Tree Frog and Water Snake

While out checking milkweeds for Monarch eggs and caterpillars I encountered this Eastern Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor) perched on a large milkweed leaf and blending in nicely using it's green color selection.  With the ability to change colors to blend with it's background this frog spends it's life in trees and bushes above ground coming back to earth only to breed and lay eggs. 

Another unexpected sighting was this Northern Banded Water Snake that was laying a few inches from the walkway of the Fox Island Nature Center side entrance. This non-venomous water snake has traveled several yards away from the nearest pond in search of toads and frogs in the flower bed.  As these snakes grow older they become darkly colored sometimes becoming nearly black.  This 24"snake displays the banding that gives it it's name.