Protecting our Open Spaces

The Nature Conservancy has purchased this land about a mile from our house. It overlooks Black Lake Canyon and the sand dunes of Pismo Beach.

They plan to make it into a natural park with an amphitheater and boardwalk.

You can see the Amtrak tracks below the sand dunes and Hwy 1 is several feet below.There will be a boardwalk going to an overlook of the peat bog. Many wild animals call this place home and I am thrilled that it is being protected.

Spider vs. Butterfly

I found a Monarch Butterfly caught in a spider's web. My first instinct was to go rescue it. But then... I thought about it and wondered if that was the right thing to do. The spider caught this as food and he needs his lunch.

I looked closely at the spider. He already had something he was eating. The poor Monarch was struggling and fighting. I couldn't stand to watch so I went and released it from the web. I left that fly for the spider. It was already dead.

But I keep wondering. Was that the right thing to do? I know I shouldn't interfere with nature and the way it all works together. Somehow, I find that very hard when it is spider vs. butterfly.

There's a Fungus Among Us

We found this fungus growing on an Eucalyptus stump while we were out looking for Monarch Butterflies. The colors were exceptionally bright. I think I have identified it as a Sulfur Shelf or Chicken of the Woods mushroom which supposedly tastes like chicken.

I'm thinking we are NOT going to find out if that is true!!

Sitting in the Sun

This beautiful Swallowtail Butterfly was on the Lantana in the back yard. He was just sitting in the sun!

The Tens Have It

Today the sun came up bright and early. It's a special day, October 10, 2010 or 10-10-10. And if you really want to take it farther, let's see if I can catch the digital clock at 10:10.

It will be a good day... I'm sure.

Be Prepared

Johnny already has his winter coat on. He was so shiny and slick in July and August but by September he was already getting his winter woollies. It doesn't even get that cold here but he still prepares for the worst. We had a heat wave the last of September and the poor little guy just stood in the barn out of the sun. I took him apples to take his mind off his troubles!

The Harvest Moon

The moon was rising as we drove toward town. This was the harvest moon, the full moon of the fall equinox. I'm thankful I don't depend on the light of that moon to see my way in the fields as my father and grandfather did back in North Dakota.

Winter Squash Surprises

It is high time to bring in the winter squash so we went down today to gather them up in the wagon. These came up as volunteers and are a variety of banana squash. We found mother nature and the critters had been doing things to amuse us.

Mother nature did some tie-dying...

And the gopher critters carved their own jack-o-lantern!

The Monarchs are Here

We started seeing a few Monarch Butterflies in our yard in the last few weeks and now they are everywhere. They are particularly fond of the Zinnias and Lantana and are eating nonstop at the flowers in the garden. We will have to take a drive to the Butterfly grove in Pismo soon. November and December are when the count is the highest but we go several times each year as it is only a few miles from us on Highway 1.

What amazing creatures they are to fly so far and to know just where to find their resting place for the winter.