Hello, here is a bee, probably a Pure Green Sweat Bee, mooning me from its perch on a coneflower. Look at those polleny saddlebags. #bees #photography #nature #insectphotography #pollinators

Two firsts: I'd never taken a truly satisfactory photo of a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. Their unbelievably fast nectaring pattern has always made that challenging. But yesterday I did, for the first time, of the very first one I've documented on my property. #nature #moths #nativeplants #insects

7-month old Holly the Heeler when I wouldn’t let her…[checks notes]…eat a light bulb. 🙃

Holly the Heeler at 6 months and one week. Had to be reminded not to lick the credit card at the drive-thru. #blueheeler #puppy #acd

May 21 was Monarch Day on my property, which marks the day each year that I find the first Danaus plexippus in any life stage. It’s almost always an egg or a young caterpillar, the adults having flown stealthily under my radar. This year saw the earliest Monarch Day since I started recording.

Well that’s working nicely

Holly the Heeler at 16 weeks. You can start to see the adult dog emerging at this age. This is her "these are not the droids you're looking for" stare. #blueheeler #cattledog #puppies

When he’s silly enough to think he’s allowed to put the flirt pole away. #puppies #blueheeler

Probably a bad time with Armageddon on the horizon and all, but I have acquired a puppy. This is Holly, a 13-week old Blue Heeler. The cat was annoyed at first but now enjoys watching her chase balls. The heated seat puts her to sleep every time. #blueheeler #puppies

I know many folks want to replace the White House rose garden, but hear me out - a more environmentally updated idea would be a pollinator garden of native plants. Move forward from the wreckage, not backward.

Indianapolis #nokings

He thinks everything is bullshit too. #catsobluesky #cats

This American Copper is the 33rd butterfly species I've identified on my 1-acre, non-HOA property on the edge of suburbia. It's nectaring on Devil's Beggarticks, an assertive but somewhat unlovely native plant that I let grow on my property. I love Coppers. #insects #photography #nature #butterflies

I caught a Salt Marsh Moth laying eggs on goldenrod this week. They lay eggs by the hundreds, in clusters. Four to five days later, the caterpillars hatch, and disperse. They're generalist feeders, so they chow down on a variety of plants. A beautiful moth. #insectthursday #nature #photography

The caterpillar of the Delicate Cycnia Moth. #insects #photography #nature #caterpillars

Some people like Christmas, but caterpillar season is my favorite. Cross-lined Wave on the left, Zebra Swallowtail on the right. #insects #insectthursday #nature #photography

Common name is False sunflower. Look for these guys on them. False Milkweed bugs - they feed mostly on the seeds of H. Helianthoides. Your prairie sounds like it’s doing great!

Eastern Tailed Blues tend to spend the night perched on leaves and stems. With classic tunnel vision, I was so focused on the Blue that I didn't notice there was a caterpillar photobombing it till my favorite iNaturalist identifier pointed it out to me. #insects #photography #butterflies #nature

Yesterday I saw Monarch courtship up close. I use that term loosely; it consists of a male careening in out of nowhere and slamming into her, knocking both to the ground. I went to get my camera, but when I came out the male was gone and she was eating again. Guess he got friend-zoned. #photography

Here is a break from butterflies and moths for an adorable Gray Treefrog. This frog lives in Tippecanoe River State Park. They remind me of cats and their loafed sitting positions. #frogs #herps #photography #nature

Day 1 and 2 of Black Swallowtail Chrysalis watch. #insects #butterflies #nature #photography

Yes they are! Look at that spotted abdomen. Just gorgeous.

Not sure there is any better representative photo of August for me. Unless it's a caterpillar on a native plant, but the Black Swallowtails love the Wild Carrot. #insects #butterflies #nature #photography #caterpillars

It's caterpillar season. Technically it's been caterpillar season for a long time, but there are more of them now. I went looking after dark tonight, and I found a Virginian Tiger Moth cat on some Devil's Beggarticks, chowing down. #insects #photography #moths #nature #caterpillars

The only orange dictator not on the Epstein list. #caturday #cats #catsofbluesky

Buttonbush is always, ALWAYS a pollinator magnet when its in bloom. It likes wet soil, and probably has delicious nectar. This Silver-spotted Skipper thinks so, anyway. Saul Lake Bog Preserve, Michigan. #insects #butterflies #nativeplants #photography

The Bee Balm is spent here in central Indiana, but it's still going strong in southern to central Michigan. This is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in flight toward the nectar buffet. #nature #insects #butterflies #photography #nativeplants

My trip through the Upper Midwest meant new leps, which always gives me a little dopamine hit. Here is an American Copper. Smaller than the Bronze Copper. Look at that fuzzy underbelly. Photographed at the beautiful Paw Paw Fen Prairie Preserve. #butterflies #insects #photography #nature

Gentle and appropriate road assist to this gorgeous Blanding’s Turtle, endangered in much of its range. An honor to escort this friend in the direction of their travel. #herps #turtles #nature #michigan