Carolina

Finally, I am back from my two week long business trip to Florida. And although I really kept my eyes open and looked virtually in every green spot there, I did not see one praying mantis.
And what's worse is that when I looked for Madam today, there was no trace of her. Moreover, the plant looks really, really sick and basically the whole middle part is dead now. And that is where Madam was making her home before. The left and right outriggers of the plant are still somewhat healthy, and it looks like if they would actually grow again. I spotted a couple of blooms, the branches have grown longer and the leaves, although not looking really healthy, seem to be resilient enough to survive the combined attacks of the various spider mites, fungi, and locust.
Well, at least the family of Carolina wrens that nest at the base of the plant are thriving. The eggs have hatched this week and now Mom and Dad are extremely busy to feed four additional mouths.
What is really amazing, is that our kids play there every day. We set up two small water pools directly in front of the plant, but the birds do not seem to mind the loud noises, splashing water and wild gestures around them.
And since Madam is a Carolina Mantis, and the birds are Carolina Wrens, we now kind of feel having an outpost of this fine southern state in our backyard ...