Fall Phlox

Fall Phlox (Phlox paniculata), native to parts of central and eastern United States, and southeastern Canada. I found these flowers blooming along the Buck Hollow Trail, in Shenandoah National Park.

The plant is a herbaceous perennial is generally 2 to 4 feet tall, and can sometimes get to be 6 feet tall. The flowers are pink, lavender, and on rare occasions white.

The leaves are opposite on a smooth, round stem. Pollinators are moths, butterflies, and skippers.

What a spectacular day to be in The Park.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

False Dragonhead

False Dragonhead or more commonly known as Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana), is a rhizomatous perennial. It’s native to eastern North America, west to Manitoba, North Dakota, and south to New Mexico.

A native that I thoroughly enjoy having in my gardens attracting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. That is, while the hummers are around. The Obedient Plants here bloom just as the Hummingbirds are packing their little suitcases, readying to migrate south. The ones from further north, the ones migrating through now, are enjoying the blooms. I like to make them feel welcome to stop to get nectar as they are traveling. Sometimes the flowers get more attention than the feeder that is sitting waiting for them, filled with syrup.

Obedient Plant is in the mint, Lamiaceae, family. It grows to be about 24 inches tall. It’s said to tolerate semi-shade, as well as sun, but I find that it manages to move toward more sunny locations. Surely it knows what is best.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

One Of Many Asters

This, Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium).

Native to some parts of central and eastern United States. Found in dry forests and woodlands. Insects that are attracted to the flowers include bees, butterflies and skippers. Butterflies and skippers seek nectar while bees also gather pollen.

The ultimate accent color for autumn, set against the warm colors of leaves in the process of change. I love to see it!

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

A Shadow Darner

Looking like a piece of stunning jewelry with wings. A Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa). A large insect up to 3 inches in length. They’re found in all provinces of Canada with the exception of Newfoundland, and in the contiguous United States with the exception of Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

Amazing in flight, these Shadow Darners’ wings beat independently, allowing them to move through the air forwards, backwards and sideways with ease. As an adult they live for only about 2 weeks. During that time they eat flies, moths and butterflies, mosquitoes, small dragonflies, gnats, and damselflies, depending upon their agility to capture these insects.

Beautiful and talented as well.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Migration Begins

A juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) on his way to Central America or maybe all the way to southern Mexico. If he is a bit less ambitious though he may only go south as far as the U.S. Gulf Coast.

This summer the Hummingbirds have pleased me with their abundance, emptying 1/2 gallon of syrup every day, without fail. Now I’m happy to have those on the move come by to get their fill, though a quart sized feeder doesn’t empty for many days.

As the months slip away and winter turns to spring, I’ll look forward to seeing these little clowns in early April. The syrup will be ready and waiting for them.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Earlier And Earlier Sunsets

Two months ago, July 10th, the sun set here at 8:38 p.m., and this evening it set at 7:30 p.m. Summer is now marching into autumn.

As the days become shorter, trees sense that change. Their chlorophyll production slows, their leaves lose the green they started out with in the spring and other colors emerge. In Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), leaves turn crimson. This is a reaction to trapped sugars in the leaves which create pigments, anthocyanins, that along with the loss of chlorophyll turn the leaves to their beautiful red.

And of course in the Flowering Dogwoods the berries are also red and waiting for neighboring wildlife to discover them and come dine.

And within a month all these leaves, green turning to red, with fall to the ground, another stage in the season of autumn.

Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse. GrandKitty. Pumpkin Inspector.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Smile!

Kodak Six-20 Brownie Junior. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum).

Smile! The camera is waiting to catch that beam.

Smile! Autumn is watching! Warm tones of butterscotch. Cooler nights – maybe we can hope for them?

Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Who Cooks For You?

Always be ready for whatever might present itself. Always be on the alert. Always have your camera with you, all set to take that picture.

And lo and behold, there it was. A Barred Owl (Strix varia). And I DID have my camera. All set!

The Barred Owl is native to eastern North America and is expanding its range, even into Alaska. It is 16 to 25 inches long and has an impressive wingspan of 50 to 60 inches. In the wild they will live 8 to 10 years.

I see these precious owls every now and then, around my cabin, and as I hike here on the mountain. This morning was one of those magical moments when I got to see and photograph one.

Seeming to take great pride in the range of motion of its little neck it seemed to say, “Look what I can do!”

Such a treat!

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Patiently Waiting

Yes, I’m patiently waiting. Looking forward to seeing my first Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of this year. This image is from September 10, 2014. Maybe one, or several, will be along any day now.

This Monarch is on an Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana). They haven’t started blooming yet. I’ve been trying to keep them watered so they don’t die because of the drought. Maybe their blooms will bring the Monarchs. I’m hoping that will be the case.

In the meantime, patience.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!