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Friday, September 16
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During this walk, I purposed to stop and look more closely at things along the road and in our yard.
I noticed a very sorry looking milkweed plant and because Monarch caterpillars love milkweed leaves, I looked more closely.
Sure enough there were two who were eating every piece of leaf they could find.
They are rather interesting critters. I went back a few days later to see if they were in a J cocoon form, but I couldn’t find either in any shape or form.
I walked into the soybean field to see what I could find there. These were planted very late, so I knew they would not be ready for harvest.
There were lots of soybeans, but they are quite young. I do wonder what the farmer will do with these as most soybeans are brown and soon ready for harvest. I am sure he has a plan. Farmers are always creative.
I also noticed a few Spotted Lanternflies.
I guess there must be something about the soybean leaf that they like.
The Crepe Myrtle is pushing a few late blooms.
The seed pods become more prominent as the bush stops producing flowers.
Dogwood berries are always pretty in the fall.
These are on top of our iris plants. I expect they are a seed pod and not just there for decoration.
Spotted Lanternflies recently invaded our maple (and a few other) trees. We thought we weren’t going to have any this year, then last week we began seeing them near our maple trees.
Cerwin got out his trusty sprayer and invaded their space and sprayed a few other areas.
By the time I went outside for my walk I saw lots of dead spotted lanternflies.
They are so pretty, but very destructive.
I am still surprised that our chrysanthemum blooms. I bought it a few years ago, thinking it was not hearty. It has survived two winters and looks like it will bloom again this fall.
Red Maple seed pods. I just learned that these are called samaras. The “wings” allow seeds to ride the wind and go farther away from the tree. Many children call these helicopters.
The rhododendron buds will stay safe through the winter and bloom again next spring.
There is only one Yarrow flower left in the flowerbed.
We buy a few geraniums in the springtime to add color to the flowerbed in front of our house. They will bloom until we have a hard frost.
I enjoy when I take time to focus on details – but it is also nice to go for a walk and enjoy the larger scenery.