Whilst browsing bug websites to identify the latest caterpillar (it turned out to be an army worm), I came across this beautiful phrase: "clipped meadow."

A clipped meadow is, apparently, a mowed area that is maintained without pesticides or artificial fertilizers, which displays the natural grasses and groundcovers of the area. It is a natural home for local insects, and attracts wildlife.

In other words, it's our yard. Front and back. "Clipped meadow" sounds so much nicer than "patch of weeds," doesn't it? It even sounds deliberate. "Yes, our clipped meadow hosts all manner of local wildlife. We felt it was important to manage the land in an ecologically friendly way ..."

More to the point, "clipped meadow" is much better than "failed lawn." Okay, so my neighbors have lawns. We have a clipped meadow (and no homeowner's association).

We went back to the zoo today. The parking lot full of school busses seemed like an inauspicous start to the day, but the mob left around 2:30. The zoo was practically deserted after that.

We managed to find an area that we've never explored: Texas Wild! Texas Wild! takes you through samples of each of the geographical regions of Texas, introducing you to various Texas wild animals and discussing the different climates/plant life of the areas. Holy geography, Batman! The area emphasizes stewardship and responsible land management, and I found myself lingering over the display of a house with a "wildlife friendly" back yard. I think our back yard is already as "wildlife friendly" as it can be, being in the suburbs with four noisy children and two cats. We don't use pesticides (see clipped meadow, above); we don't mow frequently; we plant bushes, flowers, berries, and butterfly/caterpillar-friendly plants; we put up bird feeders. The wildest things we've had visit us are a couple of garden snakes and an occasional opossum.

I'd like to build a bat box and some birdhouses, but is that just cruel, with cats in the yard? (Not only do ours go outdoors, but there are several other cats that roam the neighborhood.) I'd like to build a small pond, but again ... and I do not want to breed mosquitos.

I got a good laugh at the zoo. I was trying to hurry up my straggler by enticing him with Cool Animals to Look At: "Hurry up, let's go see the snakes!" A man was walking past us at that moment, pushing his daughter in the stroller. He cracked up.

"You don't hear that phrase from many Moms," he said.

Is that true? Snakes, bats, bugs ... bring 'em on. They're cool. I have to admit, though, that I was unable to maintain my level of excitement and coolness when I found myself saying "Oooh, look here, dung beetles ..."

We finished Johnny Tremain on the way home. Good book. Very good book. We listened to it on CD, but halfway through I had to buy a hardback copy. Yes, hardback.