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White and Red Dogwood Berries
Autumn is approaching. The leaves of some Flowering Dogwoods are getting richer, more and more red. Their crimson berries, or drupes, are in abundance. This is the species of Dogwood that most people think of when “Dogwood” is mentioned. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa). Two different Dogwood species. One of seventeen…
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Pipevine Swallowtail
Brand new! This Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) has just emerged from its chrysalis. A couple years ago I decided that if I wanted to see Pipevine Swallowtails, I should get a plant that would engage them. Their host plants are in the genus Aristolochia. One of them, Woolly Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia tomentosa) filled the bill since…
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Hosta
Hosta (Hosta) can be a beautiful addition to your garden if you don’t have it already. Hostas are herbaceous perennial plants that are native to China, Japan, Korea and the Russian Far East. They produce attractive clumps of leaves each summer which are topped with blooms that are either white or lavender. But a word…
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Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar
Hickory Tussock Moths (Lophocampa caryae) are native to northeastern North America down to North Carolina and a few even wander to Texas and down into Mexico. These photos are their larvae, their caterpillars. Hickory Tussock Moths have just one generation per year. Eggs are laid in clusters of 100 or beyond, on the undersides of…
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Yoga Tree
Twisting and stretching. In a sensuous way. Accented by Goldenrods (Solidago), Asters (Aster) and even some beautiful Blue-green Wood Stain Mushrooms, (Chlorociboria aeruginascens), in the dark cavity at the base of the tree. You can read more about Blue-green Wood Stain Mushrooms in my blog post: brendaclem.com/turquoise-mushrooms!/.
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Slow Down
Slow down. Take in all that surrounds you. There is so much out there for you to see, if only you would look. Really look. It’s there waiting for you.
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Flowerpot Parasol
Flower pot Parasol (Leucocoprinus birnbaumii). I must always find out what it is, whether a plant or animal that I’ve encountered on a trail or, as in this case, something that mysteriously popped up alongside one of my orchids. That’s just how my brain works. I love a mystery and must get an answer. This…
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Naked-flowered Tick Trefoil
Naked-flowered Tick Trefoil (Desmodium nudiflorum). Nice color! Soft to intense pink blossoms with a unique shape that makes me think of Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Tick Trefoils are just beginning to bloom around my cabin. The pea-like flowers are on stems that have no leaves and there, you’ve got the…
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Common Mullein
Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. It’s a biennial that shows up in most of North America. In Canada, Common Mullein is found in all the southern provinces. In the US, it occurs in all the contiguous states and Alaska and Hawaii. Seeds of Common Mullein remain viable for decades while each…
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Indigo Lactarius
Mushrooms intrigue me, particularly the ones that emerge in surprising colors. This one certainly fills that stipulation. Indigo Lactarius (Lactarius indigo). Mycorrhizal, or having a symbiotic relationship, with pines and oaks. Indigo Lactarius will grow in a large group or a small group, or alone in summer and fall. Found in North America from the…