Forest Tent Caterpillar Tried to KISS me at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

While at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, we sat on a bench outside and enjoyed our slice of cranberry nut bread with butter on it.

It was a surprise to suddenly notice this critter walking 'UP' to me!

Put him/her back on my knee but the race up to my LIPS started anew...!

Up it came and FAST.

Did pick it up and placed it on the picnic table and we left.

Guess it CRIED

What would you have done?

Only later of course, I figured out that this was a Forest Tent Caterpillar or Malacosoma disstria

Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth

Malacosoma disstria Hübner, 1820 ←click link for more images.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens also has a Zoo and Nature Center 

So after the Caterpillar tried to KISS me, that is where we went next...

What a beauty of a Peacock in Pieter's favorite color blue, as he can distinguish it well, being color blind...

The Indian Peafowl is one of the most colorful species of bird.

The males, called peacocks are well known for their courtship displays in which they fan their long colorful trains in order to impress females.

Well, this one did show quite a lot of its colorful train!

What a majestic bird!

A groundhog sitting up... had to zoom in through the wire.

Wire visible later with Bobcat photos.

Elegant deer, and there even was one roaming freely around. At one time it was nudging my hand, where I held the iPhone, while I read some information... 

This turtle was HUGE, an African Spurred Tortoise...

A barn owl...

And a Bobcat and here I could not walk up to the wire for capturing it through there... out of protection there was another wooden fence I guess.

When I used my usual kitty call, it turned its head and we could admire its majestic 'grand' kitty face!

They live in Georgia as well.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens has a lot to be seen and is educative for children as well!

Hope you enjoyed your virtual visit without getting 'KISSED'...

Related link:

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens with Nature Train Tour | previous post by me

Confederate Condor on our Lawn

 On March 10, when I looked out of the bedroom window I saw a 'Confederate Condor' on our lawn...

Of course I'm referring to the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)!

Not the best image through the window and I certainly did try to get outside for a better view, through the back door from our Rose Suite...

But as soon as they hear something, they're gone! –

Sure glad I managed to capture this short video!

And this is what it was 'snacking' on... a dead squirrel.

Turkey vultures only eat carrion so something else caught this squirrel.

We do have a big owl nearby, hear him/her hoot in the evening.

Related link:

{Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) & Brave Furbabies} | previous post by me with far better photo!

Early Birthday GIFT from Kitties

Just before going to bed after making Tiramisu dessert... 

Juvenile water snake ←click link for 36 second video

With my iPhone I captured the above video and this photo.

Not my hand! The one our kitties brought me appeared to be a juvenile Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake) click for more info

Before coming to bed (not wanting to wake up my Pieter for showing him my 'early' Birthday gift, I put it on the retainer wall next to our driveway. Presuming that it was DEAD.

At breakfast time it was GONE... so they play dead when being handled!

Smart juvenile.

Found one of our bats on the driveway and it recovered!

 On May 31, I found a bat on the driveway and I picked it up.

So soft with brownish fur...

It was around 20:00 o'clock and I had dipped my finger in the cat's water bowl, for letting it drink.

No idea if they drink or what the cause of it laying on the driveway was....

It was so tiny inside my hand and it reacted to my calling and talking.

I took it upstairs, and then onto the balcony, no kitties there!

It was so very special for being able to video tape it in daylight and it seemed okay.

I was checking if it had a tail... and noticed its big ears.

Such soft fur!

Calling it Vleery Vedder (Vleermuis is the Dutch word for Bat).

They are oh so tiny, these little brown bats but ferocious mosquito and other insect hunters.

Vleery, looking at me from the top of the teak table on our balcony.

And yes, a little while later it was gone!

So for whatever reason it was down on the driveway; maybe dizzy...

Glad it got revived.

Related post:

Wet Monsoon - Magnolia Namnetensis Flore Pleno and BATS | previous post by me showing where the BATS live

Our Garden Critters Visiting before Sunset

 Photos from May, with Pieter's iPhone... was nearest to grab!

