Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) are abloom right now, surely to the delight of many fairies in the wood.
Bees are attracted to the blossoms. But in facing down, the blooms discourage other pollinators which hesitate to hang upside down to feed on the nectar or pollen. Nodding Onion is native to North America.
Though a beauty to gaze upon, the bulb and grass-like leaves of Nodding Onion have an oniony scent. Not the floral scent one would expect from such a charming pink blossom.
Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) is native to the southeastern United States. As a caterpillar it has an unusual food source, the fallen leaves of Sumacs, Myrtles, some Oaks and other trees.
A mighty teeny butterfly, its wingspan is 1 inch to 1.25 inches, though you’ll seldom see it with its wings open. As a butterfly, the Red-banded Hairstreak lives just 4 to 10 days. This one, nectaring on a Winged Sumac appears to have had quite rough though short life.
The Dewberry (Rubus invisus) plant is quite insistent. It wants to be where I don’t want it. Somehow it knows such things. But back in May of this year I decided to give it a chance. Give it a spot to demonstrate what its benefits are. This plant loves rocky soil and enjoys shade, even full shade. Perfect for the conditions here at my place. It is a plant that extends its presence with trailing stems meandering along the surface of the soil. With unpleasant little thorns. Ugh!
These berries are the result of my experiment. A benefit to the birds that frequent the trees here on the side of the mountain. Birds that lift my heart. Now, with the end of my analysis, learning the benefit the birds get from this gift of berries, I think I’ll be more tolerant, more sympathetic and more encouraging in the future. Helping the Dewberry plants to areas where they will be welcome. Guiding them away from gardens that I maintain in my prim and proper way. My gardens that are my canvas to express my artistic style. In my dreams!
Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) making a not so subtle statement. Look out! Here it comes! Brilliant leaves here now. Rich red, warm orange, soft yellow. Fall is on its way. Use your observation skills. The colors are here and there. Look. Take note. Hints throughout the woods. Replacing the various shades of green with the spice of autumn. It is just the beginning. Things to come. Happening now.
White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes). The body length of a female is about 1/4 inch to almost 1/2 inch. The body of a male is about 1/10 inch. The color of a female, who has the ability to change color – could be yellow, white or pale brown. That color will depend on where the spider is sitting, and what color is surrounding the spider. There is sometimes a marking on the abdomen of the female that is red, brown, or black.
The male White-banded Crab Spider has a shiny caramel-colored abdomen and the cephalothorax (or upper body) is yellow, green or red. Both the abdomen and the cephalothorax remain the same color throughout the male spider’s life. Its long front four legs are darker than the back legs.
This spider is not associated with spinning a web. It will simply sit on a flower and wait for its prey to come by and the spider will ambush its dinner. Beware! Who knows what lurks in those flowers!
If only you could see the whole series of images that this one came from. The series is like a dramatic opera without music but so much movement! Butterflies love this flower, Tithonia rotundifolia. That’s the orange flower that caused the drama. I highly recommend it if butterflies bring you pleasure. An annual plant that requires me to remember each year to plant it. Best of luck, if you’re like me and don’t necessarily remember little things like planting this, that, or the other thing at the proper time of year.
But let me get on with the topic at hand. The Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe). There are two of them in the small photo above. These beauties can be found in North America, the West Indies, Costa Rica and Belize.
The wing span of the Sleepy Orange is between 1.5 and 2 inches, or about the size of a Cabbage White. The host plants include Cassia, Clover, Wild Sennas, and Partridge Pea. The adult Sleepy Orange loves to sip nectar from flowers using its tongue like a straw.
The flight period of the Sleepy Orange in Virginia are generally June until October. Sometimes several are seen “puddling” or gathering around a puddle or patch of wet sand where they get sips of water along with the natural salts they need.
It wasn’t too long ago that I became aware there was an insect called a “walkingstick.” A creature that I would have marveled at as a child. During my growing up years I spent loads of time in the woods, but never did I see such a thing. I’m delighted now that I know about these critters.
This Northern Walkingstick (Diapheromera fermorata) is native to North America. Its range in the US extends from the Atlantic coast, Maine to Florida, west to New Mexico and north to North Dakota. In Canada it is found in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec. Northern Walkingsticks have built-in eye protection that acts to shield them from excessive sunlight.
They have an incredible camouflage, looking like a twig, and will keep their legs close to their body and remain perfectly still when they sense predators, such as American Robins or Crows are nearby. Sometimes a predator only gets away with a leg. These clever insects often are able to regenerate that lost leg. Northern Walkingsticks are found in deciduous woods and forests. They seek out oaks and hazelnuts, skeletonizing their leaves.
Incredibly tiny flowers that grow on slightly hairy stems. At just 1/3 inch long the flowers would be perfect for a dollhouse. Lobelia inflata flowers are a beautiful shade of pale blue-purple. Native to eastern North America.
A bit of conflict on the Internet regarding whether Lobelia inflata is poisonous or not. More sites say it is than the ones that say it is not. My suggestion, don’t eat any part of this plant.
Lobelia inflata is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant that likes moist areas and sunshine. Given its favored conditions it can grow to 3 feet tall. But still those flowers are mighty small.
As the flowers one by one fade, the seed pods grow and expand like small balloons. These seeds pods are an indication that you’ve come upon the right plant. You have come upon Lobelia inflata.
Wow! She’s about to go into second grade. But even as a toddler, she’s always wanted to help me scatter the Blackberry Lily (Iris domestica) seeds.
Those seeds reveal why this plant has its name. But the name is a bit misleading since Blackberry Lily is not actually a lily at all but a species of iris. And a word of caution, those seeds contain toxins. Beautiful, but don’t eat!
Thomas Jefferson was smart to bring this plant with its striking flowers to his gardens at Monticello. It’s native to eastern Russia, China and Japan.
A well behaved resident not only of Monticello’s gardens, but also my gardens. The plant grows from rhizomes and the seeds that we enjoy scattering together, but it’s not at all aggressive in its growth.
They surely had to get somewhere. Trotting down the road. Obviously a very important appointment.
