Chicago Botanic Garden

I spent most of today at the Chicago Botanic Garden (link here).

Saw some fabulous landscapes, many interesting plants, and some wildlife (toads, turtles, birds, chipmunks, butterflies).

I did not even come close to seeing it all.

Well worth many return visits.

Praying Mantids

Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

http://www.arbico-organics.com/1121101.html

I place ten (10) egg cases around the yard today.

As per the instructions, I placed them high off the ground to prevent them from becoming easy prey for ants.

It will be interesting to see what results obtain.

Demonic Clipper Bug

(Thanks to Elizabeth for taking this photo.)

Garden art (local artist) in the Woodland Garden.

Flower Fly

(Thanks to Elizabeth for calling my attention to this photograph.)

http://blogs.america.gov/science/2009/07/01/pollinator-photography/

Quarter-inch shoulder bolt

One of the bolts that hold the muffler onto the lawn mower dropped out a couple of days ago and I could not find it.

Today, I stepped on it (it was lying flat, so it was a subtle feel), which alerted me to its presence. I did not see it before I stepped on it.

Lucky find.

Rainfall

Less than 1/8' overnight.

Flowering Herbs

List of flowering herbs from Organic Gardening (link here).

Includes some of my favorites like bee balm, Agastache, feverfew, Joe Pye, purple coneflower, etc.