Houston, we have a problem!

 The joy of living in the country is its critters. I had a mission. I'd noticed that the Crumbly Acres camera was a bit cloudy. Out I went with some window cleaner. It looked like ghosts, but it's just my spidery friends spreading their webs.

There were issues. First I had to convince the wasp that it needed to leave.

You can see where the rain has left mineral deposits. 

I successfully persuaded the wasp to take off. That looks much better! 

I had to readjust it, as it fell forward. It turned out to be a good position! There is a little bolt that I needed to tighten. Back indoors! Sadly, I forgot to grab my cleaning cloth. I had to use the hem of my dress! 

A WASP story!

I met an angry wasp, Saturday. There is a story here!

This is an old bird feeder. It fell apart in the spring winds. The top fell off. The wood rotted. Junior Bear bent the post on the far side, last year. Big dweeb! There wasn't any seed there. I loved that feeder! I even reshingled it.

I could dump a whack of seed on it and leave it. In winter, not when bear are about!

Our annual May bear visitation (2017)

I decided I'd either take it down and fix it, of just remove it. Under the squirrel baffle, wasps... No fixing this month! It is pretty, though.


There. I went back to further push the wind thingie down and zap. I cannot blame it. I'd moved the nest. It was looking for its eggs!

Still a bit swollen a day later.

Hello pseudo-Springtime: bugs, frogs and snakes!

Daisy had three more ticks, I squish them in between the backs of my thumbnails if I am outdoors. Dratted things. That's 94 this year.

Daisy and I had another project, Thursday, putting the green frogs into the larger frog pond, taking them out of the goldfish pond that freezes. Unfortunately, by the end of another warm day, Friday, I counted 13 more! I gave up!



We moved 8 frogs together on Thursday, Nov. 5th. They see me coming, now. Daisy is helpful, too. Not much, seriously. They see HER coming and dive deep!


Daisy catch & release from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This golden rod had several critters. VERY late in our season.
 

 Then, walking across the backyard Friday, I found a Northern Ribbon snake. You can ID them from the white crescent in front of their eyes. Not great photos, as I took them with my video camera, but a lovely moment with a sweet critter.


I love watching their tongues!

Northern ribbon snake from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
How extraordinary to see it on Nov. 6th!

Then, Saturday morning, I was surprised that a doe and her twins were cleaning up under the bird feeder. We had frost that night, but the sun was out and it warmed up! Then, momma left, twin #1 followed right away, #2 took its time but ran over as they dipped down behind the shed, toward the wetland.

Summertime, and the flowers are blooming!

I thought I'd document the flowers in the garden. Great gardeners have a garden that blooms in three seasons. Due to no fault of my own, this garden is one of those. These are the summer flowers. I'm careful to dead head the after they bloom, which encourages more flower production.

I think it helps that this garden has had at least three families who have been avid gardeners. It helps my mourning, when I've moved to be a caregiver, and had to leave some gardens and favourite flowers behind, to find a garden so well-loved. 

 I am ignorant of many of their names, seem to confuse them, too, but I do enjoy them!

I've found it easier grabbing photos using the zoom lens. I don't need it, but it means I can stand a respectful distance, not scare the bugs, and grab a long view.

This Echinacea just seem rude!

I wonder where the missing petals went!

I added this Monarda last year

Balloon flowers are pretty happy

The sunflowers are from bird seed.
I noticed the two wasps on the leaf!

During and after flowering!

Lilies are happy

Love the burnt orange colour

Ubiquitous dragonflies on Common mullein

The Eastern spotted fritillary seldom stops for long,
but I grabbed it 

Birds, buds, bugs, bunnies, blooms

I'm faster than you are!

You takin' my photo?

Got a better peanut

These are all photos from this month, April. I cannot believe how warm we have been. It has turned cold and my feathered friends and flowers seem to be surviving.

Horse chestnut, buds just bursting,
practically drip sap

While there are many places to view live webcams, I enjoy trying to capture these critters with my amateur camera! Thank you for visiting!

female purple finch

one bleeding heart has bloomed

Foreground: trillium

trout lily (yellow)

Dutchman's breeches

phoebe on sap line

Goldfinch

Purple finch & junco

Junco

Goldfinches turn to olive in winter. Spring is here, and they are like yellow flowers, that gather in our trees nibbling on buds.

Four of them in my cherry tree

two boys - amongst lilac leaves and buds!

a boy and girl!

white crowned sparrow

   

cotton tail bunny -  AKA -Labbit!

lilac buds!

dandelion

This bug
sat on the wall!

pulmonaria

cabbage moth on violets

wasp on wall!

Camera Critters Meme post #212