Tendrils

Not A Hummingbird

August 17, 2026

Though at one of the hummingbird feeders, looking like it wants to be hummingbird, this is a Guinea Paper Wasp (Polistes exclamans).

Its native range is from New Jersey, to Florida, west to Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, and it also occurs in Mexico. It has been introduced to Hawaii, as well as Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

These wasps build an umbrella-shaped paper nest that is constructed of chewed wood fiber mixed with saliva. There is a single layer of hexagonal cells, and it hangs from a central stalk.

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A few years back I put some Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in my garden on the back hill and much to my surprise it is taking off on its own. Blooming every now and then, surprising me each time. Here is it shining bright with its brilliant orange, next to some of the Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) which also attracts so many pollinators.

My favorite season is winter but oh my, is summer ever begging for more likes.

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Monarch On A Wild Ageratum

August 15, 2026

I was really pleased to see a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) this afternoon, sipping nectar at a Wild Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum).

During late summer into autumn, their favorite sources for nectar are goldenrod, asters, wild ageratum and Joe-Pye weed.

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Long Long Ago

August 14, 2026

Long, long ago, there was no internet, no email. My Dad worked at the USPS as a mail clerk. Still, today we get mail. Not as much as there used to be. Often several days go by with no mail. But still those mail boxes are needed, representing times long ago with no internet, no email.

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Spicebush Swallowtail At Scarlet Beebalm

August 13, 2026

A Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) gathering nectar from a Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma).

This butterfly is native to eastern North America, including the eastern United States, southern New England, also southern Canada, south to Florida, and west to the Great Plains, eastern Texas and Oklahoma.

Its host plants are for the most part members of the laurel and magnolia families. Their favorites are Common Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Both quite common here in central Virginia.

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More Hummingbirds

August 12, 2026

Yesterday, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) getting nectar at Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis). Today, oodles of them at the feeders enjoying their hummingbird syrup.

They keep me busy. There are two feeders out on the front porch, and the hummingbirds empty 2 quarts every 3 days. They also keep me entertained with their antics, fighting each other off one moment and calmly sipping together the next. I have no idea how many there are out there. They move around much too quickly to count.

A favorite part of summer.

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A Flower For Hummingbirds

August 11, 2026

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubrid) that come to my yard know that I grow some plants just for them.

Plants that seem designed for the hummingbirds’ color preference of brilliant red, with flower shapes that are perfect for their long beaks. Blooms that have deep pockets of nectar, managing to position their pollen perfectly to be taken by the hummingbirds’ heads from one flower to another.

This flower is Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). One of many flowers in my garden, planted for the hummingbirds.

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Which Skink Is It?

August 10, 2026

Striking a pose for my camera, a skink is captured in pixels scampering outside my cabin. This is either a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) or a Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps). At this stage in their lives, it is quite a challenge to distinguish one species from the other.

Whatever the species, they are entertaining to have running up and down the cedar siding here, hunting for many things including, spiders, crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, termites, millipedes and even newborn mice.

Charming little creatures eating things that I would rather not have around.

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Goldfinch Enjoying Late Summer Bounty

August 9, 2026

An American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), enjoying the late summer bounty of seeds available to him. He’s sitting atop a bunch of Gray-headed Coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata).

Goldfinches amuse me as they approach something that they want to get seed from. Landing on a bunch or a stem and slowly sinking as it takes on the bird’s weight.

Going down.

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Oh The Pollinators

August 8, 2026

I’ve always admired the ability of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) to attract pollinators. It’s not a native plant, which normally would really discourage me from planting it, and in many circumstances it is quite the aggressive plant, which would be an additional strike against it. But my back hill is perfect for keeping it under control. And as I said, it attracts an incredible number of pollinators.

Yesterday I noticed there were at least 10 Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) busy at the blooms.

The flowers of the Apple Mint seem to be always buzzing with the activity of these and other butterflies, and an assortment of bees large and small, moths, syrphid and tachinid flies, and many more.

One busy patch of mint.

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