Not This Year

September 16, 2026

The Yoga Studio has a beautiful patch of Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) beside its front door. Without fail, during the summer, they greet me as I walk through the parking lot and up the steps. While these bright yellow flowers are blooming, each summer, as long as I can remember there have been Silvery Checkerspots (Chlosyne nycteis) enjoying their nectar.

This summer though, I didn’t see any. Not a single one. I’m looking forward to a year passing by, to see if they will show up next year.

Surely they will!

Two Species Of Black-eyed Susans

September 15, 2026

Two different species of Black-eyed Susans. This one is Rudbeckia fulgida which starts blooming in my gardens in early summer. Now they are trying very hard to hang on, but I think they are losing the battle.

And this is another Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) which starts blooming in late summer, and have just now reached their peak, taking over for the others that are fading away. Rudbeckia hirta is the Maryland state flower, and well worth waiting for.

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Seedheads And Leaf Litter

September 14, 2026

An American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), demonstrating why it is important to leave your gardens as they are now. Seedheads can wait until spring to be cleaned up, and in doing so you are providing many birds with food during the winter.

And all that leaf litter around your yard? It helps many beneficial insects overwinter, as adults, eggs, caterpillars, or pupae. They seek shelter in the leaf litter, which provides insulation and protection. Let those leaves offer protection for these critters.

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This Afternoon

September 13, 2026

A beautiful afternoon and an opportunity to capture a Tiger Swallowtail (Eastern)(Papilio glaucus) sipping nectar from a large patch of Goldenrod (Solidago) in pixels.

They’ve been busy at the Goldenrod this late in the season. Late summer flowers come to the rescue.

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Sweet Everlasting

September 12, 2026

Sweet Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium). Wow, that’s quite the scientific name. The plant grows to between 1 and 3 feet tall, and is known for its aroma, often said to be like maple syrup. But then it is also described as being like vanilla or butterscotch. And other folks think it has hints of balsam, pepper or an herbal tobacco scent.

This pleasant scent lasts a long time, with the dried flowers holding onto their fragrance through the winter. The aroma is strongest at the beginning of autumn after the flower has gone to seed.

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Black-throated Blue Warbler

September 11, 2026

The Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) is a bird that I seldom see, but I’m thrilled that I was able to get a picture of this handsome little bird. They measure in at 4.3 to 5.1 inches in length with a wingspan of 7.5 to 7.9 inches. The reason I seldom see them may be explained by the fact that they tend to be at higher elevations of 2,600 to 5,250 feet in the Appalachians. I am only at 1,800 feet.

They eat spiders, flies and caterpillars, often finding them on the underside of vegetation. The search for them, for the most part is in low shrubs and the lower tree canopy.

The breeding season is spent mostly in the eastern United States and the winter in the Caribbean.

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The Orange Assassin Bug

September 10, 2026

A goofy looking creature, a true bug, making an appearance as if it’s all set for a Halloween party. An Orange Assassin Bug (Pselliopus barberi), found across the eastern and central United States.

They eat creatures in our gardens, helping us as they do. Consuming aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, armyworms, and beetles. They themselves don’t eat any plant material.

These bugs are not going to seek you out, but don’t pick them up. They are all set to defend themselves, by biting if you do. Its bite can be quite painful due to injection of digestive enzymes used to control their prey. This causes a sharp, burning sensation in humans. So treat them with respect. Don’t pick them up.

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Late Purple Aster

September 9, 2026

Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens) blooming from late August into October with flowers that are just barely 1.25 inches across. With light blue to lavender ray flowers (florets) and yellow disk flowers (florets). The disk florets gradually turn to a dark cinnamon color as they age.

These Asters can be found from southern Maine, down through the south and west to the eastern part of Texas. They’re blooming right now along trails up here in the mountains.

 

A Red Admiral On Goldenrod

September 8, 2026

A Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) striking a pose for my camera.

The Red Admiral’s choice is of tree sap, rotting fruit and bird droppings for their content of key salts, amino acids and minerals. When these are not available the butterfly will seek out the nectar of flowers. This one is eating the nectar of Goldenrod (Solidago).

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Dancing Along The Trails

September 7, 2026

When I see these beautiful little sunflowers, they make me think they’re dancing along the trails where they live. Joyful flowers, Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus).

A Perplexing Bumblebee (Bombus perplexus) taking in some of the autumnal nectar of a Woodland Sunflower.

They’re native to southeastern Canada, and the north-central and eastern United States. Growing to 7 feet tall, its flowers are 2 to 4 inches across. Their underground system is roots and rhizomes, enabling them to create colonies. Bees, butterflies and other insects are attracted to their flowers, particularly as autumn marches on. Birds and small mammals enjoy the seeds.

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