After the Rain

Reading from Botany in a Day by Thomas J Elpel... 'In a crude analogy, you might say that spore plants are like the reptiles that lay their eggs and leave, whereas seed plants are more like mammals that gestate the eggs internally and give birth to a partially developed being. It is a tactical advantage for the seed plants as they are way ahead of the spore plants when they reach the soil.' And now, my head explodes into wondrous thoughts of time and space and reality...

And there was rain.

Unicorn Caterpillar

Sometimes the moth is as invisible as the caterpillar and their beauty lies in the wisdom to blend in with that which is around them.

Another lesson in camouflage.

My field guide to caterpillars of Eastern North America says 'surely a predator would require a special search image to successfully locate a unicorn caterpillar in a forest with its sea of leaves. Perhaps this is their defense, being at the same time cryptic and unusual - like the caterpillars are recognized far less than they are seen.'