Luna moth

Check out what we found in our backyard today!

The kiddos were outside playing and I was gathering up sticks to put into a pile.  Yeah, I was gathering sticks.  There are a bunch of oak trees in our backyard and they like to drop large, pointy sticks in the backyard for my kids to hold while running (ack!) or to poke each other.  Anyway, as I was throwing them into a pile I almost threw them right onto a baby Luna Moth!

Luna moths are so BIG and beautiful.  The last time I think I saw one was at my grandparents' farm in Indiana and I was probably somewhere around Claire's or Maddie's age.    

This guy must have just come out of his cocoon.  His wings weren't dry yet and he was looking for somewhere to hang.  The girls helped me get him to crawl onto a stick and we walked him over to a tree.  He hung out there all day long, drying his wings and getting ready to fly.  Here's hoping he has a nice life!