Author: 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.

Slugs

Something I never thought about writing about before. I encountered many of these critters this morning, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. They’re Leopard Slugs (Limax maximus). Its scientific name means, “biggest slug.” Though actually only the second largest in the genus Limax. The one in the image above stretched out to six or eight inches but in a relaxed position they’re about the size of my thumb.

Native to Europe. These slugs are a problem in gardens and are found in fields, woods, and gardens, usually near human habitation. Aside from garden plants they also eat dead plants, fungi and other slugs. Plants they avoid are fuzzy plants, and plants with scented leaves. They’re nocturnal and nearly always return to the same spot under a rock or log that to them is “home.”

Bloom Where You’re Planted

A glimpse of a very determined plant this morning, outside the Stanardsville, Va., Post Office brought back memories from long long ago.

Back then my husband and I would go to our absolute favorite restaurant at least once a week, and often twice a week.

The restaurant, run by Kip Laramie, The Sante Fe Cafe, in Rosslyn, Arlington County, Virginia.

Kip had a wonderful staff and they all treated us like family.

A reflection of that special treatment, note the second item on the list of specials. My husband is Bill, and he is from Hobbs, New Mexico. Pretty special.

But let’s get back to that memory of another determined plant.

Rosslyn is a neighborhood of apartment buildings and stores. Think “city” atmosphere. We usually parked a block away and on that day back then as we walked to the restaurant, I spotted a tomato plant determined to grow in a crack in the sidewalk at the base of a stop sign. How strange! So determined to grow, it had even bloomed, and a tomato had magically appeared on the plant.

And now today I spotted this pertinacious Zinnia plant so intent on surviving that it had even developed a bloom. Not a perfect bloom but one that represents resolve. A reminder to bloom where you’re planted.

Big Meal For Little Spider

This afternoon I discovered a little White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) enjoying a late lunch consisting of very large meal, a Tachinid Fly (Tachinidae). The White-banded Crab Spider uses its two front pairs of legs to capture its prey and then bite it, injecting venom to disable its meal. Its strong legs and use of venom allows it to capture insects that, like this Tachinid Fly, are much larger than the spider.

A spider that doesn’t build a web, but a spider that will find a spot among flowers to sit and wait for its meal to arrive. Sit and ambush.

This action took place in a garden filled with Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) which I enjoy because of the variety of interesting pollinators that it draws.

What Color?

Viscid Violet Cortinarius (Cortinarius indes).

Purple. Or as the common name suggests, Violet. Rich enough around the edge that I don’t think I could call it lavender. No matter the label, I can feel safe in calling it beautiful. Who would have thought a mushroom could be such a lovely color.

Part of the world of mycorrhizal fungi. Symbiotic relationships are formed between these fungi and plants. The fungi surround the root system of a host plant, with a network of their own roots, providing benefit of nutrient and water intake abilities while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates which is from photosynthesis. Oak is a favored host plant.

Mushrooms seem to come in every color of the rainbow.

Saprobic

Here is another saprobic mushroom, or mushroom that creates its energy by decomposing nonliving organic matter. That nonliving organic matter is also known as detritus. This is a fungus known as Hairy Rubber Cup (Galiella rufa).

Hairy Rubber Cup is found throughout eastern North America. But you’ve got to look carefully. It blends quite easily in leaf litter. Found on wood debris and fallen branches of deciduous trees, sometimes in clusters.

Its size is .75 to 1.25 inch across and .25 to .375 inch thick. Its outer surface is deep dark brown with dense hairs.

I love to find mushrooms, but just to photograph them.

Golden Spindles

So much to see out there as you wander through the woods. One must simply pay attention to what you are stepping over, walking through, hiking past, to see more of the world of nature. Did you know there are mushrooms in every color of the rainbow? Here I present YELLOW. One of many, many yellow mushrooms. Their tips can be yellow, brown or sometimes red.

This is Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis), which is found in Asia, in Europe and in northern North America, particularly the northeast.

Golden Spindles are thought to be saprobic. Saprobic mushrooms are decomposers. They break down nonliving or decaying organic matter in order to make energy. 

Keep your eyes open as you wander. There’s so much to see.

Late Thoroughwort

Late Thoroughwort (Eupatorium serotinum). A poisonous perennial herbaceous plant that is native to eastern North America.

Many insects such as bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths and beetles are attracted to these flowers mostly for the nectar.

Late Thoroughwort is one of the last wildflowers to bloom in the autumn, and before we know it, autumn will be here.

Viceroy

I’ve seen one two times, that I know of, and I’ve gotten photographs both times. A Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). The first one was spotted and photographed at my cousin’s house in Ottsville, Pennsylvania.

The second photograph was taken at the bottom of my mountain, where I stopped at the stop sign and this Viceroy came by to say hello.

Though the Viceroy is a butterfly that looks a good bit like a Monarch (Danaus plexippus), there are a couple things to look for in order to tell the difference. One, the Viceroy is a smaller butterfly, but sometimes that size difference is difficult to recognize. The one sure thing I know to look for is the black line that is circled in both these images for you to see. The Monarch does not have that line.

Let me know if you see any Viceroys.