Animals in your garden

[Beverly]

oh bravo, what do you think? black swallowtails? or does it look like you have a variety of different species? all the swallowtails are difficult to photograph because they move their wings very fast and often even when feeding. You might want to take a look at the fennel to see if they are leaving eggs (also dill, common rue). Your garden looks like butterfly heaven. The one on the trailing lantana would be feeding only, at least for the moment. Congratulations!

 

[roadrunner]

I also have two Rue plants, but I didn't know they were a host plant...good to know. Yes the swallowtail was feeding and if you look closely the wings are a little blurred, because the wings were in constant motion. If I waited five seconds for it to stop I would have missed the shoot. I just had to zoom in and shot. I do have other varieties of swallowtail, I know this because of the markings, but that was the only pic I could get.

 

[Larisa]

Mini pterodactyl in currant bushes.

 

[Beverly]

@Larisa he looks very snug in there, is there just the one? I've been meaning to ask you what kind of animals are in your forest, in addition to ants. Some how i am not surprised there are pterodactyls

 

[Larisa]

@Larisa he looks very snug in there, is there just the one? I've been meaning to ask you what kind of animals are in your forest, in addition to ants.

Three chicks in one nest.
Our forest is a reserve. This means that hunting is prohibited there. Therefore, there live moose, deer, hares, foxes, wild boars, hedgehogs, martens, squirrels ...
However, a few kilometers away from us is a hunting base for "special" hunters. They bring animals specially for them. It's terrible, of course. But I do not like hunting for fun.
Sometimes animals escape from them to us. Two years ago it was a pack of wolves.
I do not know where the wolves left later.

 

[Larisa]

The cold drove all the reptiles from the forest to my garden. They are everywhere! In the afternoon they sit in the sun and look at us. It's funny, but when I pass by, they all raise their heads. Fortunately, they are not dangerous.

 

[Tjohn]

The girls watching me weed, hoping for a tidbit or two....

 

[marlingardener]

Tjohn, isn't it fun to weed the garden with all those beady little eyes watching your every move? Our ladies expect a treat every time I go to the garden--a damaged tomato, a handful of weeds, but no cucumber, thank you very much!

 

[Tjohn]

Tjohn, isn't it fun to weed the garden with all those beady little eyes watching your every move? Our ladies expect a treat every time I go to the garden--a damaged tomato, a handful of weeds, but no cucumber, thank you very much!
View attachment 23435

OOOOHH!! I only have five girls, I can't imagine the guilt if I had that many eyes watching !!!!!

 

[MaryMary]

Full disclosure: This is not my garden, nor did I take these pictures. I've waffled over posting them for this reason. But they are so cool, I hope you will forgive me.

My sister got a visit from a snapping turtle.

She was looking for a place to lay her eggs!!

 

[marlingardener]

MaryMary, I'm so glad you did post those pictures! Marvelous, and something few people have seen. Kudos to your sister for grabbing the camera.

 

[tbendl]

That's very cool, huge tail on that turtle! Glad you shared it for sure!

 

[mg guy]

can't top anyone, but we have the grandog as a frequent guest.
She likes to walk the wall. lol

 

[marlingardener]

mg guy, a wall-walking dog is definitely an animal in the garden!
We had a cat that would delicately pick her way along the fence rail, then jump down and expect a treat for her performance.

 

[mg guy]

We had a cat that would delicately pick her way along the fence rail,

I sometimes think that this dog thinks she's a cat-she can actually jump up on the wall from the lawn side, rather nimbly I might add.