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.
Two months ago, July 10th, the sun set here at 8:38 p.m., and this evening it set at 7:30 p.m. Summer is now marching into autumn.
As the days become shorter, trees sense that change. Their chlorophyll production slows, their leaves lose the green they started out with in the spring and other colors emerge. In Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), leaves turn crimson. This is a reaction to trapped sugars in the leaves which create pigments, anthocyanins, that along with the loss of chlorophyll turn the leaves to their beautiful red.
And of course in the Flowering Dogwoods the berries are also red and waiting for neighboring wildlife to discover them and come dine.
And within a month all these leaves, green turning to red, with fall to the ground, another stage in the season of autumn.
Always be ready for whatever might present itself. Always be on the alert. Always have your camera with you, all set to take that picture.
And lo and behold, there it was. A Barred Owl (Strix varia). And I DID have my camera. All set!
The Barred Owl is native to eastern North America and is expanding its range, even into Alaska. It is 16 to 25 inches long and has an impressive wingspan of 50 to 60 inches. In the wild they will live 8 to 10 years.
I see these precious owls every now and then, around my cabin, and as I hike here on the mountain. This morning was one of those magical moments when I got to see and photograph one.
Seeming to take great pride in the range of motion of its little neck it seemed to say, “Look what I can do!”
Yes, I’m patiently waiting. Looking forward to seeing my first Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of this year. This image is from September 10, 2014. Maybe one, or several, will be along any day now.
This Monarch is on an Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana). They haven’t started blooming yet. I’ve been trying to keep them watered so they don’t die because of the drought. Maybe their blooms will bring the Monarchs. I’m hoping that will be the case.
The Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar (Cucullia convexipennis). As a person who turns to all things art and color, this caterpillar truly speaks to me. It makes me think of the quilts that I have created over the years, to the pastel paintings that I’ve done, and more just waiting to happen.
A small critter, this caterpillar is almost one inch in length. Not only itself a beautiful color, it spends time on gorgeous Asters and Goldenrods, host plants of the Brown-hooded Owlet. The caterpillars feed on the Asters and Goldenrods, but as adult moths, they do not eat at all.
These caterpillars are found in the northeastern United States and close by Canada.
The splendor of nature is out there just waiting to be found.
Goldenrod (Solidago). There are more than 100 species of Goldenrod native here and there, throughout North America. A beautiful plant that I enjoy seeing along trails here in the mountains and in my gardens.
A misconception, Goldenrod does not cause hay fever. Goldenrod blooms have large, heavy and sticky pollen grains. Certainly not pollen grains that would be swept away by the wind.
Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). One of the culprits which does produce hay fever. BEWARE.
A single plant of Ragweed can create a billion grains of pollen each season. And since it depends upon wind pollination, it must produce that much pollen to be successful.
There are 17 species of Ragweed in North America. This is another of them, Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida).
I think it’s sad and ironic that Goldenrod and Ragweed grow in the same environments. Ragweed blooms are green, drab, uninteresting, get little notice. Goldenrod blooms a lovely, brilliant yellow, and are quite eye catching. And since Goldenrod gets noticed and well remembered, it gets the blame for hay fever.
Please remember. Goldenrod does not contribute to hay fever.
Yesterday afternoon several Sachem Skippers (Atalopedes campestris) were found on patches of Mist Flower (Conoclinium coelestinum) flitting from flower to flower.
They’re plentiful here in Virginia from July through September. Their host plants are many grasses, including Crab Grass, and Bermuda Grass. Adults feed on the nectar of a vast assortment of flowers.
The wingspan of the Sachem Skipper is between 1 to 1.5 inches. Pretty small.
Keep your eyes open. Notice what is around you. The world of nature is there, just waiting to be discovered.
Hoary Edge Skipper (Achalarus lyacides) Native to the eastern United States. Adults active April through September. Caterpillars eat leaves of plants in the Legume family. As adults, they eat the nectar of various flowering plants, including Common Milkweed, New Jersey Tea and Buttonbush. A small Skipper with a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.75 inch.
They’re out there, fluttering now. Watch for them!
Each of these photographs, that I’ve posted here, represent the current changing of seasons. Going from summer to autumn. It is September 1st, after all, the first day of meteorological autumn.
Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana)
I love the change of season. No matter what season it currently is, I’m ready, and looking forward to the change. Which perhaps explains why I celebrate the meteorological seasons.
Berries (technically drupes) on Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
Each season is looked upon in one of two ways. The astronomical seasons, which rely upon our planet, Earth’s, position as it rotates around the sun.
Drupes of Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
And the meteorological seasons, which depend on annual changes of temperatures.
A Red Maple (Acer rubrum) leaf has fallen on Pincushion Moss (Leucobryum glaucum)
Each system has the same 4 seasons that we know and love. Each with slightly different dates for beginning and ending. The meteorological seasons start just a bit before the astronomical seasons. I’m always ready for change. The next season.
Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) drupes
Spring, summer, autumn and winter. Some of them loved more than others, depending on the person.
Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
And now, as of today, we are in meteorological autumn. Many changes will happen until the next change of seasons, going from autumn into winter.
That’s my favorite. WINTER. But I’ll be patient and enjoy autumn while it’s here.
