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Everybody Needs A Scarecrow
June 1, 2025 Everyone needs a scarecrow don’t you think? Mine, made of a raincoat, garden gloves, and an old hat. Here he is showing us the view. And he’s providing a resting place for a Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) who’s enjoying the tour. At the end of the tour the Goldfinch gets some thistle seed.…
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Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
May 31, 2025 Caterpillar of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio polyxenes). A butterfly that can be found in a wide area, southern Canada to northern South America, most commonly east of the Rocky Mountains. These caterpillars enjoy eating plants of the carrot family (Apiaceae). Plants such as parsley, dill, Queen Anne’s Lace, fennel, and carrots, _______________________…
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A Green Butterfly
May 30, 2025 Most unusual to see a green butterfly. I’m not sure there are any that are native to Virginia except for this one, a Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus). It’s actually native to most of the continental United States, parts of southern Canada, and northern Mexico. Here in Virginia its host plant is the…
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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…