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Memories Of Stellafane
August 4, 2026 Going through photos from long ago this afternoon. One bunch brought back many fond memories of going to Stellafane, an astronomy convention held on Breezy Hilll, at Springfield, Vermont. I attended Stellafane for almost 20 years, and needless to say, it was great fun. Looking through a wide variety of telescopes in…
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Waiting For A Turn At The Birdbath
August 3, 2026 A juvenile female Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), patiently waiting with others to get a chance to take a dip in the birdbath. As they waited they filled the air with their sweet twittery sounds. I love to hear that twittering. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email,…
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A Blue-winged Wasp
August 2, 2026 The Blue-winged Wasp (Scolia dubia), found from New England south to Florida and west to California in the United States, and as far south as Coahuila, Mexico. A wasp that has a length of from .8 to 1.0 inches. Japanese beetle grubs and other scarab beetle larvae are eaten by the larvae…
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Tiny Appalachian Bellflower
August 1, 2026 Appalachian Bellflower (Campanula divaricate). A beautiful blue color on flowers that seem made for dollhouses, measuring just 1/3 inch across. Not only does it bloom in this lovely blue but sometimes its flowers are violet in color. The native range is the Southeastern and Central Appalachian Mountains, including Maryland and Kentucky further…
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Redstarts In The Garden
July 31, 2026 A male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). And a female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). They’re only here for the breeding season, and some head south as early as August. Migrating to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. While they’re here, I often see them at the birdbath, just outside my…
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Variegated Fritillary On Maypop
July 30, 2026 The caterpillar of a Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta Claudia) eating the leaves of Maypop (Passiflora incarnate) which is a plant native to the southeastern United States. Variegated Fritillary butterflies are native to the southern United States, Central America, and South America. They have a wide variety of host plants, including violets and pansies,…
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Wild Black Cherries
July 29, 2026 Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), a tree that provides food for a huge assortment of birds and mammals, both large and small. Native to a vast swath of North America, including the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada, some parts of Mexico and down to Guatemala. If you’re feeling adventuresome, hold…
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Painted Lady On Apple Mint
July 28, 2026 A Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) eating the nectar of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens). As an adult, the Painted Lady butterfly lives from 2 to 4 weeks. Favorite host plants for Painted Lady butterflies are thistles, hollyhocks, sunflowers, and mallows. This butterfly has the widest distribution of any butterfly globally. It lives in…
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Juvenile Eastern Towhee
July 26, 2026 I happened to capture an image of a juvenile Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) a couple weeks ago. It, along with Mom and Dad were enjoying the birdbath which brings in many birds that I wouldn’t see otherwise. This early stage of plumage is only kept for a few weeks after fledging. They…