-
Trying To Be Patient
Sitting here twiddling my thumbs as my computer works with my external hard drive, which is filled with my many, many, many photographs. There are inconsistencies (groan) that it is dealing with. This will take hours to fix. In the meantime, here are a couple pictures that are a treasure to me. A baby Common…
-
To Each His Own
Butterflies on the road going up the mountain. The one on the left a Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis), the one on the right a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele). Both these butterflies love to hang out at mud puddles, rotting fruit, and in this case, on scat. All are a source of nutrients for the…
-
Pennsylvania Leatherwing
Pennsylvania Leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus). A member of the Soldier Beetle family, Cantharidae. Native to North America. These Leatherwings are on Wild Ageratum (Eupatorium coelestinum), though I’ve read their favorite color is yellow, such as Goldenrod. I guess they are not that particular. They are considered a great pollinator. And they love to eat aphids, as…
-
Wild Petunia
Wild Petunia (Ruellia) is in bloom right now. It’s native to the eastern and central United States. It isn’t particular about the location where it grows. Moist, dry, sun, partial shade, most any soil type. In bloom May to October. I’ve seen these flowers growing wild at the yoga studio where I can often be…
-
A Beautiful Mint
Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) is in bloom in the mountains now and will continue blooming for about 6 weeks. The flowers attract many pollinators. It’s a perennial that will grow in colonies from shallow rhizomes. If it’s really in the perfect location, you might find it growing to 5 feet tall. Native to the…
-
Green Stink Bug Revisited
Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris) can be found in most of eastern North America. Both adults and nymphs can cause injury to fruits, including stone fruits, vegetables, and field crops. Nymph of Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris). There are two things that I am thankful for regarding this Stink Bug. First, though I have seen…
-
Clowns Of Summer
My summer entertainment. Many, many Ruby Throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). The clowns of summer. It would be extremely difficult to say how many Hummingbirds there are. They are too quick and fidgety. What you see here, an extremely brief moment in time, while they sit quietly. A blink of the eye and they are bouncing…
-
Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Spotted just outside my cabin today. The caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). The larval host of this Swallowtail are plants in the genus Aristolochia. The leaves of these plants contain aristolochic acid, which is toxic to some animals, which protects the Pipevine Swallowtail. This is the adult Pipevine Swallowtail. They are protected by the…
-
Beautiful Magenta
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), native to the eastern United States. Just beginning to bloom in my woods now. Sometimes growing to 5 feet or a bit more. Those blooms, a gorgeous magenta. Pollinators are various species of butterflies and bees. This pollinator is a Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). What a lovely color combination, the…