Sad but fortunate

I saw this nest in my neighbor's yard and thought "wow that's a small nest".  I went back because something told me it's a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird nest.  Jake loves hummingbirds so I picked it up (with a glove) and took these photos.  I did save it for Jake to show him.

The construction is fascinating and cool to see the materials.  And amazing to think they are doing without tools or hands.

Here it is in the yard...

 

 

Here are two close ups from the top...

 

 

 

A close up showing the bottom...

 

 

And here is a size comparison...

 

New storyline to follow (Robins)

Since my milkweed are struggling this year, I have been looking for a new storyline to follow.

Well I've got one.  Robins have made a nest in the tree next to the driveway and have decided to "go out on a limb" and build it at roughly my eye level.  I see the mother every morning when I open the garage door.  If I hold the camera above my head, I can see down into the nest so stay tuned for pictures of baby Robins.

Here is the tree.  The nest is right above the sign.

 

Here are two views of the nest...

 

 

 

 

And here is mama and she's probably not happy (with me)...

 

Vole hole

Russ found another vole (or the same one again).  Same window well.  We've noticed a hole in the screen and now I know why.  Actually there were many holes/slits in the screen because that's how I chased this little guy out.

Not knee high by the Fourth of July

As I've posted before, my milkweed are not as high as a normal plant.  I'm hoping by thinning the plants out that they take root and have a better Year Two.

But there is improvement after thinning the plants.  They are still growing.

 

These are some plants I planted more into the woods.

 

Here is a "bonus bunny".  I think Russ missed him against the rocks.

Vole-a!

Russ was zeroing in on one of shallow window wells this morning.  I didn't see anything at first but  upon closer inspection a vole had found his way down there.  I don't see how it could climb back out so time for a rescue...

 

 

Rosy Maple Moth

I spotted this by our front door the other morning.  I've never seen one.  I had to Google it.  I tried "colorful moths of Iowa" and saw a picture that matched.

This is a Rosy Maple Moth - species Dryocampa rubicunda.

Well it's not Jack and the Beanstalk

I wasn't sure what to expect with my milkweed experiment.  I've learned I need to thin out my seedlings if they are clumped and mine are definitely clumped.  I continue to thin out without taking too many away.

My neighbor rolled through the other day with a riding lawn mower and took out a few spots.  I knew this might happen which is why I planted some into the woods and some closer to my fence.

Here is a picture of one the plants my seed pods came from.  Clearly this plant is ahead of mine.  I'm hoping that mine continue to grow and the in Year Two, I will have a more mature root system which will lead to a taller plant.  We shall see. 

 

 

Here is what mine look like as of Sunday compared to a plastic knife...