Author Archives: Brenda Clements Jones

About Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

Maryland State Flower

So happy to find a new vendor at the Greene County Farmers Market. Lauren Taylor (www.belovedbrook.com) is selling native plants. Ah! Lauren is speaking my language.

Several weeks ago I got Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) plants from Lauren. My first time to have the Maryland state flower. I’ve had other Black-eyed Susans but these are the real thing. I grew up in Maryland and these flowers say “home” to me.

The first blooms have faded, and have been cut back to encourage continuing blooms. And PRESTO, there they are! A bit smaller than the first flowers, but beautiful for sure. I’m taking great care to keep them watered. This drought is keeping me busy, lugging water. I’m already looking forward to next year’s blooms and for many years after. Generally these plants are short-lived perennials, but they usually reseed prolifically.

I’m not the only one happy to see these Maryland flowers. Here a Variegated Fritillary enjoys the nectar of a Black-eyed Susan bloom. They attract many other butterflies, and is the host plant for Silvery Checkerspots (Chlosyne nycteis).

I’m hoping that these plants will indeed, reseed prolifically!

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Alvin?

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

The Eastern Chipmunk lives in wooded areas with deciduous trees, whether up here in the mountains, or in suburban areas with woods or parks around. They’re found throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada. These Chipmunks like rocky areas, with brush piles, and dense shrubs to provide cover.

Small creatures, they are only 5 to 6 inches long, with a tail that is 3 to 4 inches long. Their average life span is less than 2 years but very fortunate Chipmunks could possibly live up to 8 years. Living those short years as solitary animals, with the exception of the breeding season.

Mighty fast! A chipmunk can run up to 21 miles per hour. Just try to get near one for a photograph, and you’ll see.

They eat grains, nuts, fruits, insects, and berries, using their inner cheek pouches as they are gathering their food. They store this food throughout their territory or in their underground tunnels. As winter approaches they stock up on more food.

During the cold of winter they will enter a state of torpor in their underground tunnels, with lower body temperature, lower heart rate, lower breathing rate and metabolic rate. Sleeping off and on during winter, waking occasionally to eat until spring finally arrives.

I’ll always remember when I lived in Arlington, Virginia, there was a family of Chipmunks that would frequent the area just outside our back door, Mom and Dad, and 2 little ones. What a treat to see!

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A Giant In The Butterfly World

The largest butterfly in North America, with a wingspan of up to 6.9 inches. The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes).

And in a less often seen, ventral view.

As an adult, the Giant Swallowtail dines on the nectar of many species of flowers as well as liquid from animal feces. Quite the contrast, don’t you think?

The caterpillars of these butterflies have a remarkable camouflage technique to avoid predation by taking on the look of bird droppings.

If that doesn’t discourage a potential predator, they also can use their osmeteria, which is an organ that has the appearance of a forked tongue to frighten that predator away.

The caterpillars of the Giant Swallowtail are considered a pest for those growing trees in the citrus family such as Orange and Lime.

Also in the citrus family here in Virginia, the Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), is host to both the Giant Swallowtail and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

I’m quite glad that I don’t have orchards of citrus trees. I love having these Giant Swallowtails around to amaze me with their remarkable size.

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Maize Flower Fly

Maize Flower Fly (Toxomerus politus). This was a challenge to figure out this exact species. But perhaps the challenge is nearly all the fun!

These attractive flies enjoy being around us for our sweat, which provides them a source of water and salt. But it is not a Sweat Bee (Halictidae). Keep in mind, flies have one set of wings, and bees have two sets. Flies’ wings are straight out to the side when the fly is at rest, and bees’ wings are folded up over their body when at rest. The antennae on flies are small, and the antennae on bees are lengthy.

These little Maize Flower Flies are often found around corn plants. Their larvae do us a favor by eating soft-bodied pests like aphids. As adults they eat nectar and pollen. Measuring in at about 1/3 inch in length.

