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blue love grass, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

Fall is beautiful– the trees are orange and red, the grasses pink and blue.

caterpillar, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

Couldn’t find this one in the field guide. Found it at Project Native– no plant to identify it with or any other clues.

sala-mom-der, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

Amanda found a salamander when she pulled up the black plastic where the potting station used to be. Further inquiry revealed two more salamanders and a bunch of eggs. This is the Four-Toed Salamander (we think). We covered it back up and apologized for all the comotion.

hopper, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

Found this hopping around the garden in the shade at Project Native. Check out the designs on the wings!

grasshopper eating, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

This friendly (or frightened) grasshopper hopped onto a piece of grass and let me get close enough to watch it dine a while. It didn’t seem to mind the closeness of my lens or the pesky sound of the shutter snapping. There is no shortage of photographic subjects now with the changing leaves and the frantic autumn insects. All I have to do is stand still a minute and something pokes its head out. This grasshopper sought me out! It jumped on my camera, then hopped back down to the ground and posed. I’ve seen people do this, but insects, wow, this is new.
Happy fall everyone!

grasshopper hopping, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

Hopping around next to the shed at Project Native

on guard, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

Just below the monarch chrysalis in the part-sun greenhouse at Project Native.

monarch chrysalis, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

The promised post-worthy pupae

monarch caterpillars chomping, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

These two monarch caterpillars live in the part-sun greenhouse at Project Native. For weeks now they have been gnawing away at the same two milkweed plants. Everyday I walk in to work thinking, “today will be the day I find chrysalises.” Everyday I walk in and find two slightly larger caterpillars. I’m beginning to wonder what might happen if they decide they like it just fine being caterpillars and forget to pupate– I mean, how big could they get?
The monarch chrysalis I posted a little while ago is getting pretty close to its butterfly date. Part of the chrysalis has turned clear, and I can see the shape of wings engraved in the back. I took a pretty bad picture of it today– tomorrow I will try again for a post-worthy pupa picture.

spicebush swallowtail caterpillar, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

This morning at work Amanda had some exciting news. The eggs we had watched the swallowtail butterflies lay last friday had hatched!

Monarch, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

On a rusty Blue Flag Iris

Vernonia Roots, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

New York Ironweed

Mushroom, originally uploaded by jamie goldenberg.

In Mike’s hands in Monterey.