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A Shadow Darner
Looking like a piece of stunning jewelry with wings. A Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa). A large insect up to 3 inches in length. They’re found in all provinces of Canada with the exception of Newfoundland, and in the contiguous United States with the exception of Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Amazing in flight,…
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Migration Begins
A juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) on his way to Central America or maybe all the way to southern Mexico. If he is a bit less ambitious though he may only go south as far as the U.S. Gulf Coast. This summer the Hummingbirds have pleased me with their abundance, emptying 1/2 gallon of…
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Earlier And Earlier Sunsets
Two months ago, July 10th, the sun set here at 8:38 p.m., and this evening it set at 7:30 p.m. Summer is now marching into autumn. As the days become shorter, trees sense that change. Their chlorophyll production slows, their leaves lose the green they started out with in the spring and other colors emerge.…
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Betelgeuse
Betelgeuse. GrandKitty. Pumpkin Inspector. _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Smile!
Kodak Six-20 Brownie Junior. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum). Smile! The camera is waiting to catch that beam. Smile! Autumn is watching! Warm tones of butterscotch. Cooler nights – maybe we can hope for them? Let’s keep our fingers crossed. _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Patiently Waiting
Yes, I’m patiently waiting. Looking forward to seeing my first Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of this year. This image is from September 10, 2014. Maybe one, or several, will be along any day now. This Monarch is on an Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana). They haven’t started blooming yet. I’ve been trying to keep them watered so…
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Brown-hooded Owlet Caterpillar
The Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar (Cucullia convexipennis). As a person who turns to all things art and color, this caterpillar truly speaks to me. It makes me think of the quilts that I have created over the years, to the pastel paintings that I’ve done, and more just waiting to happen. A small critter, this caterpillar…
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Goldenrod Doesn’t Cause Hay Fever
Goldenrod (Solidago). There are more than 100 species of Goldenrod native here and there, throughout North America. A beautiful plant that I enjoy seeing along trails here in the mountains and in my gardens. A misconception, Goldenrod does not cause hay fever. Goldenrod blooms have large, heavy and sticky pollen grains. Certainly not pollen grains…
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Tiny Skippers
Yesterday afternoon several Sachem Skippers (Atalopedes campestris) were found on patches of Mist Flower (Conoclinium coelestinum) flitting from flower to flower. They’re plentiful here in Virginia from July through September. Their host plants are many grasses, including Crab Grass, and Bermuda Grass. Adults feed on the nectar of a vast assortment of flowers. The wingspan…