This is a predatory stinkbug (or stink bug), one that feeds on other insects rather than on plant juice as so many do. It is likely Podisus placidus, but because ID to species is not always easy, I'll leave it at Podisus. This is one of the more colourful stinkbugs we get around here. The bright green green stinkbug (Acrosternum hilare) and the green and brown Banasa stinkbug, are two of the other brightly coloured ones up here. The two-spotted stinkbug is another relatively colourful bug, but most are shades of brown. In some areas, stinkbugs are vividly and beautifully coloured and patterned.

A new species for our insect list! I got only a brief chance to photograph it, one shot and it was gone. I've seen these many times out in the west end of Ottawa, in various locations, and I guess it was only a matter of time before we saw one at FWG.

You know all those round galls you see on Canada and tall goldenrods (mostly the latter I think), the ones that are particularly visible in the winter? They are made by this fly. She lays her eggs in the stems of goldenrods and after a short while, when the egg has hatched, the stem, induced apparently, by chemicals secreted by the larva, forms a round ball around it. They overwinter as larvae and emerge right about now and begin the process all over again. Of course, many larvae don't make it, as they are a very popular food source for red squirrels and birds such as woodpeckers and chickadees. For all the galls we see, these flies are surprisingly difficult to find.

We are all keeping our eyes open for snails these days, as Fred Schueler, from the Naturlist listserve, is interested in this, and other species of snails.

Diane photographed this beautiful brilliantly scarlet columbine, in the Butterfly Meadow. This is one of our many native species of Aquilegia. There are also many cultivars in various colours.

This tiny little Tortricid moth is also called goldenrod gall moth because the larvae feed on goldenrod. Diane photographed this in the Butterfly Meadow.

The youngster is poking its head out under mum's tail. Another young one, this one a melanistic phase squirrel, climbed up the tree. Both are sitting on the roof of a roosting box which they took over as being a dandy squirrel house!

This beautiful little native wildflower is in the same Genus, and very similar to, the more familiar prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), which has been growing in our rockery for some years. This one, is planted near the Backyard Garden pond, for as the name suggests, it is happiest near wet areas.

There are many names for this introduced species and several ways of writing the most common English name: hound'stongue, hound's-tongue, hound's tongue.... At any rate, it is considered a serious invasive in some areas, especially out in Alberta, much less so here (though as with any exotic species, this can change). It is on this plant that I normally find the caterpillars of the native moth, confused haploa, a striking brown and white, triangular shaped moth.

Lots of these little guys around these days.

The large bird bath in the Backyard Garden is often well-used, as here with the chipping sparrow.

A tiny little guy that I found sitting in the bottom of a burdock leaf, while weeding out garlic mustard. Yet another reminder of why it is important to be careful when working in the garden. Too easy to step on this little one, or worse.

Saw only a few dragonflies around, including three of these baskettails and a couple of common green darners.

This is my favourite section of the Backyard Garden. It has a variety of native woodland plants, including ferns and wildflowers along the path that winds along the top of the ravine. If you want a good idea of which native plants will survive in shade, check out this pretty spot.

The nest I posted photos of last week, is now completed and the female is beginning to sit. As you see, the nest is a substantial, deep cup. I took this photo from a considerable distance and cropped the image. The female was a bit agitated as a crow was flying over the pond and crows, as we know, will take eggs and young from birds such as blackbirds.

This non-native grass species is one of the first to flower at the garden, where it is common.

Sandy says that unfortunately, the turtle was some distance away and this was the closest shot she could get (it is severely cropped to bring in the details). The turtle is sticking his head out of the water, and the black mass below him with the reddish stripe, is the blackbird referred to in the previous post.

A cloud of deep pink blossoms on one of the many crabapples in the garden, planted long ago. Most attract a lot of insects right now, and in autumn, birds and squirrels.

Another shot of the monarch butterfly workshop held at the FWG

Couldn't let May go by without at least one red admiral photo. The day was overcast and drizzly, but mild at about +17, so there were a few butterflies out and about between rain showers.

Actually, this was in the Arboretum, but along the stream that runs down from the FWG and into this area. The heron was very intent on fishing and paid little attention to the various people passing by.

Here, the female is poking her head through the cattail stems and pulling tight the long fibre she had first pushed out on the left side of the stalks. She then pulled it into the interior of the nest, and out again, repeating the 'binding' motion.

Despite the overcast conditions with rain in the morning, it was humid and mild, and birds were singing all over. Eastern kingbirds, Baltimore orioles, least flycatchers, yellow warblers, black-throated green warblers, etc. are all back and singing and making much ado.

This individual was in the Backyard Garden pond, along with about 5 others, several of whom, including this one, were calling.

These ladybeetles are voracious predators of aphids and other insects too. They are highly variable ranging from this multi-spotted individual to ones that have no spots at all.

The young crows are out of the nest and their nasal cries can be heard in many locations. These are two adults who seem to be taking a breather from caring for junior.

Compared to some of the painted turtles we've had in the pond, this one is relatively small. I am wondering if it is the same one we've had in the pond for the last few years. It looks about the right size, perhaps marginally bigger. A few years back we had two painted turtles in the pond, one was more than twice the size of this one. At the same time we had a very large snapping turtle, a blanding's turtle, and a red-eared slider. That was definitely the year of the turtle.

In full flower in the Ash woods.

These trees are in full bloom and abuzz with a variety of bees including honey bees and sweat bees.

These are garden plants, non-native, but pretty in early spring. A lot of bees and flies are attracted to them. These are in the Backyard Garden, and there were many nomada bees flitting around amongst them, probably looking for the burrows of one of the mining bees on which they are kleptoparasites.