Happy 2015 to gardeners, garden bloggers, and especially to the residing and visiting wildlife who augment the beauty and meaning of our natural spaces. This little cloaked Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, butterfly chrysalis,
…is cozy for winter. Though he/she is cocooning and not flitting, flying, and nectaring, there’s still plenty of wildlife to observe and appreciate in our gardens. Wildlife is intrinsic to healthy gardens and astute gardeners realize that we are their advocates and partners in the work of healing the world.
Please join in next Wednesday, the first Wednesday of January and 2015, for Wildlife Wednesday. Photograph and write about the wildlife who graced your gardens this past month. Celebrate the feathery, flighty, and furry, as well as the jumpy, crawly, and slithery you observed in your gardens.
Wildlife Wednesday.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015.
My Gardener Says... 
You mean I ought to go……out? Outside? In January? You are quite the taskmaster (taskmistress?). Honestly I often hibernate a bit myself when the mercury dips below 40 degrees so this is great incentive to bundle up and go out to see what the garden gang are up to this time of year. Happy New Year!
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I suppose you could take photos of whatever is visible from your windows, thus avoiding winter’s chill. I can’t do that because my windows are too…grimy. To avoid cleaning them (a task I hate, along with most other cleaning), I’m forced into the cold outdoors. Be brave! Snatch a coat, slap on a hat, wiggle into some gloves and grab your camera, then join me next Wednesday!! (I know, it is hard to want to do much outdoors right now. I need some sunshine in my life.)
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Oooo – that swallowtail’s chrysalis is soooo purdy! I can’t wait ’til next Wednesday – I had a new visitor to my garden that I can’t wait to share!
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Excitement and anticipation!! I can’t wait!
The little chrysalis is beautiful. I have no idea if the chemicals-that-turn-into-a-butterfly are still…active. It’s a chrysalis formed from a group of swallowtails munching on some fennel back in October/November. It’s just been there. Attached. Waiting for warmer temps. I’m keeping a keen eye on it, assuring that I don’t damage as I tidy leaves.
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Great message, and how fun to find a chrysalis! I will see how things go in the next few days. We’ll be having single-digit highs, so I’m not sure I’ll get out much. But if I do and I see wildlife, I’ll share it in a post. Otherwise, I’ll be back here to visit the participants’ blogs. Thanks for hosting!
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Brrrrr. We’re wet and chilly, but not nearly that cold. I hope you have some critter events to share, but if not, pop by and see what others might have. Stay warm–lots of hot chocolate and a warm dog or cat.
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Happy New Year Tina. So glad that I’ m not the only one with dirty windows.
I will try and join in but the wild life in my garden just won’ t stay still.
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Ha! I suspect there are many of us who belong to the Icky Window Club. I hope you do join in on Wednesday, but I certainly understand how tough it can be to catch good photos of wild things–especially when it’s cold outside!
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hahahaha You nearly-tropical people don’t even know what COLD is. Where I grew up we would get spells of -40 degree weather. Meaning exposed flesh will freeze, spit can turn solid before it hits the ground and tires turn into rectangles. Thunk thunk thunk was the sound they made before they warmed up enough to be round again.
That said, I still don’t relish going outside at this time of year either. I must be going native.
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I can’t even imagine cold on that level. Whenever I see photos or TV showing blizzards, etc. , get the chills. I’m a wimp, I admit it. When you develop goose bumps when the temp is 70 degrees, then you’ll be a native.
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