What interesting creatures live in your garden?

[Pulsegleaner]

Today while checking on my plants I saw a praying mantis in my adzukis (I did take a photo, but Snapfish is being difficult with my phone again, so it will have to wait) Presumably a juvenile (it didn't appear to have wings yet) Don't know which species it was. We have two here usually, the big green/brown/mixed ones that are maybe 5-6 inches long and the smaller hyperactive ones that are 3 or so (though the latter may simply be males of the former) The juvenile was small enough to be the latter, but had yellowish orangeish eyes (the smaller ones usually have brown or black eyes, even if they are all green. The big ones often have pale eyes) And as it was resting I didn't want to disturb it to see if it had the other differing mark (the smaller kind around here has a yellow and black "eye" design on the inner side of both of the scythes; the bigger one's don't.)

Managed to get the photo uploaded (mantis is in the lower left)

 

[Carol Dee]

Great camouflage , it took a few seconds for me to find and focus on the mantis! COOL

 

[Carol Dee]

The leopard frog is back. We did not see any frogs last summer.

 

[baymule]

What a pretty frog! I have some toads in the yard, but they are just brown. Your frog is like a painted picture!

 

[sumi]

Managed to get the photo uploaded (mantis is in the lower left)

I wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't point it out! I am often amazed at how well some insects blend in with their environment.

 

[sumi]

The leopard frog is back. We did not see any frogs last summer.
View attachment 3706

View attachment 3707

It's beautiful!

 

[Pulsegleaner]

It's very hard to see But I took this photo of a spiny orb weaver spider who stretched her web across one of my yews (on branch, near center of picture)

Harmless, but boy to they look menacing with all those spikes on their butts!

 

[so lucky]

I found this cute little guy in the lawn this afternoon. We identified him as a Cedar Waxwing. I put him on a low branch in the nearest tree and watched for the parents, but so far, no one has showed up to feed him. I heard them call earlier, but not in the last few hours. I'm leaving him out there tonight, hoping a cat doesn't get him in the night. You may have to scroll down to get the whole picture.

 

[baymule]

@so lucky maybe it will be ok. We had 3 mockingbird nests in our yard this summer. It's amazing how fast they fly away!

 

[sumi]

Awww, I hope it's parents come back for it.

I took some more pics for this thread, I must upload them today. Thanks for reminding me!