“Cease to inquire what the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.” ~Horace
Garden gifts
nature
Red-bellied Woodpecker
This red-bellied woodpecker unexpectedly came racing across the back yard and landed with a plop upon our bird feeder. I watched as it casually enjoyed a snack of sunflower seeds and then retreated to the top of a pine tree for a little exploration.
“The cream of enjoyment in this life is always impromptu. The chance walk; the unexpected visit; the unpremeditated journey; the unsought conversation of acquaintance.” ~Fanny Fern
Tending the babies
There are three baby cardinals in a nest in our crepe myrtle bush. Both the male and female cardinal are in and out constantly, meeting the demands of their little ones.
“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” ~C. S. Lewis
A drive along the levee
A leisurely drive along the Mississippi levee at this time of the year never disappoints. One of my favorite sightings this month was several Ruby-throated hummingbirds darting in and out among the red clover. We sat and watched their playful activity for some time. No photos, but clear, beautiful images in my mind.
“Memory … is the diary that we all carry around with us.” ~Oscar Wilde
Insects on orange butterfly weed
The bright flowers of the orange butterfly weed attracts a variety of insects during their blooming season. Here are a few that stopped in to enjoy the pollen and nectar.
“Stop every now and then. Just stop and enjoy. Take a deep breath. Relax and take in the abundance of life.” ~Unknown
Exercising caution
I was able to get some photos of a pair of Dickcissels in the tall grass along the Mississippi levee. The female was quite the poser, but the male was more cautious and tended to stay hidden among the grass. These “sparrow-like birds” can be found in our area from early May to August.
“Thus hand in hand through life we’ll go;
Its checker’d paths of joy and woe
With cautious steps we ‘ll tread.”
―Nathaniel Cotton
Bunny in a clover patch
“The sweetness of life lies in usefulness, like honey deep in the heart of a clover bloom.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Blending in
This green frog blends in well with the color of the surrounding duckweed, and can easily go unnoticed. What commonly gives its presence away is its high, reverberating chirp or an occasional hop.
“So you’re a little weird? Work it! A little different? OWN it! Better to be a nerd than one of the herd!” ~Mandy Hale
Tattered Gulf fritillary
Life has taken a toll on this butterfly as revealed by its tattered and torn up wings. But regardless of the predators and various environmental challenges it has faced, it is still a beautiful butterfly that has survived to fly another day.
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”. ~Thomas Paine
An abundance of snakes
While walking around the boardwalk at Reelfoot Lake, we came upon a large number of water snakes that were swirling ferverishly in the water. We were not sure at the time what we were witnessing, but have since found out that it was a breeding or mating ball. In the spring, female snakes put off a pheromone scent which attracts males. The male snakes then track the female, and a breeding ball occurs when there are many males competing over the same female. In these photos, the female is the largest snake.
And since pictures don’t do the situation justice, here is a short video clip that gives a better idea of what a breeding ball looks like.
“Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.” ~Alfred Hitchcock
walking on a country road 