Last Day!!!

Well it was a wonderful year and I have a great sense of accomplishment for finishing this project.  I have been able to share a lot of beautiful, crawly, and fun experiences with you all and I hope you have enjoyed the ride.  Please stay tuned and check back with me in a month or so.  I am going to take a break, give my camera some much needed rest, relaxation, and repair, and revamp the site a little.  I am done with daily postings, but I will try to keep up with the exciting moments that I encounter.
I'm sorry that I don't have a more interesting day to report for the last day of the blog, but it is what it is.  Today was a quiet day at the park.  Several of the administrative staff are using up some leave time before the full force of the summer arrives.  Park visitors were pretty quiet today as well.  I spent most of the morning in the office and most of the afternoon with the park staff.
I got a fun Bee photo yesterday that didn't make it to the blog yet.  It was intently feasting on the unidentified purple flower in my back yard.  This Bee could not be distracted from its mission.  It was there when I found it, allowed me to take several photos, and it was still in the same spot when I left.


The only photo that I took today was of a Royal Walnut Moth who was having a rest under a leaf near the door to the ranger station.  It is a beautiful moth and, I think, deserving of the name "Royal".  Its caterpillar is an interesting character that I would love to see in person.  Until then, this is what a Google image search yields of the Hickory Horned Devil, as the caterpillar is named.


While I am gone, I hope you go out and do some exploring on your own.  Turn over logs and turn over leaves.  Bring your camera, a magnifying glass, and a child.  That's all you need for an exciting day in the woods or in your back yard.  Take photos or notes and bring them home to your field guides or the Internet to continue the adventure at home to learn more about what you saw.

Thought of the Day #1
As I said, this has really been a fun experience.  I am glad to know that I can accomplish what I set my mind to and the benefits to my readers and myself have been more than I ever expected.  I hope that I have helped to inspire future rangers or at least helped people to appreciate their state park rangers.  I know that I have helped to educate a few people and that is worth all the work.