“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
No Further Than Your Backyard
Our white-tailed deer in Massachusetts get their iconic name from the white underside of their tail, which they raise when alarmed. Here on the east side of Taunton, down by the Glen, always plenty to see. It has been said, they are attracted to people who have inner peace within themselves and are guided by their highest truth.
The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago –
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below –
Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde –
Her Cheek – a Beryl hewn –
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known –
Her Lips of Amber never part –
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will –
And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star –
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door –
Her Bonnet is the Firmament –
The Universe – Her Shoe –
The Stars – the Trinkets at Her Belt –
Her Dimities – of Blue.
These insects get their name because they have very long front legs that they hold in a position that reminds people of praying.
This means that the mantis can look at the same spot with both eyes, which lets it determine distances more accurately. Some species have distinct body shapes that make the insects look like branches, flowers, or leaves. The most common praying mantis color is green, but it can range from brownish colors and tones to camouflage its body among its environment.
Below: Mantis on Basil plant
Below: On shrubs
American Goldfinches are unusual among goldfinches in molting their body feathers twice a year, once in late winter and again in late summer. The brightening yellow of male goldfinches each spring is one welcome mark of approaching warm months.
Memorial Day Weekend, 2022 to June 5th
Hummingbirds are the only species of bird that can fly backward, and their closest relative are swifts!
6 Spices of hummingbirds in Massachusetts:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Allen’s Hummingbird Broad-billed Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Calliope Hummingbird
Wolf Spider? The basement is a scary thing.
“Will you walk into my parlour?” said a spider to a fly;
” ‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to shew when you are there.”
“Oh no, no!” said the little fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”
8×10 photo album.
Hmm…leg missing in action
Caught by surprise at night. Hummingbird moth around hanging baskets. I didn’t have time to attach my SB900 so I had to use on camera flash, as you see in this harsh lighting. Bad image is better than no image. No that I know they are here in my new home in Taunton, I will be better prepared.
In this pond of placid water,
Half a hundred years ago,
So they say, a farmer’s daughter,
Jilted by her farmer beau,
Waded out among the rushes,
Scattering the blue dragon-flies;
That dried stick the ripple washes
Marks the spot, I should surmise.
Think, so near the public highway,
Well frequented even then!
Can you not conceive the sly way,—
Hearing wheels or seeing men
Passing on the road above,—
With a gesture feigned and silly,
Ere she drowned herself for love,
She would reach to pluck a lily?
Edna St. Vincent Millay
When a hundred men stand together, each of them loses his mind and gets another one.
Friedrich Nietzsche