OniOniOniArt

Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth ( Cosmosoma myrodora ) on a marigold Whilst planting the winter seedlings today (yes, I'm a bit late...) I was graced with the presence of this beautiful wasp moth (Family Arctiidae). You can see the marigold through its clear wings in the photo above, a trait not shared by all wasp moths. The moths mimic wasps in their general form and shape and imitate either the flight habits or resting positions of wasps. Some feed on poisonous plants as larvae and attain the added defense of integrating the host plant's toxins into its body as a deterrent against predation. Bright coloration is a warning of the moth's toxicity, however this particular moth is banking on everyone else instilling the fear of indigestion on would-be predators since its larvae do not feed on toxic plants; it merely uses the bright colors as a bluff. Both pretending to be a wasp (in form and behavior) and utilizing false warning coloration are examples of Batesian mimicry.....

They may as well be playing with unicorns... I drew this on the dry erase board at work Friday afternoon in response to the epidemic fever I have witnessed and the myriad mascots which mysteriously appear/vanish/reappear in this very spot. I guess I feel left out! Besides, Fantasy Football needs a mascot. I'm looking forward to its reception at the Monday morning meeting (tee-hee). (I don't follow sports if you hadn't already picked up on that).

Devil's trumpet, Datura metel var. Blackcurrant What a glorious thing to wake up to on a Saturday morning! I have been waiting for its blooms since the seed was sown in April of this year. This is the first to open, but there are several buds on what has become a small shrub. This plant, Datura , is often confused with Brugmansia , the Angel's trumpet, which is closely related. In fact, members of the genus Brugmansia were once included in the genus  Datura . The main differences: the flowers of Devil's trumpet point upward, whereas Angel's trumpets are pendulous and point downward (hence their names); Devil's trumpet has herbaceous blackish-colored stems and is a short-lived perennial, whereas Angel's trumpet has a woody stem and is hardier and longer lived. I have a Brugmansia in the Dirt Patch as well, but alas, it is not as happy as the Datura . I think it gets too much sun. I was being closely watched as I photographed the gorgeous Datura ... ...

My cluttered work space made even more cluttered with fresh prints! My day job makes it rather difficult to keep up with the lino printing, or anything else, really. Sometimes, though, you've got to put your foot down - and so I've designated today Lino Printing Day (I've been meaning to get to these for a month now...and is it wrong of me to be singing "Lino Printing Day" to the tune of "Weasel Stomping Day" from Robot Chicken ? I want you to know I wholeheartedly disapprove of weasel stomping).  Then perhaps next weekend I can work on something new, Hoorah! Sometimes the fact that I know I need to make more lino prints prevents me from starting something else...a bit of human psychosis I can acknowledge but can't seem to work around. Brains are strange things.  Today I will print from four already established blocks. I begin by setting up all of my supplies...my inking "plate" (ETA: originally it was a sheet of acetate, n...

Maceo enjoys fresh linens as much as I do... "I have conquered this Task"