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One Of Many Milkweeds
May 29, 2025 Fourleaf Milkweed (Asxlepias quadrifolia) in bloom along the trails up here right now. This species of Milkweed is used as a food source by not only Monarchs but also Swallowtails, Fritillaries and some of the other nectar-feeding butterflies. There are 73 species of Milkweed native to the United States. Monarchs use about 30…
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White Dunce Cap Mushroom
May 27, 2025 White Dunce Cap Mushroom (Conocybe apala) surrounded by White Clover (Trifolium repens). A fairly common mushroom in Europe as well as here in North America. Mushrooms that are mighty tiny. The cap measures in at between .5″ and 1.5″ in diameter. The thin, hollow stem is 1.2″ to 4.4″ in height. That…
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Sundrops In Bloom
May 26, 2025 Narrow Leaf Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), a member of the Evening Primrose (Onagraceae) family. Native to much of eastern North America. Narrow Leaf Sundrops are perennial plants that grow to a height of 18 to 36 inches. The brilliant yellow flowers attract Beetles, Butterflies, Moths, Skippers, Bees, and Hummingbirds. The seeds entice Goldfinch,…
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The Nymphs Are Back Again!
May 25, 2025 Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicata). A Planthopper (in the order Hemiptera) native to parts of China and Vietnam, believed to have first come to the United States in 2012, on a shipment of stone arriving in Pennsylvania. This image, one of many found here in the past couple days, an early stage nymph.…
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A Stunning Yellow Orchid
May 24, 2025 In bloom right now in Shenandoah National Park, Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium parviflorum). Native to North America – even found in Alaska. In reading a blog post by Mary Anne Borge (The Natural Web) she says, “If you see it, you know you’ve won the lottery.” How true! _______________________ If you…
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Redbud, A Member Of The Legume Family
May 23, 2025 Seed pods of Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). These look like they’re beans and sure enough, Redbud trees are in the legume family (Fabaceae). Members of the legume family are well known for their ability to add nitrogen to the soil. A little bit of what happens in the adding of nitrogen to the…
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Indian Pink
May 22, 2025 A unique flower. Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica), native to inland areas of the Southeastern and Midwestern US. An herbaceous perennial that grows to a height of 1.5 to 2 feet, with a width of about 1.5 feet. In bloom right now in my garden. A row of flowers emerges at the top of…
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One Of Many Favorites
May 21, 2025 Thinleaf Blue-eyed Grass or Common Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), a delight to have around, volunteering here and there. Native to the eastern two thirds of the United States and Canada. Though indeed it certainly looks like a grass, the several species of blue-eyed grass are in the iris family. And another thing…
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Farmer Ants
May 20, 2025 These are seed pods and seeds of Wood Poppy. You might be able to see, if you look carefully, that each seed is wrapped with something that looks like a fuzzy white band. This is an elaiosome which is nutrient rich and attracts some ants. These ants are participating, along with the…