Baby Critters Everywhere
4 June 2004, 4:28 PM

Last weekend Jeff and I surprised a fawn, probably not more than a day or two old, in our backyard. He scampered off to a larger clump of grass on a farther property, even though mama was nowhere in sight. We did see some adult deer head in that direction sometime later so hopefully he was okay.

It turns out that our backyard is a popular nursery for newborn deer. Upon coming home from work today we saw a mama and very little fawn - a day old perhaps? - resting in the shade of the trees. Mama saw us and got up and went a we bit further, but since we quietly went in the house and watched from the bedroom window she didn't go too far, and we got to see the little fawn nurse. I even got a half-way decent picture of it, despite the distance.

But that's not the only wee creature that our backyard is the nursery for. My herb stand has been home to a Black Swallowtail caterpillar. They're also known as "parsley worms" because they particularly like to eat parsley. Sure enough, this little guy is making his home in my Italian flat-leafed parsley. (After being born in the curly-leafed parsley.) He actually doesn't eat that much, so the parsley's looking fine and I'm looking forward to see a chrysalis and watching the emergence of a butterfly.

One odd observation - if you touch the little guy he sticks out this orange .... thing ... from his head. It looks for all the world like he's sticking a big orange tongue out at you for touching him.

Here's a couple more pictures from another angle. He's wet because I watered the herbs.

There was an adult Black Swallowtail butterfly hanging onto my petunias, and I got a picture. It's not as clear because the wind was blowing the hanging basket about and my hand was unsteady, but this is what the caterpillar is going to grow up to be.

Neat!

A Visit to Lebanon
4 June 2004, 1:49 PM

Yes, I know I haven't yet posted about my trip - I've been a bit too busy at work, and now my hand aches too much to write it up. I'll try to get it online this weekend.