Tendrils

Category: Caterpillars

  • Oh The Things One Can See

    Oh, the things one can see, as one walks along a barely used dirt/gravel road! Keep your eyes open for the little things. Or in this case the big things. This is an Imperial Moth Caterpillar (Eacles imperialis), which can reach a length of 4 inches. As it grows it eats the leaves (or needles)…

  • Wreath Goldenrod

    Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia). More than 50 species of Goldenrods are native to Virginia. So many, looking similar, it is quite daunting for a person that needs to know the exact name of each one. However this one has a tiny bit of a unique look. Enough for me to feel confident to identify it…

  • A Mystery

    Many of you might know that I love a mystery. Some native, something. A plant, an insect, something without a name. Figure out what it is. THIS was my mystery today. If I had not thumbed through a plethora of nature books since childhood, I would not have even known that this is a caterpillar.…

  • Eastern Calligrapher

    The Aromatic Asters (Aster oblongifolius) in my garden are just beginning to show off their soft lavender blooms. Those few flowers have gotten the attention of an Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus). It’s a tiny creature, measuring just 1/4 inch long. Though it looks like a bee or a wasp, it is a fly. It doesn’t…

  • Clean Up Crew

    Clean Up Crew

    Three Black Vultures, part of Mother Nature’s clean up crew, were here yesterday just checking things out and making a lot of noise. Look closely. There are three there. They were on the roof making thumping noises and on the front steps making sounds like car doors slamming. But they decided it was a false…

  • White Swan Coneflower

    White Swan Coneflower

    A Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) on a cluster of White Swan Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’).

  • Independent Leaflets

    Independent Leaflets

    As days get shorter some leaves take that as a signal and stop making chlorophyl. That chlorophyll is what gives the leaves their green color, and what is left in those leaves will break down. The green fades and disappears. Yellow, orange, and red colors left in the leaves and now uncovered, become visible. This…

  • More Orange

    More Orange

    Many more photos of orange call to me. Here are a few more. Orange cars may be unusual but back when this was ours, they were even more unusual. At least that seemed to be the case. Here it is, complete with bear paw prints on its hood. We live in bear country after all.…

  • The Color Orange

    The Color Orange

    Okay Gary, here ya go! Orange might mean, might represent, might bring, might suggest, joy, warmth, heat, sunshine, enthusiasm, creativity, success, encouragement, change, determination, health, stimulation, happiness, fun, enjoyment, balance, sexuality, freedom, expression, and fascination. Lincoln National Forest is an area of 1.1 million acres. A forest region including Ruidoso Valley, Cloudcroft and Carlsbad. Located…

  • The Color Red

    The Color Red

    There is a challenge this week to post things RED. A challenge sent out by the Digital Photography School. Brilliant, strong colors come to the top of my list of favorite things, so I thought I’d post a few of my photographs of red things here. I hope you enjoy the quick trip through the…