A picture taken here on the lane, last year (November 16, 2023) as the Sugar Maple leaves (Acer saccharum) were at their most brilliant.
Much to look forward to.
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Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) in bloom. Perfect timing for the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that are coming through on their way to their winter homes of Central America and Mexico.
Long tubular, nectar filled flowers, perfect for hummingbirds. Flowers that are native to southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America to northern Colombia.
I love brilliant colors and these red beauties certainly have my heart. Though this picture is from my yard, I sometimes come upon Cardinal Flowers in the wild. When that happens I’m totally pleased.
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Heartleaf Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), is easy to identify because of its heart shaped leaves. A herbaceous perennial native to central and eastern North America. There are about 150 species of Aster native to North America.
The flowers of Heartleaf Aster are composed of petal-like ray flowers which are often blue-violet to lavender, or in this case snow white. At the center, tube-like disk flowers start out yellow and gradually develop a purple-red color.
I have a patch of these flowers, volunteers that I really enjoy. Other plants try to invade its space but I fight them off.
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After many days of wonderful sunshine, today is a gloomy, drizzly, rainy day. I’m very glad of the rain since today is September 17th and it hasn’t rained since September 1st when .59 inches came down upon us. Now slowly, slowly we’re getting some moisture again. Just the way it should happen. Slowly, gently.
This image, a Yucca gloriosa, enjoying today’s rain.
Me too.
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Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), native to eastern and southwestern North America. This picture taken at the beginning of August of 2024. Always a delight for me to find these bright orange blooms attracting butterflies in the wild.
And now, actually just yesterday, September 15th, and there are seed pods on the Butterfly Weed. Soon to burst open sending silky-tailed seeds drifting with the wind to find a new place to grow.
Ah magical nature!
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Ironweed (Vernonia) with brilliant purple flowers, blooming in July. Blooms that attract many butterflies and other native pollinators in search of the pollen and nectar that the flowers provide.
Now those flowers have turned into seed heads. During autumn and winter many birds will eat the seeds including Goldfinch, House Finch, and Song Sparrows.
And till then I’ll look forward to having the Ironweed with the striking purple flowers bloom again next July.
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Blackberry Lily (Iris domestica)
Thanks to inspiration from Thomas Jefferson’s gardening mentor, Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon, seeds of this plant were sown at Monticello in 1807. Now, one of many favorites in my yard. In 2005 this plant was moved to the genus Iris and given its new scientific name thanks to molecular DNA sequence evidence.
Here, the seed pods of Blackberry Lily. Surely you can see why it has that name.
Something that my Granddaughter learned early on as she helped me plant the seeds — they aren’t edible.
Blackberry Lily is native to Eastern Asia and is not considered to be an invasive species. Otherwise I wouldn’t consider growing it in my yard.
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Out on a walk this morning, I came upon a Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), appearing to be frozen on the path in front of me.
It stayed there for 5 or 10 minutes just watching me, being perfectly still. Made me think of some creatures that freeze and seem to be saying through mental telepathy, “You can’t see me!”. After doing some research, I think that is exactly what was happening.
Several sites made reference to Copperheads, when encountered, becoming perfectly still rather than slithering away, simply because they can rely so dependably on their great camouflage.
Interesting to learn more about these intriguing creatures.
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A Blue-winged Wasp (Scolia dubia) enjoying Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) in one of my gardens.
This is a wonderful wasp to have in the yard. The female tunnels into the soil to find Japanese Beetle grubs (Popillia japonica). It will lay its eggs on those grubs, and as the eggs turn into larvae, growing and maturing, they will eat the grubs.
What a wonderful help with pest control.
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I was thinking that it was about bloom time for the Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) and sure enough this afternoon I came upon a few flowers. Just the beginning.
It’s an herbaceous perennial, native to parts of the eastern and central United States, grows 2 to 4 feet tall. It’s the host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). Many pollinators seek out the nectar, bees, butterflies and skippers.
Actually the flowers don’t have a scent but rubbing the leaves will give the aroma of balsam.
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