Figs are in and Tortellini couldn’t be happier! Our wild tangle of trees usually bear two crops of fruit each year, but this year a cold winter prevented the early crop. Over the past couple of weeks our tortoise has been making up for lost time. He devours them so fast, it is hard to get a picture.

We always leave some figs for wildlife. The birds and squirrels all run for cover but the bugs don’t seem to mind if I snap some pictures. An Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) has been a regular visitor.

Several Bald Faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata) were visitors last week. I kept watching as they left- to try to spot their large paper nest, but they are very secretive.

This morning was this first time I’ve seen a Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius). It was clearly enjoying its meal and never moved while I took its picture.

I saw this daddy-longlegs “spider” today while I was picking figs for Tortellini. I thought he was there to eat insects attracted to the figs. He completely surprised me by chowing down on a fig himself. His body became so engorged he looked like he would pop! Turns out he’s not a spider at all.