Blooming In The Woods

June 2, 2025

At the end of summer this is what you’ll see along the trails up here. The berries of Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum).

Go out right now though and you’ll see panicles (or clusters) of tiny flowers, maybe 5 to 250 of the flowers, making up a length of 4 to 6 inches.

Either singly or all standing proudly in a row. White or creamy colored just waiting to become the crimson berries of late summer and autumn to feed many birds and small mammals. Eating the berries and distributing the seeds here and there.

_______________________

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

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.

_______________________

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

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,

_______________________

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

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 Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginana).

A tiny thing with a wing span of just an inch. But it’s GREEN!

_______________________

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

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 of those species as host plants. As a host plant, the Monarch uses it for the survival of its larvae. That host plant is an essential food source for the Monarch’s developing caterpillar.

The common name of “fourleaf” is used because often (but not always) the leaves are whorls of four leaves, which gives an opportunity for another common name, Whorled Milkweed.

You’ll notice in the top image, that the blooms are leaning toward a very soft pink. They are often white, but I love to find the pinks!

_______________________

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

Pure Green Sweat Bee

May 28, 2025

Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura), native to the eastern United States and Canada. They’re active April through September. Size is about 1/3 inch. Females carefully build their nests in moist, decaying wood, often under the loose bark of stumps, rotten trees, and logs.

They’re attracted to sweaty humans, licking up our sweat for the moisture and salt content. These jewel-like bees are generally not aggressive and will only sting if they sense a threat or are trapped.

_______________________

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

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 hollow stem is quite fragile and often collapses under the weight of the cap. The mushroom typically lasting just a few hours.

With the tiny mushrooms, seems there ought to be fairies nearby.

_______________________

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

 

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, Mourning Doves, and other songbirds.

The shade of yellow of this flower is magnificent!

_______________________

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

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.

Being a Planthopper means these Lanternflies are extremely fast. They will fly short distances but prefer walking quickly or jumping. Getting this picture was quite the challenge because of their speed, and it not wanting a picture taken.

Lanternflies are agricultural pests, reducing the yield on grapevines, lowering the sugar content on remaining grapes leaving plant health in jeopardy. Other concerns are trees in our yards, and forests, including Black Walnut, Maples, Willow, River Birch, Black Cherry, Tulip Poplar, and others. Its favorite though is Ailanthus. Ailanthus is a non-native invasive that attracts the Lanternfly.

If you see these nymphs, squash them!

_______________________

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

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