What a SWEET view from our kitchen bay window!

A doe visiting us, looking for some food...

We were so delighted!

Chipmunk photo captured with my new iPhone 13 Pro

 SURPRISE when my iPhone 6 Plus suddenly died...

So I ordered a new one at Apple on September 17, and could pick it up in Augusta, GA on the 24th by appointment.

About a two hour drive one-way.

Next day on Saturday morning I saw our Tiggy-Tiger girl hold something in her mouth, as she was opposite the kitchen bay window, near a shrub...

So I ran outside in my Happi-Coat (see below) and demanded she give it to Mami!

She did drop it and I grabbed it, thinking initially it was a small bird... no idea that this was a teenage Chipmunk with sharp teeth...

So I told Pieter to grab my iPhone 13 Pro and capture it inside my hand.

The very 1st photo taken with my iPhone 13 Pro!

Chipmunk sure was not hurt at all and started to be very agile and I decided to bring it across the creek, using our 3rd bridge and letting it roam there. 

That is at least a spot where our felines seldom (if ever) go to look for a 'playmate'...

Related link:

{Japanese Fireman's Happi-Coat from my 2007 Trip} | wearing my Japanese Fireman's Happi-Coat above...

Pieter Building Wood Trail with Rabbit and Chipmunk Nearby | short video where you see this striped chipmunk or Tamias striatus

Carolina Wren on Pieter's Arm

 On October 29, 1994 a Carolina wren Thyrothorus ludovicianus flew against the window and it recovered on Pieter's arm...

At the end it also flew onto the side of my pigskin pants...Lovely for being able to touch such darling birdie!
Related link:{For Mom & Dad's Visit in 1996 We Tamed a Mockingbird} | How we tamed birds to come inside our veranda...

Pieter Building Wood Trail with Rabbit and Chipmunk Nearby

 Early March of 1996 Pieter is preparing our wood garden for the arrival of Mom & Dad the next week.

So they would not trip or stumble over an uneven trail.

Pieter build a kind of a bat bridge.

This video has the usual clickable points built in with English text.So best viewed on YouTube and then scroll for reading below.At clickable 1:00 I show our Apricot blossoms, followed by the bridge over the creek.Now Pieter can ride his wheelbarrow a lot better and he's grading the soil before adding the newly built wood trail segment.At 3:39 I'm talking to our 'tame' wild rabbit whom I named Snuffy and also a chipmunk that I named Munky.They both made me very happy, as Mom loved wildlife, and now she would meet them within a week!
Related link:Plug from Extension Cord GONE... | previous post where Pieter also wore his Moonlight Mushroom farm t-shirtBuilding a Bridge in Two Days | previous post by meChipmunk photo captured with my new iPhone 13 Pro | newer post where I actually hold a teenage Chipmunk

Tiny Eggs Maybe from Chickadee

 Our Garden has plenty of birds and thus also birds nests.

One can come upon little surprises...

There is a US penny next to those tiny eggs for comparison.

Here Pieter held his index finger next to the eggs...

Always a joy to see lots of birds in our garden and we continue to feed them throughout winter.

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

 Being outdoors here on our own property, you almost daily can observe our garden critters.

Here below is the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) ←click link and it is about 5-8 inches long or 12-20 cm.

Nicely basking in the sun on an agave leaf!

They can either be green or brown, depending on environmental conditions.

Our Green Anoles are rather at ease with us...They even made love in our presence!
Do you have any lizards in your garden?

Eastern Kingsnake or Lampropeltis getula

 The Eastern Kingsnake or Lampropeltis getula is harmless!

When I spotted this one, I ran to grab my camera...

It turned its head as if to say: Hurry up, I don't have all day, waiting for you!

Okay okay, I follow you, just move on...

Of course it went straight for the creek!

It never looked back at me again and went head first into the creek...

