September 22, 2026
Scarlet red in the rain this afternoon. Flowering Dogwood berries (Cornus florida), looking like they are all set for astronomical autumn to begin this evening at 8:04. Red berries, along with some of the trees leaves turning a deep rich crimson.
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September 23, 2026
A really, really chilly day today. And rain. And fog. But there was a fire in the wood stove, which made everything just perfect.
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September 21, 2026
A surprise this morning. A Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis), clinging to a window screen, in the fog. Part of the surprise is its size, which is from the top of its head to the end of its tail, a bit over 4 inches, they can grow to the length of 5 inches. There is also the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) which grows to a length of 4 inches in length. Both seem mighty big to me.
And a native Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis Carolina) which is found from New Jersey to Florida, west to the Rocky Mountains. They have also been found further north in states such as New York and Connecticut. Also found in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. I see them occasionally here. They are easy to tell from the larger non-native mantises since they only grow to a length of 2 to 2.5 inches.
Though they are looked upon as gardening heroes, all 3 of these mantises will eat not only unwanted insects but also beneficial insects and amphibians.
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September 20, 2026
Today, many Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) gathering at the Goldenrod (Solidago) on the back hill, two, three, even eight at a time. Getting the nectar they need to go south on their long journey to their winter home. Today’s event went on for hours after they were first discovered, until the sun was setting.
Twice before I’ve witnessed Monarch migration, many years ago when the cabin was relatively new. Two years in a row, flying for the most part above the cabin on their way south, a few at a time, a constant stream, all day long.
I managed to get many photos today, but right now I’m unable to get to them, so this image of a Monarch on Wild Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum) will represent the event for now.
What a remarkable thing to witness.
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September 19, 2026
A Hackberry Emperor Butterfly (Asterocampa celtis), with a wingspan of between 1.25 to 2.875 inches
As adults they seldom seek flowers for nectar, but are drawn to sap flows, rotting fruit, animal droppings and mud puddles which provide them with needed salts and minerals. One might also land on your arm seeking sweat.
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September 18, 2026
Again I’m seeing a juvenile Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). An unusual event for me, though I did see one last year in late June.
This one is just beginning to show signs of its beak changing from black to orange. It is at about 65 to 80 days of age that their beak begins that transition to orange and by 6 months of age the transition is complete.
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September 17, 2026
Another creature that looks like it’s all set for Halloween. The Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva aurea).
The host plant of this moth, almost exclusively, is the invasive, Tree of Heaven (Ailantus altissima). So it is doing no harm. As an adult it seeks the nectar from a variety of flowers. This moth is diurnal, or active during the day. The long thin look happens when the moth wraps its wings tightly around its body. Its length is about 0.4 to 0.6 inches, and it has a wingspan of around 0.5 to 1.25 inches.
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September 16, 2026
The Yoga Studio has a beautiful patch of Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) beside its front door. Without fail, during the summer, they greet me as I walk through the parking lot and up the steps. While these bright yellow flowers are blooming, each summer, as long as I can remember there have been Silvery Checkerspots (Chlosyne nycteis) enjoying their nectar.
This summer though, I didn’t see any. Not a single one. I’m looking forward to a year passing by, to see if they will show up next year.
Surely they will!
September 15, 2026
Two different species of Black-eyed Susans. This one is Rudbeckia fulgida which starts blooming in my gardens in early summer. Now they are trying very hard to hang on, but I think they are losing the battle.
And this is another Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) which starts blooming in late summer, and have just now reached their peak, taking over for the others that are fading away. Rudbeckia hirta is the Maryland state flower, and well worth waiting for.
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September 14, 2026
An American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), demonstrating why it is important to leave your gardens as they are now. Seedheads can wait until spring to be cleaned up, and in doing so you are providing many birds with food during the winter.
And all that leaf litter around your yard? It helps many beneficial insects overwinter, as adults, eggs, caterpillars, or pupae. They seek shelter in the leaf litter, which provides insulation and protection. