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Nymph Of Leaf-footed Bug
June 9, 2026 After a Leaf-footed Bug (Acanthocephala terminalis) hatches from its egg it goes through 5 instars as it works its way to becoming an adult. This is one of those instars, which looks perfect for dropping in on a steampunk sponsored stroll through a local botanical garden. _______________________ If you would like to…
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Spotted Horsemint
June 6, 2026 Spotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata) a member of the mint, Lamiaceae, family, which explains its sqaure stem and wonderfully fragrant leaves. They are native to a good part of the eastern, southern, and midwestern US, including Texas and New Mexico. Their native range extends into eastern Canada and northeastern Mexico. They’re just beginning…
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Gray Beardtongue
June 4, 2026 Gray Beardtongue (Penstemon canescens), is in bloom right now along trails up here in the mountains. It gets is common name, including the confusing “gray”, because its stems and leaves have a thick covering of tiny hairs which create a subtle gray look. It often grows to a height of about 30…
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A Couple Drops Of Rain Yesterday Morning
June 3, 2026 The couple raindrops yesterday morning were a surprise, and enough to add some texture to my photo of a bright yellow bloom of Narrow Leaf Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa). A couple were blooming just a few days ago and today they are opening up all over. Their blooms open in the morning and…
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A Scarab Beetle On Gray Dogwood Blooms
June 1, 2026 This is a species of scarab beetle, the Hairy Flower Scarab (Trichiotinus affinis). They enjoy eating the pollen and nectar of broad, flat flowers such as this Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) bloom. As larvae they eat rotting dead trees such as oak, elm and aspen. They’re native to eastern North America. And…