Tendrils

Orange And Yellow

June 23, 2025

The bright orange of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Surely this plant has a perfect name. It attracts multitudes of butterflies that are drawn to the abundant nectar that it produces. It also draws in bees and hummingbirds.

Butterfly Weed is the host plant of Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), and Queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies.

This butterfly enjoying the nectar is an Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme).

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A Lovely Shade of Blue

June 21, 2025

Native to western Asia, North Africa, and Europe, Chicory (Cichorium intybus). A perennial herbaceous plant of the family Asteraceae.

A plant that seems to be ubiquitous along roadsides right now, adding a lovely shade of blue to the landscape.

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Iridescent Colors

June 20, 2025

The tiny birds with scarlet red, and emerald green, iridescent feathers. The clowns of summer. They’re here entertaining me. So quick in motion. I put out sugar water and they come when I call. I’m totally enchanted. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris).

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Anemone Virginiana

June 19, 2025

Tall Anemone (Anemone virginiana) is beginning to bloom right now, along the trails and also the ones that have volunteered in my gardens. It’s a herbaceous perennial in the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. Native to central and eastern US and to Canada as well.

The seedhead, just beginning to form, in the upper left of this image, becomes a cottony thimble shape that persists into spring providing nesting material for birds.

This Anemone is resistant to roaming deer and rabbits, which is a definite plus in my book.

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On A Bare Branch

June 18, 2025

Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), are here in the mountains of central Virginia year round. They’re strictly seed eaters and I love seeing them coming to the seed heads of flowers in my gardens.

The Goldfinches molt twice a year. As summer moves on they change their bright spring and summer feathers for duller ones to blend in with the dull colors of winter. Fresh feathers come in one by one giving them the look of a worn out quilt. By the end of winter they will be growing in a new set of feathers to start the spring season.

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Native to North And South America

June 18, 2025

An annual herbaceous plant that brings joy to my heart when I find it. Venus’ Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata). Native to both North and South America, from Canada to Argentina.

Venus’ Looking Glass shows up in random places in my yard and I find them along trails up here in the mountains.

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Pale Lilac In Color

June 16, 2025

Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare), native to Europe and Asia and has been naturalized in North America. A member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).

Its fuzzy leaves are opposite and have the aroma of mint with a touch of earthiness.

In bloom now.

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Life Stages Of Spotted Lanternfly

June 15, 2025

Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). A planthopper native to Vietnam and China, which arrived in the United States in 2012. Spotted in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014 and now has now spread to Virginia. It’s preferred host plant is Tree of Heaven (Ailantuus altissima), but is a problem with many other trees and agricultural crops such as grapes, soybeans, stonefruits, and apples.

The picture above is of the early life stage. I’m seeing these incredibly quick critters everywhere. On my blueberry bushes, on my front and back porch. Everywhere. I’m seeing many more of these creatures now than I did last year.

Soon that early life stage will grow into this one.

And by August it will have grown into its adult form.

Last year, in August, I found this adult SLF caught in a spider web. Only one. If only spiders would catch many many more.

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Gray Petaltail

June 14, 2025

A Gray Petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi), a Dragonfly species, basking in the sun on a utility pole. About 3 inches long. Native to the eastern US. They eat a wide variety of insects such as mosquitoes, gnats, and aphids but they will also eat tadpoles, worms, and fish.

They’re not concerned the presence of people and will sometimes land on one’s arm.

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