June 2026 – Nature Along the El Camino Real

by Dorothy Mayer

I was just about to think the fritillary butterflies weren’t going to show this year. (They lay their eggs on native Passion Vines and I’ve been trying to grow those vines especially for them.) Last year the fritillary caterpillars ate my passion vines to the ground and I never even saw a bloom. This year, though, the passion vines have come back really strong and have multiplied like crazy. I’m hoping to see a bloom or two, but I’ll definitely settle for butterflies instead.

On a side note, I also planted some more passion vine in a different location. However, that passion vine must have been modified and the butterflies evidently knew that because they left those vines completely alone. I saw the butterflies flying around checking those vines out closely and noticed they never stayed long at all. Even though those vines were beautiful, I choose to stick with native plants, because our native wildlife require them to multiply, and I choose to share.

Hint: I was thinking if you watch nature closely, you could come up with some great science ideas and experiments.

by Terri Brickey

This time of year brings so much nature right to our front AND back door. Songbirds singing and flowers blooming. Hummingbirds dive bombing each other over ownership of the sugar water feeder. And snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlers around every corner and under your feet. But every year about this time I also get a fun surprise from that pesky critter, the squirrel. I have A LOT of squirrels. Mostly Eastern Fox Squirrels. They entertain me as much as the hummingbirds. Always finding ways to get their share of bird seed from the feeders.

I put up a corncob wheel spinner and they don’t have any trouble getting that corn.

I had one in Florida and those squirrels would jump on and spin round and round, even getting thrown off trying to get it. But they weren’t as large as Texas squirrels.

Last summer I had this fellow show up.

I had never seen jet-black fur on a squirrel. I put it on iNat and no one made a peep about it. I looked it up to find out that it is the result of a rare genetic mutation causing excess pigmentation and that the odds of seeing one are estimated at only 1 in 10,000!

Then just today I was heading back to fill a deer feeder and passed a bird house with a cute little guy with big black eyes starring out at me. Baby squirrel, I thought, and grabbed my phone but only got pictures as it climbed the oak tree.

Once I got back inside and looked at the pictures, I found, to my surprise:

A Southern Flying squirrel!

I had never seen one. Research told me that they are mostly found in the eastern portion of our state, where mature hardwood forests are more common. They rely on natural tree hollows or old woodpecker cavities, or I guess an unused bird box for nesting. Their diet is omnivorous and includes nuts, seeds, fungi, berries, insects and probably the same treats I leave for my birds and ground squirrels. They can breed up to twice a year producing small litters of 2-6 young. And because of their nocturnal habits and small size, flying squirrels often go unnoticed by humans. I probably woke this guy up.

I am going to have to keep an eye out for them and my camera ready, as my husband said he wants proof of the flying action.

Until then, I’ll be hanging out.

Terri Brickey

Grey Havens Farm

Month: June 2026

Where Are the Fritillaries?

A Squirrely Time of Year