Insect Eggs (NaBloPoMo)

This past Sunday was a beautiful, chilly day to be outside prepping the yard for winter.
Ugh, yes winter. It was lots of hedge trimming, garden work, and putting toys away.
Cover holes so little critters can't make their home under our porch.

I was cleaning and reflecting on future yard projects. Mulch. I really hope we can mulch the edges of the yard next year. I think this would really help keep the yard looking neat.
I also want to start seedlings inside. I always seem to miss this, or rather, are usually too lazy with the winter blues to think about what seeds to plant.
I want to have our pool ready!! I missed our pool desperately and didn't get a chance to replace the cracked filter. Other life choices got in the way, and I hope to be swimming in our yard next year.

Cleaning up, I came across some mantis eggs. I found some of these pods or sacks last year, only 2. This year however I found at least 10.




I'll keep them safe over the winter, and place them back on the hedges in Spring.

Mantis, Mantes, Mantises

Having any kind of plant growth in your yard means you're going to be home to lots of little critters. And when you have a garden, your door is open a lot wider for things like this:

Back yard nature at it's best with that one. Does anyone know who those eggs belong too?

I let them out of the jar after their photo shoot, so don't worry. 

My favorite thing to find in the yard has got to be a Praying Mantis.

It's really special to spot them, and scoot them back to the grass.

And then find them when they're gigantic, l O O king at you for crashing through their home.

So cool.