September 13, 2026
A beautiful afternoon and an opportunity to capture a Tiger Swallowtail (Eastern)(Papilio glaucus) sipping nectar from a large patch of Goldenrod (Solidago) in pixels.
They’ve been busy at the Goldenrod this late in the season. Late summer flowers come to the rescue.
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September 12, 2026
Sweet Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium). Wow, that’s quite the scientific name. The plant grows to between 1 and 3 feet tall, and is known for its aroma, often said to be like maple syrup. But then it is also described as being like vanilla or butterscotch. And other folks think it has hints of balsam, pepper or an herbal tobacco scent.
This pleasant scent lasts a long time, with the dried flowers holding onto their fragrance through the winter. The aroma is strongest at the beginning of autumn after the flower has gone to seed.
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September 11, 2026
The Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) is a bird that I seldom see, but I’m thrilled that I was able to get a picture of this handsome little bird. They measure in at 4.3 to 5.1 inches in length with a wingspan of 7.5 to 7.9 inches. The reason I seldom see them may be explained by the fact that they tend to be at higher elevations of 2,600 to 5,250 feet in the Appalachians. I am only at 1,800 feet.
They eat spiders, flies and caterpillars, often finding them on the underside of vegetation. The search for them, for the most part is in low shrubs and the lower tree canopy.
The breeding season is spent mostly in the eastern United States and the winter in the Caribbean.
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September 10, 2026
A goofy looking creature, a true bug, making an appearance as if it’s all set for a Halloween party. An Orange Assassin Bug (Pselliopus barberi), found across the eastern and central United States.
They eat creatures in our gardens, helping us as they do. Consuming aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, armyworms, and beetles. They themselves don’t eat any plant material.
These bugs are not going to seek you out, but don’t pick them up. They are all set to defend themselves, by biting if you do. Its bite can be quite painful due to injection of digestive enzymes used to control their prey. This causes a sharp, burning sensation in humans. So treat them with respect. Don’t pick them up.
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September 9, 2026
Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens) blooming from late August into October with flowers that are just barely 1.25 inches across. With light blue to lavender ray flowers (florets) and yellow disk flowers (florets). The disk florets gradually turn to a dark cinnamon color as they age.
These Asters can be found from southern Maine, down through the south and west to the eastern part of Texas. They’re blooming right now along trails up here in the mountains.
September 8, 2026
A Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) striking a pose for my camera.
The Red Admiral’s choice is of tree sap, rotting fruit and bird droppings for their content of key salts, amino acids and minerals. When these are not available the butterfly will seek out the nectar of flowers. This one is eating the nectar of Goldenrod (Solidago).
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September 7, 2026
When I see these beautiful little sunflowers, they make me think they’re dancing along the trails where they live. Joyful flowers, Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus).
A Perplexing Bumblebee (Bombus perplexus) taking in some of the autumnal nectar of a Woodland Sunflower.
They’re native to southeastern Canada, and the north-central and eastern United States. Growing to 7 feet tall, its flowers are 2 to 4 inches across. Their underground system is roots and rhizomes, enabling them to create colonies. Bees, butterflies and other insects are attracted to their flowers, particularly as autumn marches on. Birds and small mammals enjoy the seeds.
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September 6, 2026
Like many butterflies, the closer one looks the more details are revealed. This is the same species of butterfly that I posted yesterday, an American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), in a dorsal, or wings open, or upper side view.
This a ventral, or wings up, or under side view. Quite a change from the dorsal view. This view provides eye spots to startle predators.
And here again the dorsal view, with sunlight shining through. Sunlight can change the look of everything when looking at a butterfly.
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September 5, 2026
Two American Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa virginiensis) enjoying the nectar of Goldenrod (Solidago), which provides them with a rich source of high-energy food. Goldenrod blooms in late summer and into autumn when the vast selection of spring and summer flowers are gone.
These butterflies migrate, spending the winter in the southern United States, Mexico and Central America before returning north in the spring.
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September 4, 2026
Last year about this time I wrote about Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), and not seeing many at all. Same this year, though I did see a Monarch caterpillar on some of the Common Milkweed just a few days ago. That one delightful find, and I’ve seen just a few other adults.
The Monarch in this picture is getting nectar from Purple Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) which is considered a non-native, naturalized, invasive plant here in Virginia.
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