-
Walkingstick
This afternoon the hummingbird feeders needed to be refilled, so I took a break to wash them out and put new syrup in them. Much to my surprise, I spotted the smallest walkingstick I’ve ever seen, on one of the ant guards. This is a Northern Walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata). Two pictures for you, one for…
-
Skipper
A skipper that is mighty easy to recognize thanks to its large bright white spot on the ventral view of its wings. This skipper is found in a large part of the United States into southern Canada. Adults sip the nectar of many different flowers. Skippers are classified together with true butterflies since they fly…
-
Purple
What a lovely color. This is Venus’ Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata), in the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae). Its leaves clasp the stem, giving it another common name, Clasping Bellflower. Native to North and South America, ranging from Canada to Argentina. Pollinators attracted to Venus’ Looking Glass are small bees, and small butterflies and skippers. This annual…
-
Female Hummingbird
A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). These tiny creatures are so very entertaining. I think about now, all have arrived that will be here for the summer. I love to see them whirling about like crazy, chasing each other, playing “King of the Mountain” by sitting on top of the feeder keeping everyone else away.…
-
Black Raspberry Or Blackberry
After talking about Black Raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) with a dear friend just yesterday – what do I come upon today, but ripe Black Raspberries. A look alike, the Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) will not be ripe for another month. Before I mention the differences between the berries, I want to mention that the plants themselves look…
-
Really Red
This morning I spotted two male Scarlet Tanagers (Piranga olivacea) in my Montmorency cherry tree. A tree that is filled with brilliant red cherries. Seeing one of these gorgeous birds is a real treat but to see two together is amazing. And in that tree with cherries that match their color – way beyond amazing.…
-
Fledgling Cardinal
I don’t keep track of birds I’ve seen, where and when. No life list. Yesterday though, was the first time I’ve ever seen a fledgling Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). I won’t write it down. Just interesting to think of. Cardinals generally lay their eggs late April to early May. Two to five eggs are laid,…
-
Bear In The Garden
Finally, after a long absence, a Black Bear (Ursus americanus) has made its presence known to me. After seeing, not a single one for a few years, this is a treat. This one that showed up, providing me time to get several pictures, looking mighty healthy. This beautiful creature is a youngster. They leave their…
-
Dogwood Blooming In June
There are somewhere between 30 to 60 species of Dogwood in the family Cornaceae. This one, Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), is quite different in many ways from the Dogwood that I’m most familiar with, Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida. But first, the leaves look very similar, and they are both opposite. Gray Dogwood is in full bloom, as…