That's one big caterpillar!

I went out to water my plants the other day, and found this guy by my hose.



I don't know what kind of caterpillar that is, but it sure is big!

Bad Ant

See this?



This is a bad ant.



At least as far as I'm concerned. I seem to be allergic or "sensitive" to these ants. One bite can become a swollen black lump the size of a half-dollar and with a red bulls-eye in the center. And it hurts like the devil when it bites! I still don't know what it is. I call them "oak ants", because they are commonly found under oak trees. This one was by my lanai. Beware!

ohthepollybillities Giveaway on GreenEarthJourney

There is a very cute bird feeder being given away on GreenEarthJourney. Ohthepollybilities has lots of other cute items that would look great in my garden, including teapots turned into birdhouses. Check them out!

Visitors

Who's that?


It's hard to make it out, but that would be a cardinal.


He flitted around the feeders, looking for some leftover seed. After a few minutes, he flew off to the mahogany, and I realized that he had a mate waiting for him in the tree. I hope he and his mate come by regularly. Hmmmm. What do you have to do in order to entice cardinals to nest in your yard?

Speaking of nesting, I spotted this girl the other day.


She had a beak full of nesting material, but I couldn't get her comfortable enough to show me where she was building her nest.

Saturday Brief Update

I got a shot of this garden helper.


I'm not sure yet what he is, but I see them on my mango all of the time. I always like seeing them, as I believe that they are working hard getting the bad guys and keeping my mango healthy and happy.

Unfortunately I have not been able to spot my Gulf Fritillary caterpillar for a couple of days. I'm concerned that a bird may have gotten him. But I did spot this little guy.


Looks like a new GF on the passion vine. I need to move the passion vine to a more sheltered location, to try to give this little guy a better chance at survival.

I have a number of flowers about to bloom on the passion flower vine.

My loquat is showing signs of freeze damage from our last freeze.


I think it'll be okay, though.

I spotted one of the lizard eggs from a couple of months ago. It seems maybe a lizard actually hatched from it.


The other three are still intact.

I found these seeds on my deck the other day. I don't know what they are from.




That's a quick update for today. No time in the garden today, aside from watering the potted plants.

Sunflowers (plural)

Two sunflowers now, standing tall under the ficus.



A bee came by to visit them today, while I was visiting with them. We had a little tea party. The bee brought the honey.

My First Harvest

Well, here it is: My first real harvest.



Three little patio tomatoes. I haven't eaten them yet, as they still need a couple of days to ripen. But they appear in good condition.

Woo hoo! I'm a gardener!