-
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…
-
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…
-
Hoary Edge Skipper
Hoary Edge Skipper (Achalarus lyacides) Native to the eastern United States. Adults active April through September. Caterpillars eat leaves of plants in the Legume family. As adults, they eat the nectar of various flowering plants, including Common Milkweed, New Jersey Tea and Buttonbush. A small Skipper with a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.75 inch. They’re…
-
Pushing The Season
Each of these photographs, that I’ve posted here, represent the current changing of seasons. Going from summer to autumn. It is September 1st, after all, the first day of meteorological autumn. I love the change of season. No matter what season it currently is, I’m ready, and looking forward to the change. Which perhaps explains…
-
Compound Leaves
From Oxford Lanuages, the definition of a compound leaf: a leaf of a plant consisting of several or many distinct parts (leaflets) joined to a single stem. The Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) has compound leaves, up to 24 inches long, often ending with two leaflets rather than the single leaflet that one might expect. There…
-
Tickseed Sunflower
Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens frondosa). An annual herbaceous plant in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. Tickseed Sunflower is native to North America, and widespread across the continent. Looking at the flower of Tickseed Sunflower, it seems to me there is something missing – the ray flowers. But in some circumstances there are a few, very short ray…
-
Another Flower Fly
This Flower Fly is an Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus). A very small critter of about 1/4 inch long. Found hovering around flowers from which they feed on nectar and pollen in the eastern and central United States and Canada. The larvae dine on various aphids and mites. They also enjoy landing on sweaty arms. For them a…
-
Relax, They Don’t Sting
As is often the case, this critter has many common names. One of the common names repeats what some people would automatically think — Yellowjacket! That common name, Yellowjacket Hover Fly. The common name that I prefer to use is Virginia Flower Fly (Milesia virginiensis). A more friendly name, which these insects certainly are. They…
-
Wingstem
A lovely expanse of Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia), a member of the Asteraceae or Aster family. Wingstem can easily grow to 8 feet tall. A plant that is native to eastern and central North America. The bloom is a composite flower, each looks like a single flower but consists of a bunch of small individual flowers…