I came upon this Flower Fly up in Shenandoah National Park two weeks ago. They’re native to North America, Central America, and South America.

And who would have thought that a fly could be so lovely.

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Sycamore

Golf ball sized orbs with tiny little spikes all over them. These were found behind the cabin. One was broken open to reveal loads of seeds. What in the world?

Scratching my head brought about an answer. These are seed balls of American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), a tree that I know well, but hadn’t paid any attention to the flowers or the seed balls. The flowers, both male and female on the same tree are rather inconspicuous. The seed balls usually fall from the trees in late winter and early spring.

Don’t be confused by the number of trees that have the same common name of Sycamore. This one has the scientific name of Platanus occidentalis, and no other tree has that name. It’s native to southeastern Canada and the central and eastern United States.

The bark of the American Sycamore is ragged, shedding its outer surface, exposing a lovely, quite pale yellowish-green to almost white color. Makes me think of marble tree trunks.

The leaves of the American Sycamore are reminiscent of a Maple leaf. Maple leaves though are opposite on their branches while the Sycamore leaves are alternate.

I’m captivated by streams that are outlined by these trees. Trees of marble marking the meandering flow of the water. Beautiful.

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Fall Phlox

Fall Phlox (Phlox paniculata), native to parts of central and eastern United States, and southeastern Canada. I found these flowers blooming along the Buck Hollow Trail, in Shenandoah National Park.

The plant is a herbaceous perennial is generally 2 to 4 feet tall, and can sometimes get to be 6 feet tall. The flowers are pink, lavender, and on rare occasions white.

The leaves are opposite on a smooth, round stem. Pollinators are moths, butterflies, and skippers.

What a spectacular day to be in The Park.

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False Dragonhead

False Dragonhead or more commonly known as Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana), is a rhizomatous perennial. It’s native to eastern North America, west to Manitoba, North Dakota, and south to New Mexico.

A native that I thoroughly enjoy having in my gardens attracting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. That is, while the hummers are around. The Obedient Plants here bloom just as the Hummingbirds are packing their little suitcases, readying to migrate south. The ones from further north, the ones migrating through now, are enjoying the blooms. I like to make them feel welcome to stop to get nectar as they are traveling. Sometimes the flowers get more attention than the feeder that is sitting waiting for them, filled with syrup.

Obedient Plant is in the mint, Lamiaceae, family. It grows to be about 24 inches tall. It’s said to tolerate semi-shade, as well as sun, but I find that it manages to move toward more sunny locations. Surely it knows what is best.

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One Of Many Asters

This, Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium).

Native to some parts of central and eastern United States. Found in dry forests and woodlands. Insects that are attracted to the flowers include bees, butterflies and skippers. Butterflies and skippers seek nectar while bees also gather pollen.

The ultimate accent color for autumn, set against the warm colors of leaves in the process of change. I love to see it!

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A Shadow Darner

Looking like a piece of stunning jewelry with wings. A Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa). A large insect up to 3 inches in length. They’re found in all provinces of Canada with the exception of Newfoundland, and in the contiguous United States with the exception of Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

Amazing in flight, these Shadow Darners’ wings beat independently, allowing them to move through the air forwards, backwards and sideways with ease. As an adult they live for only about 2 weeks. During that time they eat flies, moths and butterflies, mosquitoes, small dragonflies, gnats, and damselflies, depending upon their agility to capture these insects.

Beautiful and talented as well.

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Migration Begins

A juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) on his way to Central America or maybe all the way to southern Mexico. If he is a bit less ambitious though he may only go south as far as the U.S. Gulf Coast.

This summer the Hummingbirds have pleased me with their abundance, emptying 1/2 gallon of syrup every day, without fail. Now I’m happy to have those on the move come by to get their fill, though a quart sized feeder doesn’t empty for many days.

As the months slip away and winter turns to spring, I’ll look forward to seeing these little clowns in early April. The syrup will be ready and waiting for them.

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