Western Honey Bee

September 11, 2025

A Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Goldenrod (Solidago). A bee that is native to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This bee can now be found on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, where it has been introduced for honey production and pollination services.

Notice one of the corbiculae, or pollen baskets, that looks like it is stuffed full of pollen, on the bee’s rear leg.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

And They’re OFF!

September 10, 2025

A juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) sipping nectar from Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma), with rich emerald green Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) in the background.

During the second week of August, the last of the hummingbird nestlings fledged. Since that time I’ve been putting out two quarts of hummingbird syrup daily without fail. That won’t happen today. Not even one quart has been consumed. That’s the signal. My clowns of summer have packed their tiny suitcases and are now on their way to their wintering grounds, southern Mexico, across Central America and Panama.

They’re gone, but there will be many others migrating through. I’ll keep watch as they come to my feeder until I don’t see any stragglers coming through. Two weeks and I don’t see any more and the feeder will be put away till next spring.

I’ll be so delighted to see them again.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Now For Seekers Of Nectar

September 9, 2025

My Obedient Plants (Physostegia virginiana) are just beginning to bloom. An attractive plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that’s native to North America from Quebec to Manitoba south to Florida and New Mexico.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) on their way to their winter homes are stopping by to enjoy the nectar.

And the seldom seen Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is attracted to its nectar as well.

Come and get it. There are many plants with pollen and nectar for you guys to relish.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Male White-banded Crab Spider

September 8, 2025

Last night I sent you a post about a female White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes). This is the male of the species, which is quite a bit smaller than the female. Her body length is between 1/4 to 1/2 inch, and his body length is 1/10 inch. Though she is able to change color, he doesn’t have that ability.

Both the male and females are ambush predators, eating bees, flies, butterflies, and other small arthropods. The male will also supplement his diet with pollen and nectar.

This male is sitting on Asters.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

 

Color Changing Spider

September 7, 2025

A spider with what seems a bit of magic up its sleeve. This, the female White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes), is able to change color, white to yellow, or yellow to white, depending upon what color flower she is sitting on.

This happens by way of secretion of yellow pigment into the outer cell layer of her body. That process can take from ten to twenty-six days. OR going from yellow to white, a simpler process which involves excreting the yellow pigment, taking perhaps just six days.

This power helps her to ambush her prey. She doesn’t spin a web, but instead chooses to lie in wait, for her dinner to approach. Blending in as she bides her time. This ability also provides protection from predators.

The smaller, male White-banded Crab Spider doesn’t have this color changing ability.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Smooth Blue Aster

September 6, 2025

Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) blooming up here right now in many places on the mountain. Blooming for about four to six weeks, providing nectar for pollinators late in the season.

Though I adore deep, rich, pure color; I must admit this lavender shade is beautiful. As this bloom ages the color may deepen, which would please me even more.

This Aster, as well as many other species, is a host plant for some butterflies including the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos).

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Monarch

September 5, 2025

I’ve only seen a few Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) this summer. This one is enjoying the nectar of Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), which is growing like crazy up here along the trails and roadside. I suspect that the proliferation of the Morning Glories is because of the significant amount of rain we had earlier this summer.

I have various species of Milkweed (Asclepias) to tempt the Monarchs to come and lay their eggs. Now in late summer I have many flowers that I know should entice them. Not much luck though. Maybe next summer there will be more. I have my fingers crossed.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Buckeye On Aster

September 4, 2025

So many intriguing butterflies. Some absolutely stunning. This is one of them, a Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). I usually see them in late summer through autumn when they migrate south for the winter.

These Buckeyes have a preference for the nectar of flowers in the Asteraceae family, such as Asters, Goldenrods, Sunflowers, Ironweed, Wild Ageratum, and Coneflowers.

This one is enjoying the nectar of the Small White Aster (Symphyotrichum racemosum).

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

The Aromatic Aster

September 3, 2025

A member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), Aromatic Asters (Aster oblongifolius) are just beginning to open up their first blooms, and will often bloom until the first frost. They’re native to parts of the eastern and central United States.

They provide needed nectar and pollen as autumn begins to shut down many of those sources. These are composite flowers, growing to 1 to 1.25 inches across. The flowers are made up of 20 to 35 purple ray florets that encircle 30 to 50 disk florets of yellow or amber, maturing to reddish purple.

The name “aromatic” makes me think that the flowers have a scent, but that scent is hidden. They or the foliage must be crushed to enjoy the camphorous scent.

These flowers and other purple asters that bloom in autumn make me appreciate purple as an autumnal color, along with the warm oranges, reds and yellows.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Gorgeous Wingstem

September 2, 2025

I have so many favorites in the world of nature. This is one of them. Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), seen here in Shenandoah National Park. Right now it is decorating roadsides with its brilliant lemon yellow.

Wingstem is quite popular with pollinators. This is a Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) enjoying the Wingstem’s nectar.

The flowers of this plant are composite flowers which are made up of a cluster of tiny flowers called florets that together create a bigger form that appears to be a single bloom. The little florets include ray flowers on the outside appearing to be petals, and also disk flowers at the center. Other composite flowers include daisies and sunflowers.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!