this is what you might get. Or a gooseberry and a cucumber - that would be just about right, too. I'll have to see if I can spot some later in the season and take another picture. 

So, now we've been formally introduced and I have a new friend out on the river trail. That's always a treat. 

Left Hanging!

I have sort of left the blog hanging for the past year. I got a little bit burned out and overwhelmed. 

The nuthatch is much better at being upside-down and backwards than I am, but I think I just might be back on track again. And I have plans to celebrate that very thing. So, stay tuned! :)

Happy Birthday, Stampeaz!

While walking Baloo earlier, I realized that February 8th is the 13th anniversary of my opening the cyber-doors of Stampeaz.com. That was sort of a mind-boggling revelation and one that seemed to invite a party!

So, to celebrate 13 years of sending cool carving stuff around the world and getting to know so many great carvers, printmakers and generally wonderful people, I'm having a one day 13% off sale on Tan-Z Kut. I think I figured out how to set up the store software to do this all automatically, but just in case I goofed somehow, know that I'll fix anything that doesn't go according to plan!

Thank you all for a great 13 years. It feels like a pretty lucky number today!