While prowling the garden on Monday looking for vase material, I spotted a Katydid. They camouflage beautifully, so I’m surprised when I spot one. The sunlight must have highlighted the antennae.
Look closely at the leaf on the right. Below is a closeup.
Occasionally I snap a photo and later discover an insect in the periphery. It’s a reminder that gardens support nature and, in turn, nature keeps things humming. Beneficial insects control the less desirable ones, and lizards, spiders, and opossums do the same.
Last night Mike stepped out to look for Tessa and nearly face-planted an orb weaver. The imposing spider spun her web from the edges of our patio umbrella to a nearby shrub and awaited her evening meal. When I checked this morning, our nocturnal arachnid had packed up shop and stored her things for the day.
My father taught me to honor spiders and bees at a young age. Years later, a friend and volunteer at the boy’s school garden shared the benefits of mantises to a garden ecosystem. I spotted a brown mantis near our compost bin while pruning a shrub last week and thought of Donna. The praying mantis crawled onto my gloved hand, and I pulled out my phone for a pic before it ventured off. It’s a bit blurry, but I had to act quickly.
When life gets you down, it helps to focus on gratitude. Today I’m grateful for a garden teaming with life, seen and unseen, all working in harmony to sustain this beautiful planet.
Gardening Nirvana 
Nature is full of marvels all awaiting discovery and appreciation. The web of life is endlessly fascinating to me!
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You are right, Eliza. It is fascinating. I’m always learning new things in the garden, and the more I learn, the more I appreciate the diversity.
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I love that your garden is alive with creatures that flutter and crawl. The sign of a health garden. Katy is certainly quite the camouflage artist. Only when I enlarged the photo did I see her.
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Thank you, Laurie. I’m surprised I spotted her at all, but I’m glad I did. The camouflage is extraordinary.
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It certainly is!
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I loved this little glimpse of the companions in your garden! There is something about focusing on a bug’s eye perspective that feels very peaceful to me. :)
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I like your perspective, and I’m all for peaceful moments.
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Well, sorry to say, bugs aren’t my thing. But your photos are pretty amazing, especially the spiderweb. Happy gardening!
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Thank you.
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Great photos Alys and it’s obvious that you have made a garden that’s a haven for wildlife. I love the first pic of the praying mantis, it looks like it’s settling down in an armchair for the evening
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Thank you Lynn. I’m amused by the idea of a praying mantis in an armchair. They are unusual looking insects, eh? How are your giant sunflowers coming along?
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I didn’t grow up with gardens or any kind of natural environment so I’ve spent my later years learning about the value of bugs. That is one stunning photo of a Katydid. I have never seen one. Thought it was just an expression. :) I think my next question would be, is life getting you down? Just checking. I do agree, gratitude cures everything. Heading out into a busy day today with hopefully no thunderstorms until I get back home. Have a lovely weekend in the garden.
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Nice to see your Katydid. I haven’t spotted one yet this summer. Great photos. Peace to you.
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Thank you. xo
I hope you spot one soon. I’ve mused that they’re all having a giggle as I walk by, oblivious to a well-camouflaged presence.
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Beautiful garden and musings. Yes focusing on gratitude really helps me also. That was wild on the katydid – it took me a while to see it in the first photo – quite the camouflage!
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Thank you, Tierney. I’m glad you also benefit from gratitude.
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Your garden is a healthy, happy home for your plants and all of the beneficial pollinators, Alys! I just love today’s photos. My heart is always filled with gratitude as I garden. Deadheading the spent blossoms is my favorite gratitude practice in the garden. Waving over the garden gate from Illinois, dear Alys! So grateful for our long-distance friendship! 🩷
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I’m waving back, Dawn. (gosh that would be fun).
I love that you think of deadheading as a practice in gratitude. I like the rhythm of deadheading as well.
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