Flora

Little purple flowers
Probably some kind of pea, you can see pods in the detail. Lots of insect visitors.
Little purple flowers
Probably some kind of pea, you can see pods in the detail. Lots of insect visitors.

detail
In this detail crop, you can see the most recently connected strand is still not quite in position.
Resting in the center of a somewhat tattered web.
Perhaps digesting the last meal, taking a nap before heading out to repair the web.
I saw two or three different kinds of butterflies around these flowers on the south side of the tai chi area.

Very delicate web, covering a good handspan. Wonder what gets caught in a trap that low? Haven't seen many others of this kind.
This is the eastern end of what was long ago a bed on the north side of the parking area west of the drive. I can recall mowing right next to it back in 1999 and at that time I could see two layers. And the bed was quite overgrown then, with trees easily 15' tall. As I study this area for permaculture purposes, I decided to pull out the treated wood of the bed border and discovered there are three layers, not just two. So there has been considerable build up of soild around it. Here you can almost see the middle layer, though it was hidden most places. On the left is a multi-trunked mulberry that I think needs to come out so that the sassafrass in the middle back will thrive. Also to minimize berry droppings on cars. The two in front right are oaks and one of them should come out. Both have parts of the old wire bed border thing that I may have to leave, or just cut away. In addition, this end of the bed has a large poison ivy vine population as well as a bunch of young bush honeysuckle. Also several yucca. No sure if this is the best place for them, now that the soil is so rich here.

Where I'd mowed a few weeks ago, the ground was bared and now, after two weeks with only one inch deep rain, cracked and drying out.
Where I'd mowed a few weeks ago, the ground was bared and now, after two weeks with only one inch deep rain, cracked and drying out.
Very pretty flower, but cell phone doesn't make it for this one.
Fallen sassafras leaves

sassafras leaves turning brown.
Praying Mantis
This guy perched on the top of the rail, turning to watch each of us when we talked or moved. turning to look out in the yard when a cat came along. rearing up when the cat walked by underneath. Eventually I picked up a long piece of wood and invited him to climb on, which he did, and then i took him out to the Wisteria. Unfortunately, none of the photos are worth sharing publicly...

Brandon Smith (Redwoodtwig)