Garden critters

Twenty-two monarch chrysalises out in the garden now. TWENTY-TWO!

I doubt if they'll all make it to healthy adulthood -- chrysalises die, or the butterflies don't emerge properly, or are deformed, for all sorts of reasons -- but I've got my fingers crossed. If at least half of them come out looking good and fly away strongly, I'll be happy.

I've got pictures back of all the chrysalises but one, and I'll get them up ASAP. I'd like to make a map of the yard and where they've ended up, but that's going to take some time.

I want to do one more search (crawling around at caterpillar level), and maybe I'll find a few more. All of the caterpillars -- except for one that doesn't look like it's going to make it -- have gone and done their thing now.

I'm hoping the nice weather will hold for a couple more weeks so they can finish developing, emerge and get on with their lives.

( talk about spiders, but no pics )

Your beautiful what?

Grammar policing is love. Or not.

( graffiti fail )

My birthday wish list

1.
Brian Marshall Robot Orphanage

( twenty-four more, all work/child-safe )

Meet Flocke, a baby polar bear

( This way to the cuteness )