Author Archives: Brenda Clements Jones

About 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.

They Have Fledged!

I first started getting photographs of the little Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) on June 30, ten days ago. It was the first day I noticed mom and dad Carolina Wren going back and forth, back and forth. You can go back to look at those pictures at: brendaclem.com/feeding-the-babies/.

Today things were a little bit different. The three nestlings often would put their heads out the entrance hole. Sometimes just one, other times just two, and on occasion all three, though there was barely room. And there were times when one would stick its head way out, looking quite grown up except for the down feathers showing up here and there, reminding me of a little old man.

Perhaps they fledged this morning, before I started looking for them. No heads poking out, no mom or dad coming with breakfast. No action at all. I’m pleased they have taken off. Relieved that they have survived the intense heat. The sun beating down on that tiny bird house every afternoon concerned me.

Carolina Wrens fledge about 12 to 14 days after hatching. They become self-sufficient approximately four weeks beyond the big event of fledging.

I’ll be watching for them. Maybe I’ll see them getting lessons at the birdbath on how to care for their feathers by cleaning them.

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Beautiful Blue

Beautiful blue, a common color along roadsides right now. It is blooming time for Chicory (Cichorium intybus).

Chicory is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to western Asia, North Africa, and Europe.

It found its way to North America probably in the 1700s as European settlers were arriving on our shores.

The plants grow to 1.5 to 3 feet tall. The flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches across with 10 to 20 blue ray florets, each floret has 5 tiny teeth at its tip. At the center of the flowers are blue stamens with blue anthers. The flowers open in the morning and as the sun becomes the brightest the flowers close, that is unless it is cloudy, then those flowers will remain open longer.

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Well This Is A Bummer

This afternoon, roaming around, preparing for tonight’s blog post which would have been Ironweed (Vernonia). I happened to glance at one of the leaves of the Ironweed that I was going to photograph and there was a strange looking creature that looked as if it was dressed up for a masquerade ball.

Unfortunately this gaudy being is a 4th stage nymph of a Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). It was captured and stomped upon. I’ve now notified my Cooperative Extension Agent. I’m hoping there have been no others seen here in Greene County, Virginia. According to the maps that I see, none have been reported.

As of a little more than a month ago Spotted Lanternflies have been found in 17 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

If you find one where you live notify your Cooperative Extension Office right away.

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Abloom Up Here Now

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is blooming now, in many places. Often growing to a height of about 3.5 feet. Each plant is unbranched until near the top where the flowers appear.

The blooms are in densely packed clusters that are either flat-topped or dome-shaped. Individual flowers have 3 to 8 ray florets and 10 to 40 disk florets.

Many different pollinators are attracted to the pollen and nectar of Yarrow flowers.

The leaves are feathery and alternate.

Soon to follow Yarrow’s flowering, a similar looking Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota).

On My Hike This Morning

Out on my hike, taking in all that Mother Nature has to show me this morning. Something catches my eye. It’s a Larger Elm Leaf Beetle (Monocesta coryli). A beautiful beetle in its remarkable colors, various shades of yellow and metalic blue-green.

No surprise this beetle is often found on Elm trees but also on Dogwood, Hazelnut, Pecan, River Birch, Plum, and Hawthorn trees. Both the larval stage as well as adults will feed on soft leaf tissue, leaving the tough veins.

Nature provides a remedy though. Parasitic Tachinid Flies, predaceous Stink Bugs and Plant Bugs are all natural enemies of this beetle.

So much to see. So much to learn.

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Dr Seuss Flowers

Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma)

It seems to be a flower from a drawing by Dr Seuss and certainly one designed just for my Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. It’s a flower that always makes me think of fireworks and the 4th of July.

Native to eastern North America, it’s a perennial plant that is 2 to 4 feet tall, and one that attracts oodles of pollinators including bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and hummingbirds.

And before I wrap things up, I want to wish you a very happy 4th of banana!

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Another Longhorn Beetle

This is a Banded Longhorn Beetle (Typocercus velutinus), notice its colors of deep maple syrup/reddish brown and yellow, and its pattern in that yellow.

Two days ago I did a blog post on the Long-horned Beetle (Typocerus zebra). Since then I’ve seen another Longhorn Beetle that looks quite similar. And to add to my befuddlement I see that these Beetles are in a family called Cerambycidae which has more than 35,000 species which are described. So, as you’re out looking at Longhorn Beetles, and looking them up as I do, keep that scientific name in mind. Things get confusing even with that scientific name but even more confusing if you don’t have it. If you’d like to go back to that post you can find it at: brendaclem.com/one-of-the-longhorn-beetles/.

Here, another picture of the Banded Longhorn Beetle (Typocercus velutinus). Its larvae feed on dead and decaying oaks and hickories. A beneficial species helping to return nutrients from those trees back to the forest floor. The adults eat pollen and nectar.

I’m hoping that as you read my ramblings you are taking a closer look at the things of nature around you.

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A Very Tall Wildflower

Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), an herbaceous perennial that can grow to 5 – 7 feet tall. A member of the Aster family (Asteraceae) which is native to eastern and central North America.

The nectar and pollen of the Woodland Sunflower are quite popular with a wide variety of insects including bees, butterflies and skippers, flies, and beetles. The seeds of the flowers are eaten by many birds and mammals.

Flowers that are seen along sunny trails up here, and along Skyline Drive. A beautiful flower that says, “Happiness” to me!

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One Of The Longhorn Beetles

A Zebra Long-horned Beetle (Typocerus zebra), chowing down on the pollen and nectar of a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). This is what all adult Long-horned Beetles eat, just the pollen and nectar of flowers.

Their size is about 1/2 inch. And they are believed to be harmless. The larval host of these beetles are pine trees. Their native range is eastern U.S. and Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

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