It’s 0740h, so most of these are last night, but my post from yesterday was getting awfully long.

My new grass got mowed for the first time! Lots of weeds in it, but I’m actually going to leave them because their roots are deeper and I don’t want everything to erode. This was a fuck-ton of work.

Almost dark by the time we finished.

I didn’t get a good shot because he wouldn’t stay still for even a second, but this big (big!) dung beetle flew in for a visit last night. I did ID him, but my computer is in the house and I’m on the patio. EDIT: I’m at my computer now, and he’s Dichotomius carolinus.

I had a self-heated lap rug last night.

This is actually Sunday morning. Mah grassz! Not perfect, and I ripped up a bit when I was removing the mesh, but much better than a big patch of bare dirt right between the patio and my flowerbed!

My little native honeysuckle is doing okay. The other one died and I thought for a while I’d lose this one as well, but so far, so good.

I might get a bloom out of my golden globe-whatever butterfly bush after all. I got it in a 4″ pot and it’s really “sprawl-y”, but I think it’ll be better shaped if I cut it back in spring.

Male Spicebush Swallowtail. There was a female on the other butterfly bush, and I think he was trying to get her attention. Kinda late, but at least I do have spicebush if they’re so inclined!

I’ll be very surprised if they actually materialize, but when I was watering my baby hardy fuchsias, I found these on one of them (the one that hadnt been dug up by whatever creature).

Also…I saw another Giant Swallowtail today. That’s three in less than as many weeks, for a total of four in my lifetime. Plus a Red-Spotted Purple, though he didn’t stick around because they’re not much for nectar.