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 the leaf lose its chlorophyll and its green coloring. Depending on what compounds are most prominent in the leaf, determines its autumn color.

Carotenoids, and flavonoids both contribute yellows, while carotenoids also include oranges and reds in their repertoire. Both these compounds deminish, like the chlorophylls, but more slowly, allowing their colors to shine through autumn.

Another set of compounds, anthocyanins, a member of the flavonoids family, plays a part in some autumn leaf color. While carotenoids and flavonoids are present in the leaves during the growing season, anthocyanins are not. Autumn is the time for some leaves to manufacture this compound through increased sugar concentrations exposed to sunlight. This gives way to rich red, purple and magenta coloring in the those leaves.

Soon we’ll be at peak leaf season. I can’t wait.

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) of a variety of trees, including pines.

As with some caterpillars, the Imperial Moth Caterpillar is one that has irritating hairs, that cause an itching stinging rash.

The adult of this species, the Imperial Moth, is an elegant yellow, and brownish purple, with an incredible wingspan of 7 inches.

As an adult the moth’s only purpose is to reproduce, and lives a very short life of just one week, eating nothing during that week.

Keep in mind, if you don’t really know what caterpillar it is that you have encountered, it could be one that will irritate your skin. Leave it be. Don’t pick it up.

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 as I pass by plants along trails up here. Only seldom reaching a height of 3 feet, mostly unbranched stems lean over with small clusters of flowers along the stems growing with the alternating leaves.

On their way to their winter home in Mexico, Monarch Butterflies enjoy stopping along the way to dine on the nectar of all the Goldenrods. All sorts of bees nectar at the Goldenrods too. Bumble Bees, Digger Bees, and Sweat Bees are among those that are found there with the Monarchs. A treasure to have in the woods.

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, even in the Antarctic.

I’m sure happy that it grows here on my mountain, to benefit the pixies.

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 high, such as Asters, Cosmos, Ironweed, Joe Pye Weed, Sunflowers, and of course, Pineapple Sage.

The Painted Lady can be found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Their long distance migration makes them the most widely distributed butterfly species. Those migrations are irruptive. Not necessarily depending upon weather or geography, but some think depending in part on such things as changing climate patterns and also perhaps triggered by population issues.

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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 this Spiny Cholla (Cylindropuntio spinosior). Yes, spiny but beautifully bloomed with purple-red flowers, spring through summer.

Arizona

Spiny Cholla (Cylindropuntia spinosior)

The desert Southwest, such a different environment from where my deep roots are. Different from the lush green of DC, Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania.

I have an acquaintance who went to the Southwest for a visit and was so disappointed. They returned and only had this to say, “It is SO BROWN out there!” That’s someone who doesn’t focus in on what nature has to share with us.

Sunset at Mt Lemon

These images are from a trip to Tucson, Arizona. So much to see. So much to take in. So much to learn.

Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea)

But that is nothing new. I learn new things everyday, even though I’m in my familiar surroundings at home, back East.

Canyon Tree Frog (Hyla arnicolor), Saguaro National Park

One last photo, and quite the surprise to me. A Desert Tree Frog (Hyla arnicolor) in the dry desert. I suppose there are animals that can adapt to most any environment. Those adaptable animals will have quite the job, adapting to what they will be facing in the years to come.

Color

So important to me – COLOR. And autumn really brings it to me. Now, in early autumn, a small tree, Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum), is bringing joy to my heart with its color.

In spring, a tree with blooms that attract so many pollinators that the tree itself seems to buzz with activity.

But in autumn its emerald leaves begin to lose their chlorophyll, exposing the crimsons, saffrons, and marmalades. Rich colors to brighten even the grayest of days.

And on sunny, crisp days, when the weather is totally perfect, those colors sing to me.