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A Little Yellow Mushroom
Yellow Unicorn Entoloma (Entoloma murrayi). A cute little mushroom that looks as if it ought to be right next to the Pixie Cup Lichens for the pixies’ and fairies’ enjoyment. A cap that is cone-shaped, or bell-shaped, that is pointed at the top. This pointy top is referred to as an umbo in the fungus…
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Scarlet Berries
July finds them emerald green, blending in with other greens. Not to be noticed by the dedicated hiker. I find them though. The dedicated nature photographer. Understated berries of Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). But come October, contending for attention, in competition with the colorful leaves, the berries have become a brilliant shade of scarlet. Maybe even…
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Slowly Slowly
Slowly, slowly, autumn’s full blown color palette is creeping in. Right now it is: “Oh! Look at that tree!” Not a hillside of color but just a few leaves here and there turning with all their might to a spectacle of hues. Changes in a leaf’s world, encourages slowing and stopping of photosynthesis which makes…
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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)…
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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…
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Pixie Cup Lichen
For one with a wild imagination, this lichen is aptly named, Pixie Cup Lichen (Cladonia asahinae). I can just imagine pixies making a collection of these lichens to toast in the Pixie New Year. Pixie Cup Lichen grows on just a few species of mosses, in Europe, North America, South America, and hard to believe,…
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Painted Lady
A delight to see a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans). A butterfly with a wingspan of 2 to 3 inches, that like many butterflies, lives only for 2 to 4 weeks as an adult. During their short life the butterfly consumes the nectar of plants that are 3 to 6 feet…
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Chinese Chestnut
Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) seem to love the catkins on Chinese Chestnut Trees (Castanea mollissima).
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Spiny Cholla
Looking through my photographs. Dreaming through memories of trips past. Trips to my favorite part of this country. The Southwest. This photo makes me think of many visits to my husband’s precious Grandmother and her home in Artesia, New Mexico, surrounded by a yard that was Southwestern landscape filled with native plants including many of…
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The Perfect Magnet
Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Sunflowers (Heliathus). A great match for watching those Monarchs come through during migration.