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.

Orchids Native to Virginia

Orchids. Magnificent flowers. An Orchid has been the national flower of Columbia since 1936, the Flor de Mayo (Cattleya trianae). There are 4,000 species of Orchids in the world and more than 1,500 are only found in Columbia.

Here in Virginia we do have native Orchids but not nearly so many. I’ve seen just a small portion of the 64 species of Orchids that are native to Virginia and have photographed even fewer of them. These, above, are the species Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis).

Here’s Putty Root (Aplectrum hyemale) which produces a lone leaf in autumn that stays green during the winter and fades as the plant produces a flowering stalk in the spring.

The incredible, patterned leaves of Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) really impress me. This too is a species of Orchid. It blooms in late summer. Unfortunately I cannot find any of my photographs of its flowers.

And the last of my photos of native Virginia Orchids, the Yellow Lady Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum). All of these are not far from my cabin.

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Bear Country

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

I live in bear country. During normal years, during spring, summer, and autumn, I see a bear every few weeks. During the winter when they are doing their “cold weather slumber,” I won’t see a bear for perhaps 2 or 3 months.

And sometimes it is not just one bear but a family of bears that comes through.

This, perhaps the largest bear I’ve ever seen here. One not to be messed with, but then no bear is to be messed with. I treat them with respect but certainly let them know that I’m the boss around here.

This certainly has not been a normal year. In April 2021 I saw a bear come through, obviously suffering from a severe case of mange or Sarcoptes scabiei, with hardly any fur, extremely thin, looking like a saggy baggy elephant. Since that day I have not seen a single one. Last night though my bird feeders, mounted on an extremely sturdy pole, were raided, the pole bent to the ground, a sure sign of a bear.

The bent pole has left me with mixed feelings. I’ve missed seeing bears but it’s been so nice putting out the bird feeders without concern that they would be carted off into the woods not to be found again, or mangled beyond recognition. Most of all though, this perhaps is a sign that the bear population here in my woods is recovering. Color me happy!

Canadian Owlet Caterpillar

Canadian Owlet Caterpillar (Calyptra canadensis)

I can count on caterpillars impressing me in a big way. So often they come in brilliant colors and occasionally one will look like a cartoon character.

And this one certainly fills the bill with its colors. The mature Canadian Owlet Moth is what some think of when it comes to moths. It is brown and blends in perfectly with the dead leaves of the woods. A great camouflage.

Native to Canada and much of the United States, though the warmer southern states don’t often see this bright beauty. The host plant of the Canadian Owlet is Early Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dioicum) which doesn’t care for that warm climate.

Fourth Year In A Row

Many days ago a friend let me know that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were migrating through. I’ve been watching for them ever since. Today, finally, I spotted one or more females. Several times at the feeder. Each time a single female. I’m delighted to see them.

Now if only a male would show up. As is so often the case the male of the species is the one to get all the attention with its spectacular coloring. The female looks much like a large sparrow. A not so little LBJ

My cabin, here in central Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains is very close to the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks’ breeding grounds but I only see them as they migrate through. This, the fourth year in a row that I’ve witnessed this happening. It brings me joy!

Paulownia

It’s quite eye catching right now. Along roadsides, with no leaves on its branches, but lavender trumpet shaped flowers contrasting with the newly emerged leaves of the trees that surround the Paulownia tomentosa.

Native to eastern and central China. Here is it a fast growing exotic invasive which generally wins in competition against native plants.

The tree grows to between 35 and 80 feet, with leaves that are heart-shaped that can be mighty large, 6 to 16 inches across. Or, perhaps larger. See the image above? That’s the toe of my boot on the lower right. And that’s a Paulownia leaf just above it. One mighty large leaf.

Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle

Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis), quite a large name for a beetle that is just half an inch in length. These beetles with the long name have a defense tactic for warning potential predators to stay away, Aposematism. It’s unusually bright coloration is used as a way to avoid being attacked or eaten. This the same technique that Monarch Butterflies use to warn probable predators.

And like Monarchs, the Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle eats the sticky white sap of Milkweed plants which contains toxic chemicals. Some insects are able to consume this sap without being poisoned. The chemicals remain in their bodies to protect them. The larvae of Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle are eaten by Damsel Bugs, Stink Bugs, and Hover Fly Larvae. I guess they don’t care about the danger signal that is conveyed with the coloring.

Host plants of this beetle include its favorite, Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), along with Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swallow-wort (Cynanchum), and Twinevine (Funastrum). All toxic to most animals which provides the protection that these beetles seek.

A Violet That’s Yellow

“Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from.” – Jodie Foster.

Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens). A violet that chooses to be yellow rather than the normal purple. It can be found in the eastern and northeastern United States, and southwestern Canada. The flowers are pollinated by bees, flies and butterflies.

After the first chasmogamous flowers are produced with petals open inviting pollination, there is a second round of cleistogamous flowers produced. These are small flowers, similar to buds which will remained closed, that will self-pollinate. Both the first flowers and the second bud-like flowers will produce seeds.

Blackhaw in Bloom

Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) in bloom in the woods now. Its nectar and pollen attracting both bees and flies. Caterpillars of the Spring/Summer Azure Butterfly feed on buds and flowers of Blackhaw while later instars of Baltimore Checkerspot will occasionally nibble on the leaves.

Lovely to see this small tree/or shrub blooming in its native eastern North America. Cymes of 1/4 inch flowers that are each punctuated with 5 long stamens with thin white filaments topped with yellow anthers.