New Beginnings Farm

08/16/2026

Prominent moth caterpillars on one of my black walnut trees. So pretty! Look at that one striking a pose 💛I thought Datana at first but more research says they are Oedemasia. Grateful for The Caterpillar Lab programs that taught me how to appreciate these amazing creatures.

08/08/2026

08/02/2026

Great Golden Digger Wasp hard at work. She had a neighbor that took off before I got the phone to take video. Wonder if it’s her daughter from last year 🤔

07/16/2026

This was the sun visible above the barn roof last night. Couldn’t really see it today. Strange days…

07/04/2026

Sad baby barn swallow update- this morning a young one was on the floor again below nest #4. During the wait to set up a ladder to return it to the top of the wall, it perished 🥺. My investigation of the nest area revealed two others had suffered the same fate. 😩😭One more is up there looking poorly and there’s a fifth hatchling looking reasonably good. This is a new nest -maybe it’s typical for them to fail idk? The one piece of good news is that while looking for said ladder I found nest #5 in the old barn. Which is also brand new so fingers crossed!!

07/03/2026

Big excitement this afternoon! Had to rescue this baby barn swallow that fell from the ledge ( about 9 feet up!) . But they wear this permanent smile how could you not want to stop everything and put them back with mom 🖤💙💜

06/25/2026

There’s a new spicebush swallowtail butterfly in the neighborhood! This beauty came from a caterpillar burrito I found in the roadside Sassafras last fall, and over-wintered as a chrysalis in the barn. 🤩🥰🐛🦋

06/23/2026

Two out of four barn swallow nests have babies calling out for their parents to bring food! 🤩🐣

05/07/2026

Today I figured -One more ? Why not!
His name is Mars but I’ve been calling him Joe Leaphorn 🐏♈️

05/02/2026

The Mayapple has popped in 2 places! What are the odds the varmints will leave it be? Should I put a cage over it? My goal is to see it make that 🐢 treat!