Knowing they love to be in the water, makes you realize how easily they could hid on the edge of the pond, in the mud... as well as snapping turtles.

Pieter sure has been very brave for: Cleaning Our Pond and Fountain ←click link

Have you 'followed' once or more times a snake?

Bandido (Dido) did bring us this just Morphed Cicada

 Bandido (Dido) boy for sure did not get scared from the noisiest insect...

He brought us this just morphed Cicada inside!

Would you know what you were looking at?

Placed it on a piece of paper towel...

On Austin Bug Collection Cicadidae ~ Cicadas ←click link and scroll down for seeing some very good images and 'lookalikes' for the above.

Cicadas spend most of their lives underground, eating roots and other plant material. Some emerge after some 17 years for morphing, mating and laying eggs and the cycle starts all over.

Strange insect...

You can see here a 1 minute short video: 

A couple of Magicicada cicada nymphs at night (2016, WV, Brood V, Magicicada) ←click link. Towards the end you see the holes in the ground from where they came up...

Guess Dido stripped its wings...

Underside...Lots of legs it looks like.

Those eyes...!

Incredible 2:22 minute video: what the 17 year cicada sounds like INDIVIDUALLY and as a group ←click link

The sure did not scare Dido!

Neotibicen winnemanna (Davis, 1912) aka Eastern Scissor(s) Grinder ←excellent link to click on and it looks so much like Dido's catch!

Both of us are no experts in Cicadas but guess the above is interesting to check out.

This was another catch... a good month later.

Did you know Cicadas?

Related link:

{CICADA} | previous post by me

Incredible Imperial Moth and LARGE

 As husband Pieter wrote to his Mother early on, we live in a region where birds have the size of a butterfly, like the hummingbird. But also where a butterfly or moth has the size of a bird!

Just like butterflies, moths also belong to the group Lepidoptera.

The Imperial Moth Eacles imperialis imperialis has a wing span of 3⅛ - 6⅞ inches (8 - 17.4 cm).

Imperial Moth as captured by husband Pieter...

Quite an impressive size.

Have you ever seen the Imperial Moth?

Plug from Extension Cord GONE...

 When Pieter wanted to start working in our wood garden, he discovered that some garden critter (?) was against his clearing activities...

It will remain a mystery!But Pieter repaired it and started working again.Pieter is wearing his Moonlight t-shirt: THE WORLDS LARGEST MUSHROOM FARMWORTHINGTON, PAWe both visited there on November 25, 1991 and were quite impressed by their cave mushroom farm in trays. There were some 150 miles of underground caves in total...That brings back memories of Dr. James Sinden...
Related link:Dr. James W. Sinden was one of Pieter's mentors | previous post by meControlled Burning of Underbrush Cuttings | previous postBuilding a Bridge in Two Days | previous post from bridge ready the day before Controlled Burning...Jungle Clearing and Discovery of Tires | previous postJungle Clearing | previous post from two months earlierOur Garden at the Time we had Access to Spent Mushroom Compost | the Vedder Estate on video by Middle Georgia Magazine after ALL the hard work got done...Non Glamorous Wheelbarrow Job for Filling and Raising Swampy Parts | previous post by meThe FIGHT of Growing Grass in Subtropical Georgia/USA | previous post by me

Argiope Aurantia

 Our Garden Critters that I want to share with you...

Argiope Aurantia or Black and Yellow Argiope Spider

What a beauty!

You clearly can see why they also call it the zigzag spider...

Pieter took an excellent photo of it.

Related link:

Black and Yellow Argiope Spider | previous post by me

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Georgia State Butterfly

Come  enjoy this special Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly in our rock garden.

Yes, it is our Georgia State Butterfly!

