Jumble-eye-uh

My niece completes an impromptu collage on her granny's porch.

Contraption

This is some gewgaw in a cranny just outside my screened porch.  No earthly idea of its purpose.

Sweet Pea

Sweet pea, my sweet pea
You're the one to get my heart a-jumpin'
Light of love all around your
being to see

The future - it's looking at you
It only exists because you're alive
So close your eyes and smile
your smiles of sweet dreams

 - Paul Weller

A mantis in the hand...

My brother-in-law found this juvenile mantis in his very bug friendly yard. He said he'd observed a big difference in size among the many mantises he'd seen so far this year. We speculated that it was more likely due to different hatch dates for egg sacks than to differences in feeding success. Then we drank beer.

Abbott's Sphinx Moth Caterpillar

Sphecodina abbottii to her close friends. This specimen was found on a grapevine, which is apparently a favorite food. Note the fake eyespot on the posterior. Observed in Washburn, TN.

Swallowtail Swallowing

This is most likely a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) or possibly an Appalachian Tiger Swallotail (Papilio appalachiensis) which is distinguished by its larger size. Observed in Washburn, TN.

Flower Longhorn on Magnolia blossom

My best guess is Strangalia luteicornis. Washburn, TN.