Nature Flashback

In celebration of the resurrection of life, some pictures from the past few years taken in nature, as my loyal readers know is a HUGE part of our lifestyle of learning:

Musk thistle.  We kill these when we see the basal rosette leaves on our property, because they're invasive, but they are lovely.  There are non-invasive native species, like tall thistle that can be enjoyed.

 Great-spangled fritillary on Joe-Pye weed

Prairie king snake and toad

A rough earth snake or some type of garter snake

 Wild field daisy

 Bumble bee on lavender bee balm

 Yarrow

 Red stars (Fire pink)

 Box tortoise

 Cottontail rabbit

 Brown-eyed Susan

Earthworms

 Eastern-tailed blue on white clover

 Groundhog

Grass snake

Pill bug larvae in pupae and an adult pill bug (on Liv's hand)

Snapshots from some of our photo books: 

Mullein and lilac

Phacelia, wild pinks, common vetch, red honeysuckle, common cinquefoil, peony, yarrow, black- or brown-eyed Susans, rue anemone, red star, Diana fritillary butterfly, tiger swallowtail, raccoon

Likely a luna moth caterpillar, possibly an imperial; bird nest; likely a black bear footprint (or a HUGE dog)

Beautiful plains garter snake...and a dead copperhead

 Zebra swallowtail, question mark anglewing, pipevine swallowtail (looks similar to the above-pictured Diana fritillary, the latter of which mimics) leopard frog , mushrooms, irises, and more.

Great-spangled fritillary, polyphemus moth caterpillar, red wasp in different larval stages, black widow spider, wolf spider and babies, brow recluse, a swallowtail variety caterpillar, and more!

Well, that is certainly a small bit of a flashback over the past few years, a rather small sampling, but I loved going back over our discoveries and joyful memories.   I'm hoping for another GREAT year of joyful discoveries, new identifications, and and celebrations of God's awesome creation!