Indulging in the nectar from the Sedum spectabile...Hope you enjoyed this 1:32 short video!
Related link:Trip to Zitácuaro in Michoacán, México for Viewing Monarch Butterflies | previous post by me{Out of Body Experience} | previous post, showing the Giant Swallow Tail, Papilio cresphontes Cramer{Our Buddleja Davidii- Butterfly Bush} | previous post by me

Jungle Clearing

 Husband Pieter never shied work...

On June 3, 1995 Pieter started clearing our jungle. The adjacent lot across the creek that also became our property. Pioneering work as no one EVER lived there! 

To the right in below video you see already how he'd opened up after he'd cut the underbrush and had done some 'logging'...

Again, if you watch it on YouTube, you find below the clickable points.Using his electric chain saw, with a long extension cord and the very powerful long-handled jungle machete.~My Dad flew home in March of 1993 with such an orange extension cord, that he loved so much. Back home in The Netherlands he would only have to change the plug.Since it is rather stiff, we had given Dad a nylon zippered sports bag to carry it.In Atlanta at the Airport screening point, a black lady wanted to take it away from Dad. She claimed it was a weapon! Yeah, can you see a 72-year old passenger strangling someone with an extension cord?So both of us stepped in and asked for the manager.He came and said, NO it's not a weapon and it is not even on the list!Dad got almost a nervous attack and was so glad that he got cleared...~That lot was far from 'even' as you will see at clickable 2:10 where Pieter literally is doing a balancing act on a long tree trunk. Or else he would be falling DEEP into a hole as seen at 2:44.Yep, it was a real jungle and rather dark with all the underbrush.At 5:00 Pieter is completely out of sight, deep inside such a hole...At 6:42 I'm showing our white Gloxinias that we kept in our greenhouse during winter.Ending at 6:55 with our tame squirrel Piep and I lure him down the tree for finding his bonus, a hazelnut.Hope you enjoy this little insight.
Soon after, we had to leave for Indonesia, for a couple of weeks of consulting work...
Related links:Our Garden at the Time we had Access to Spent Mushroom Compost | the Vedder Estate on video by Middle Georgia Magazine after ALL the hard work got done...Non Glamorous Wheelbarrow Job for Filling and Raising Swampy Parts | previous post by meThe FIGHT of Growing Grass in Subtropical Georgia/USA | previous post by me

Holding an Indigo Bunting in my Hands

 On Saturday, April 17, 1993 we could hear a male Indigo Bunting flying against the window...

So I went to pick him up and hold him in my hands till he would be fine for flying off again.

Sorry for the poor quality photo...

If you want to see this male Indigo bunting in its full splendor, go to blogger friend Mary's post: Birds of blue on golden sunflowers ←click on link

Have you ever seen these beautiful male Indigo Buntings in your garden?

Protecting Ducklings & Dinner for Uncle Bo Whaley

Having  your own property with Backyard Wildlife is at times complicated...

It is heartbreaking to see some 40 ducklings vanish within days, from a long row of 13 to 3 and then 0...

Kwekkie the Mama duck, never gave up and started all over.

We have raccoons, hawks, owls, snapping turtles, foxes...

We both speak Dutch in video, but you can use the YouTube version and find the clickable points written below, with English text. 

We always sent my Parents this kind of written letters home, so they could see and hear us.

Kwekkie happily on our pond with 7 of her ducklings... I've seen that the big Eastern River Cooter did pull down one of the tiny ducklings while they were eating cracked corn near the pond's edge.

Eastern River Cooter ←click link

Yes, they occasionally eat other things then just aquatic plants.

Sure, they ate all our water lilies and lotus flowers too.

River Cooter Diet and Nutrition - older turtles may occasionally seek prey as well... ←click link

River Cooter Pseudemys concinna - diet ←click link

The species P. concinna is highly omnivorous and will eat anything, plant or animal, dead or alive. Diet seems to be determined by available food items. While some writers feel that this species of turtle will not eat meat, predatory behavior has been observed.

Yep, I've seen it with my own eyes!

