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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Brown-hooded Owlet Caterpillar

The Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar (Cucullia convexipennis). As a person who turns to all things art and color, this caterpillar truly speaks to me. It makes me think of the quilts that I have created over the years, to the pastel paintings that I’ve done, and more just waiting to happen.

A small critter, this caterpillar is almost one inch in length. Not only itself a beautiful color, it spends time on gorgeous Asters and Goldenrods, host plants of the Brown-hooded Owlet. The caterpillars feed on the Asters and Goldenrods, but as adult moths, they do not eat at all.

These caterpillars are found in the northeastern United States and close by Canada.

The splendor of nature is out there just waiting to be found.

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Goldenrod Doesn’t Cause Hay Fever

Goldenrod (Solidago). There are more than 100 species of Goldenrod native here and there, throughout North America. A beautiful plant that I enjoy seeing along trails here in the mountains and in my gardens.

A misconception, Goldenrod does not cause hay fever. Goldenrod blooms have large, heavy and sticky pollen grains. Certainly not pollen grains that would be swept away by the wind.

Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). One of the culprits which does produce hay fever. BEWARE.

A single plant of Ragweed can create a billion grains of pollen each season. And since it depends upon wind pollination, it must produce that much pollen to be successful.

There are 17 species of Ragweed in North America. This is another of them, Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida).

I think it’s sad and ironic that Goldenrod and Ragweed grow in the same environments. Ragweed blooms are green, drab, uninteresting, get little notice. Goldenrod blooms a lovely, brilliant yellow, and are quite eye catching. And since Goldenrod gets noticed and well remembered, it gets the blame for hay fever.

Please remember. Goldenrod does not contribute to hay fever.

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