Snail

Feeling  his way across the driveway. 

 Where are his eyes?
On  the tip of the longer tentacles.

The Luna Moth

This is the first live Luna Moth I have ever seen in the wild.
There were three of them clinging to a barn door in broad daylight.
The next day I saw another. 

YouTube life cycle of the luna Moth

After the Storm

A violent Thunderstorm brought the deer together deep in the hemlock grove.
Occasionally they huddled together, side touching side,  heads facing away from the wind. 

Quiet Moment

The Yearling and her Mom

New Trail Camera Up and Running

On Alert: A porcupine is nearby.

A new Bushnell trail camera.!! 8 m pixels, infra red at night, and uses 4-8 AA batteries. It is tiny and goes unnoticed.  This new one is placed in the same "secure" location....just off a well used animal trail, in a grove of Oaks and Beech, surrounded by Hemlocks. It is a hike in any direction to deer feeding grounds, but offers sanctuary, especially to expectant does.

Wild Honeysuckle Blooms in May

The Fragrant "Swamp Pink"

Another spring...last year I posted a photo of this fragrant bush in full bloom.
This year's image was taken with my iPhone4S.



Swamp-pink

To him who keeps an Orchis' heart –
The swamps are pink with June.
               Emily Dickinson















"But with June comes the most exquisite of our New England wild-flowers, the arethuta, or swamp-pink,——The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 5 (1860)

"Swamp Pink . . . they are eagerly sought after, and form a conspicuous part of the decoration of the mantel-piece, in its season, the month of June. The color is commonly a fine pink.——New Book of Flowers (1866)

Baby Snapping Turtle

Tiny Turtle

This Prehistoric-looking turtle was found and photographed by my neighbor. Many years ago my son somehow pulled a giant snapping turtle into his canoe.
"Mom, can I keep it?"
I should not be surprised that 30 years later a giant snapping turtle is still resident and  reproducing.