Bad Year

This is a bad year for Japanese beetles.  They are everywhere, even on this lovely magnolia blossom.

They seem to eat everything.

This started out as a bad year for the frogs, but not any more.  Here is a tadpole in the wetland pond.

A frog nearby.  Enjoy the frog chorus at the wetland.

The red-winged blackbird has also had a good year with several pair nesting in the wetland.

There are just as many deer around.

There seem to be fewer of the larger butterflies, and if the red admirals persist in landing on Perimeter Road there won't be many of them left.

 I have now seen the silver spotted skipper in the meadow.

Here is a beautiful fresh tiger swallowtail.

The big bold cicada-killer, but have you heard the cicadas yet?

A lovely native rose blooming.  And the red-top grass is just beautiful in the meadow.