Fasciation

These two images are what a normal Goldenrod looks like, in two different stages of their growth.
This image is of a Goldenrod which has been transformed by FASCIATION. All these images were taken in my back yard and are the same species of Goldenrod.

Fasciation is something that is not really understood by scientists. But it creates cool things to happen with plants. It makes a plant’s growth go berserk in unpredictable ways, growing in a manner that would not normally happen.

It is thought that fasciation happens because of a hormonal imbalance in the plant. What causes that imbalance is uncertain. It could be a random mutation, an injury due to insect action or a disease or even a physical injury. It’s believed to be totally fluke occurrences that are not shared by other plants or even to other parts of the same plant.

Fasciation is bewildering and fascinating.

Migrating

Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) on their way to their winter homes. Coming through, two or three per day on their way south. Stopping for just a moment at Goldenrod, Obedient Plant, or in this case this morning at a Morning Glory.

And more migrating. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) also on their way south. Several are coming through every day. Usually one at a time. They are an independent sort and travel alone. Occasionally though as one sips, another will show up and give chase. Always the trouble makers. That pale throat can either indicate a female or a juvenile of either sex. But the white tips on their tails tell me that these are females.

Perfect Landing

Shorter days. Cooler temperatures. Leaves slowly losing their chlorophyll. Little by little my mountain is beginning to take on an autumnal demeanor. At a snail’s pace, summer is weakening its green grasp.

A crisp day encourages a maple leaf to fall. Crimson falling to its opposite on the color wheel. Emerald green perfectly surrounds and protects so long as winds are calm.

Pin Cushion Moss (Leocobryum glaucum).

A Mystery

Many of you might know that I love a mystery. Some native, something. A plant, an insect, something without a name. Figure out what it is. THIS was my mystery today. If I had not thumbed through a plethora of nature books since childhood, I would not have even known that this is a caterpillar. But that hint carried me to books with photographs of caterpillars. One of many in my library.

This is the only photograph I have of this critter. I took it in October 2013. And now I know what this is!

This is the larval stage, or caterpillar, of a Crowned Slug Moth Caterpillar (Isa texula). It’s a venomous caterpillar. Look but don’t touch. Caterpillars in this family, Limacodidae, rather than having peg-like legs, mid-body, as most caterpillars have, have suckers, which creates a floating appearance, slug-like, which gives them their common name. They enjoy eating leaves of oak trees but they have a taste for most any hardwood tree. As adults the moth does not eat, but focuses only on reproduction.

Hemiparasitic

Downy False Foxglove (Aureolaria virginica) is a plant that is hemiparasitic. This means it has chlorophyll and performs photosynthesis but also depends upon another plant for some of its water and/or nutrients.

In the case of Downy False Foxglove, the plant that it choses to depend upon is the White Oak (Quercus alba).

A plant that is native to eastern North America, with a small population found in Ontario.

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First Night Of Autumn

All day long people have been saying, “Happy first day of autumn!” Technically though, that would be tomorrow. Here in Virginia, the autumnal equinox arrives at 9:04 p.m. So, no autumn during the day today. But I’ve been celebrating autumn since September 1, since that’s the beginning of meteorological autumn which is based on temperatures. Not celestial objects floating across the sky.

And here in the mountains of Virginia, autumn is just thinking of happening, at least as far as the leaves are concerned. They’re nearly all shades of emerald. This leaf, at the top of the page, is a brilliant candy apple red from a Black Gum Tree (Nyssa sylvatica). One of many of my favorite autumn trees. Its leaves turn this wonderful color and generally hold on to them for while. Right now though, there aren’t many red ones – yet. I’ll be patient, waiting in the crisp autumn temperatures.

Autumn Flower

As spring turns to summer, early in the year, I always look forward to Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) beginning to bloom. I have to wait a while since these are late blooming flowers. Late enough that they are here for the Hummingbirds traveling through.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that are on their way south to their winter homes, so very far away, stop at my feeders still stocked with sugar water but they also notice my blooming Obedient Plants and stop for a drink at these flowers. I saw one just today at some of the purple-pink flowers and I know the little guy was happy to find the blooms.

Obedient Plant is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to North American from eastern Canada to northern Mexico, all the way over to New Mexico.

Spotted Orb Weaver

Adult Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera) spiders show up in late summer, early autumn. Just in time to help decorate for Halloween. These good sized (female bodies are about 3/4 inch long, male bodies are slightly smaller) spiders fit the part, showing up in brown/orange bodies with striped legs of cream, brown and orange colors.

It is only the female Spotted Orb Weavers that spin webs, and during the autumn they may turn from nocturnal to diurnal. For the past few days there has been one on the storm door at my back door. Catching insects for its sustenance.

Once an insect is captured by a spider it will be wrapped, round and round with the spider’s silk. I’m not only delighted by the decorating that these spiders do, but I can’t help but celebrate that they from time to time will capture a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

Purple For Autumn

It’s called Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), though I certainly don’t notice any scent. But this Aster is a beauty, scent or no scent. Native to the northeastern and central US. Host plant to Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly.

A great time to be blooming, providing nectar and pollen to insects when other flowers have already finished their seasons.

And as summer turns to autumn Aromatic Asters add a marvelous color to the landscape. Purple, to go with the oranges and yellows. A perfect color combination.

White Dogwood Berries

Seems everyone knows the Dogwood species, Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), which is the Virginia state flower. But there are others out there. Actually there are 17 species of Dogwood that are native to North America.

These white berries look so beautiful on their crimson pedicels (stems). They’re one of the other species of Dogwood. Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa). Those pedicels are one reason I enjoy Gray Dogwood trees. They make me think of miniature bright red trees.

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