Wild Petunia (Ruellia) is in bloom right now. It’s native to the eastern and central United States. It isn’t particular about the location where it grows. Moist, dry, sun, partial shade, most any soil type.
In bloom May to October. I’ve seen these flowers growing wild at the yoga studio where I can often be found. It is quite the pretty native flower.
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Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) is in bloom in the mountains now and will continue blooming for about 6 weeks. The flowers attract many pollinators. It’s a perennial that will grow in colonies from shallow rhizomes. If it’s really in the perfect location, you might find it growing to 5 feet tall. Native to the eastern US, not including Maine, west to Michigan, Illinois and Mississippi.
The hoary look of the upper leaves is the result of a covering of whitish, short, dense hairs. That’s how the common name came about.
The flowers are white or pale lavender with purple spots, growing in dense clusters. The leaves have a lovely spearmint scent if you rub them between your fingers, and the stems are square like other mints. That spearmint scent is a mighty nice aroma to enjoy on a hot summer hike.
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Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris) can be found in most of eastern North America. Both adults and nymphs can cause injury to fruits, including stone fruits, vegetables, and field crops.
Nymph of Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris).
There are two things that I am thankful for regarding this Stink Bug. First, though I have seen a few of these bugs here on my mountain, they have not been a problem in the vegetable garden at all. Second thing that I am thankful for, I don’t find them in my cabin. Say, “Stink Bug” and I immediately think Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Ugh. Nothing like that.
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My summer entertainment. Many, many Ruby Throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). The clowns of summer. It would be extremely difficult to say how many Hummingbirds there are. They are too quick and fidgety. What you see here, an extremely brief moment in time, while they sit quietly. A blink of the eye and they are bouncing off each other again.
There are actually two of these feeders out there on the porch. Each one holds 1/2 gallon of syrup. And over the course of one day, one of these 1/2 gallon containers is emptied. Thirsty little critters.
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Spotted just outside my cabin today. The caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). The larval host of this Swallowtail are plants in the genus Aristolochia. The leaves of these plants contain aristolochic acid, which is toxic to some animals, which protects the Pipevine Swallowtail.
This is the adult Pipevine Swallowtail. They are protected by the toxicity and distastefulness of aristolochic acid. Many predators know to avoid them.
Woolly Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia tomentosa). It’s native to southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. This is a plant in the genus Aristolochia. One of those plants that is a larval host plants of the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. That is why I planted this vigorous vine, and I’m really pleased to see the caterpillars and the butterflies! Mission accomplished!
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New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), native to the eastern United States. Just beginning to bloom in my woods now. Sometimes growing to 5 feet or a bit more. Those blooms, a gorgeous magenta.
Pollinators are various species of butterflies and bees. This pollinator is a Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon).
What a lovely color combination, the Ironweed flowers and the Skipper.
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A lovely patch of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) that has been blooming for three or four weeks now. Bees and butterflies have been enjoying the flowers. The patch is quite abuzz.
Quite the small butterfly, an Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas), enjoying the nectar of the flowers.
Another butterfly, a bit larger than the Eastern Tailed Blue. A Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), is also dining on the nectar of the Thyme flowers.
Both nectar and pollen, is consumed by the Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens).
And another to seek out pollen and nectar both, as it works away, the Confusing Bumblebee (Bombus perplexus).
All these pollinators, busy, busy at the Thyme, making the little patch of flowers buzz with busyness.
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A Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) enjoying the nectar of a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
And another Fritillary, a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) on another Purple Coneflower.
The common name, Fritillary, comes from the Latin, fritillus: chessboard or dice box.
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This, a female Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) taking care of her feathers. Hooded Warblers are summer residents here. Not a lot of them but enough to see and enjoy from time to time.
These Warblers eat insects and other arthropods, so they have no interest in my feeders. That’s okay, I get to see them on special occasions.
I’ve been seeing them for many years. Even before the cabin was built they’d delight me with their presence, up here on my mountain.
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If you find any of these in your garden, you are in luck. You’ve got help controlling pests. This is a Downy Leather-wing (Podabrus pruinosus), a species of Soldier Beetle in the family Cantharidae.
Specifically how are they going to help you in the garden? They eat Aphids and Spider Mites. Good ones to have around.
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