Let's forget the nasty killing... No fun to do and while patrolling early morning at 6:00 AM that was not a happy start of the day for me.

But in the evening I cooked us a good dinner and dessert I still had plenty left from our High Tea two days earlier.

Uncle Bo Whaley and Delores viewing some of our photos in the veranda, after dinner.

Fond memories!

Miss my Uncle Bo and he's already 15 years in heaven...

The Polka Dot cotton pique skirt pants I'm wearing is one of my own sewing creations.

This was an empty whole milk plain yogurt container with cream on top...

Pieter's brother Toon, the ex Marine, shot through and next his brother Pieter (my husband) an ex Military guy shot through the very same hole!!!

Vedders are sharp shooters and don't mess with their wife either... 😏

Several years later, Pieter shot a huge snapping turtle that constantly knocked down the rocks from the island, that Pieter had built for placing the fountain inside.

On the video from Middle Georgia Magazine you could see it in working.

Related links:

Our Garden at the Time we had Access to Spent Mushroom Compost | video showing fountain on rock island on our pond

{White Waterlily Nymphaea odorata in our Pond} | showing the big mama turtle

{TURTLE} | Showing the big mama turtle

{Ducks in Our Pond} | previous post by me

{Our TURTLE KINDERGARTEN} | previous post by me

High Tea Prepared and Baked by Me | previous post by me and from which we had dessert left over...

Cleaning Our Pond and Fountain | previous post by me 

Digging out Part of the Mountain of Dirt left under the House by Contractor

 Yep, after living and working in Indonesia, we still did continue doing consulting work but no longer than 2 or 3 weeks at a time.

So we finally since early May of 1992, could start working on home & garden...

Our contractor left us with a huge mountain of dirt UNDER THE HOUSE!

While we were working/living in Indonesia, he started constructing the house, which Pieter had designed, by making the drawings all himself.

Two levels on the driveway end and one level on the kitchen side.

The contractor did ask if we wanted a wine cellar but we said no, we don't need that.

Not realizing by not wanting that, he also bypassed any concrete flooring...!

Oh dear, when you're not physically present at times; big problems can arise that need to be dealt with later. 

Neither was there Internet for quick communication...

Always harder too, for correcting a problem like that later, as you barely can access the area for a fast and efficient excavation.

But we needed to get rid of the musty heap of 60 tons of dirt!

In August of 1991, I've dug out already a big section, as much as we needed to fill in for washed out dirt that Pieter rode then out in the wheelbarrow... See: The FIGHT of Growing Grass in Subtropical Georgia/USA ←click it.

This time, Pieter himself dug out a lot more, as we planned to build our pantry.

You can best watch this on YouTube, and use the clickable points that I've inserted and written about, below video.You can see the start of the digging and wheeling out, in the beginning, on a nippy cold February day (my Birthday) and next the construction of our pantry in progress.Having a dirty house, at least downstairs, I only kept up with the extra laundry and also captured our Garden Critters in-between filming Pieter's hard labor.Pieter indeed has been a worker bee; all his life and he's done it ALL.At the end of the video, you also see at clickable 38:07 after 20 days of labor, the completion of the construction of our pantry. At clickable 39:16 Pieter lets the viewers peak behind the added door from the pantry underneath the house, where the remainder of the mountain of dirt remained, till he dug it all out in 2004 for constructing our Rose Suite.With those 60 tons that came out, we could nicely grade our garden.At clickable 42:18 showing garden with wooden walkway, our wood trail on the left of our gazebo. You also get to see the ditches, dug for draining the swampy section! They were by then nicely clad with mosses!
Related links:The FIGHT of Growing Grass in Subtropical Georgia/USA | previous post Non Glamorous Wheelbarrow Job for Filling and Raising Swampy Parts | previous post{The Construction of Our Rose Suite - Part I} | previous post by me where Pieter dug out the 60 tons of dirt{The Construction of Our Rose Suite - Part II} | previous post by me