The scallops on the outer part of this spider’s web are very elegant. But it was the center that made me think of that game Jelly Roll that I wrote about this spring. That’s when I was making a Jelly Roll our of rocks on the barnyard.
Those rocks got scattered by the animals before I got to finish it. And by that time there was too much else for me to do around the farm to repair it.
The design also reminded me of the turtle shell on my Turtle Pillow.
This morning I found four Monarch Caterpillars on the milkweed in the hosta patch. Two of them were on the same leaf as yesterday. But two I lost track of. They are still very small, but I could see the little mouth on this one chewing when I enlarged it on my iPhone.
It looked bigger to me than it was when I saw it yesterday.
I was wondering how this stick was attached to the fence post until I touched it. Then I felt how soft it was and knew it wasn’t a stick but an inchworm. It didn’t move when I touched it, just stayed sticking out, straight as a stick.
Cropping the photo allowed me to see the intricate rings, patterning, and color variation of this insect.
I love watching the caterpillars! We have swallowtail caterpillars in the dill. They start out so tiny and soon are bigger than my finger before they make their chrysalis. On Thursday when I was out in the garden I saw 2 beautiful swallowtail butterflies flying in the zinnias. I’m happy my dill provides for them. Thank you for all your beautiful pictures! Soon Monarch butterflies will be flying around your farm!
I’m not sure what Swallowtail caterpillars look like Josie. But nice to know they like dill. Because I do too. This year’s didn’t grow well, but I’ll try again next year. Butterflies and dill that’s a nice combination!
I hope you will get some butterflies. Three of our Monarch caterpillars are nowhere to be found and one I found dead with a beetle (or something) feasting on it 🙁 I’m not sure what preys on these guys but the other caterpillars (I think they are Tussock moths?) just seem to keep chomping until nothing is left. Such a bummer when the Monarchs don’t make it.
Oh that’s too bad Carolyn. I have a good number of milkweed, so I hope they move from one to the other. I can’t see all of them that closely. I did see a monarch butterfly yesterday. And yes, I have a lot of Tussock caterpillars too. Nothing seems to deter them.
That spider web is so magically exquisite! And that inchworm looking like a stick – I just love the photos you capture.
Thank Barb, It always surprises me that they are all right there.