“More of the earth, farther from heaven”

In June 1854 Henry David Thoreau wrote, “It is dry, hazy June weather. We are more of the earth, farther from heaven these days.” In June 2020, it seems as though we of the earth are still farther from heaven, even as many try to make the earth a better place for all to live.

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Here in the Hollow, nature continues to move along in her typical languid manner, without regard to pandemics or civil unrest. It’s been unseasonably hot and humid (for here, not like in Alabama!). We’ve had only one good rain (downpour) since the last post; walking is treacherous in places where the gravel is loose and dusty when a vehicle passes by at more than a crawl. The deer are plagued by flies and other pests; I take a handheld zapper down when I feed in the afternoons.

The three yearling deer (Bambi, his brother, and the little doe) show up regularly; I think their mothers have chased them away to care for this year’s fawns. The two young bucks stay close by and often rest in the meadow. Most of the formerly pregnant does must have fawns somewhere, and I take feed down whenever I see a now-skinny doe. I expect to see a fawn any day now.

The butterflies love the sunny days.

Red-spotted Admiral Limenitis arthemis

Common Spring Moth Heliomata cycladata

Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon

Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele

Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus

Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele

Great Spangled Fritillaries Speyeria cybele

The Great Spangled Frittilaries really love the Purpletop Vervain (Verbena bonariensis), or tall verbena. (Oh yeah, a possible invasive that I purposely planted!)

I often see eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) and eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) when I walk, although they usually see me first and run off before I can get a good photo.

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I have better luck with the trail camera and capture photos many critters (some of which I would rather not have nearby). These photos are some from earlier this spring, when I had the camera set up first in the meadow and then near the salt block and creek. (For some reason, I can’t edit the captions.)

American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)2E1L0-0R350B320

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

If this heat keeps up, I may post again soon!

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