Morning in the Backyard

For the past few days, I've traipsed around the backyard still wet with morning dew, plastic cup of suds in hand. It's not like it sounds: the beetle last week was not a loner, and we have an problem. The beetles have completely defoliated the roses in the bed next to the road, and now they're starting on the crepe myrtle, the knockout roses by the barbeque, and the big elm tree. The elm may be a problem. It's loosing leaves quickly, like it's autumn, even. All we can do is hope that the beetle's life cycle ends soon and that our poor elm tree that we rely on for shade has a chance to recover.

But I can do something about the roses and the crepe myrtle. Each morning I greet the beetles with a nice warm cup of dish soap (a bath for the beetles, I tell O.). The beetles are more lethargic in the morning, less likely to fly away, and I can shake them into the cup. They drown, and dispose of them in the garbage (interesting note, you shouldn't squish them; they release a pheromone that attracts more beetles).

This morning I was out giving the beetles their death bath, when I spied this little guy, peering at me over a rose.

A side view. Some sort of wasp or hornet. Here's to hoping that it likes to dine on beetles, I could use a little help.This morning I also spied what I think is a juvenile blue jay. It was being stalked by our neighbor's cat when I heard the "EEPS" of a bird who was not happy. I think it is pre-fledgling or near-fledging, because wasn't trying to fly away, but a sturdy hopper.

I stayed back, but it followed me, vocalizing "EEEP!" constantly. I suspect that it's looking for its parent, like a certain kid I know trying to find me. "EEEP!" must be blue jay for "Mom?"

"MOM?!?""MOOOOOMMMM!!!"