While I love the simple act of gardening (you’d have to to build as big a garden as I have), the thing I love most is getting as close as possible to an amazing number of critters I share the space with.

About 70% of those critters are toads! I am constantly disturbing toads as I garden. Many will not agree with me, but I think they are absolutely adorable! Just look at his little toes!

While we don’t have a pond (yet), there are several around us (plus a river which runs by the town), as such, Dragonflies and Damselflies are regular visitors.

This yellow guy was HUGE! They are almost always very calm too – making it very easy to get pictures of them.

I’ve seen quite a few butterflies already (including a Red Admiral, a Monarch, a Common Skipper and a Sulphur) but I haven’t been able to get picture of any of them. But this guy wasn’t going anywhere

It’s a Unicorn Caterpillar moth and it was having a little rest on the screen of the kitchen door. It doesn’t show in the picture, but at the right angle, it has a little bit of blue/green iridescence.

There’s the usual cast of characters when it comes to birds…

But the real excitement is coming from this little guy.

He’s a Northern House Wren.

He’s been busy buildin a nest inside the little thrifted bird house I found last year.

He also sings while he works, and he’s been doing his darndest to attract a mate. I hope he finds one. I love hearing him singing his heart out in the yard.

Not quite so melodic are the juvenile starlings…

They are big enough to fly… but they are still following Mom around, demanding food. And boy can these guys SCREAM!

I’ve been watching them come to the feeder multiple times a day, and Mom is still doling out snacks. I bet she’s counting the day until they fly off on thier own.

As ever, the Orioles remain elusive.

I can hear them often, but this has been the best pic I’ve been able to get so far

And last… no garden friend post wouldn’t be complete without at least one pic of these guys…

Peanut service is still suspended at Squirrelington’s, but it’s expected to resume soon. And word is, the restaurant got a little upgrade.

I hope they approve of the china pattern!