Three American Chestnut Burrs

August 6, 2026

Years ago I did volunteer work for the Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. I learned many things about what has happened to this precious tree, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), since the blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) was first accidentally introduced to North America in 1904.

Sometime during my years with TACF I was able to get 12 pure American Chestnut seeds which I planted down the hill in front of my cabin. As they sprouted, many of them succumbed to the blight and died. There are still 3 of those trees living, though each one has signs of the fungal disease. Who knows, they may still live for years to come. What will happen in that case, the tree will become more like a bush, unlike what would have been a stately tree. The top portions will die back, but the roots will live on, and with determination send up new sprouts.

Over the past couple years, these 3 have bloomed. Much to my amazement, a couple days ago, I discovered that they have produced 3 American Chestnut burrs!

I am totally delighted!

_______________________

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

Smooth Sumac Starting Autumn A Bit Early

August 5, 2026

The calendar page has just turned to August and the Smooth Sumacs (Rhus glabra) are beginning to show that autumn is soon to arrive.

Not all (yet) but some of these long compound leaves are a brilliant scarlet. They’re reacting to the subtle shortening of daylight hours.

A few of the trees around here, including the small tree, Smooth Sumac, begin turning color before many of the others. That makes their color change extra special.

_______________________

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

Memories Of Stellafane

August 4, 2026

Going through photos from long ago this afternoon. One bunch brought back many fond memories of going to Stellafane, an astronomy convention held on Breezy Hilll, at Springfield, Vermont. I attended Stellafane for almost 20 years, and needless to say, it was great fun. Looking through a wide variety of telescopes in mid-August for several nights in a row. This year is going to be their 90th convention.

The one image that captured great memories was not a night shot, but is from a hike in the woods. After all, you need something to do in the daytime as well. On this particular hike I came upon this cluster of mushrooms, Macropsalliota americana, to be exact.

This mushroom can be found in many areas of North America though it is most common east of the Rocky Mountains. It feeds on dead or decaying matter, such as sawdust, wood chips and stumps.

The picture makes me think of a momma hen with her little chicks.

_______________________

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

Waiting For A Turn At The Birdbath

August 3, 2026

A juvenile female Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), patiently waiting with others to get a chance to take a dip in the birdbath. As they waited they filled the air with their sweet twittery sounds.

I love to hear that twittering.

_______________________

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

A Blue-winged Wasp

August 2, 2026

The Blue-winged Wasp (Scolia dubia), found from New England south to Florida and west to California in the United States, and as far south as Coahuila, Mexico.

A wasp that has a length of from .8 to 1.0 inches. Japanese beetle grubs and other scarab beetle larvae are eaten by the larvae of these wasps.

Sounds like a good wasp to have around.

_______________________

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


Tiny Appalachian Bellflower

August 1, 2026

Appalachian Bellflower (Campanula divaricate).

A beautiful blue color on flowers that seem made for dollhouses, measuring just 1/3 inch across. Not only does it bloom in this lovely blue but sometimes its flowers are violet in color. The native range is the Southeastern and Central Appalachian Mountains, including Maryland and Kentucky further south to Alabama and Georgia. It usually is found on rocky summits, cliffs, talus, and open, dry, mountainous woodlands.

These flowers can be found from July until October in clusters of dangling blooms. They seem to call to specialized native bees, butterflies, and other small pollinators.

_______________________

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

Redstarts In The Garden

July 31, 2026

A male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla).

And a female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla).

They’re only here for the breeding season, and some head south as early as August. Migrating to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. While they’re here, I often see them at the birdbath, just outside my dining room window. Making their little chip song, I know when they’re out there.

Their diet is mainly insects during the breeding season, things such as caterpillars, moths and flies. They’re talented little flying insect catchers, catching them in midair or grasping them off leaves. In late summer they add a few berries to their diet, berries like serviceberries and magnolia seeds.

If they decide to begin their migration in August, I sure hope that it’s late August. I enjoy having them here.

_______________________

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

Variegated Fritillary On Maypop

July 30, 2026

The caterpillar of a Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta Claudia) eating the leaves of Maypop (Passiflora incarnate) which is a plant native to the southeastern United States.

Variegated Fritillary butterflies are native to the southern United States, Central America, and South America. They have a wide variety of host plants, including violets and pansies, passionflower vines such as this maypop, and stonecrops. I love having violet plants show up in my gardens since I know they will please these butterflies.

And here, an adult Variegated Fritillary enjoying some nectar. As adults that have a wide range of lifespans, from 2 to 10 weeks.

_______________________

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

Wild Black Cherries

July 29, 2026

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: ACascadeOfWildBlackCherries1-scaled.jpg

Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), a tree that provides food for a huge assortment of birds and mammals, both large and small. Native to a vast swath of North America, including the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada, some parts of Mexico and down to Guatemala.

If you’re feeling adventuresome, hold on and think about it. Yes, the flesh of the ripe fruit is edible, but the rest of the tree including the leaves, stems, seeds, and bark are toxic.

_______________________

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

Painted Lady On Apple Mint

July 28, 2026

A Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) eating the nectar of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens). As an adult, the Painted Lady butterfly lives from 2 to 4 weeks.

Favorite host plants for Painted Lady butterflies are thistles, hollyhocks, sunflowers, and mallows.

This butterfly has the widest distribution of any butterfly globally. It lives in every continent except Antarctica and South America, and is highly migratory. It can’t survive cold winters in temperate zones.

______________________

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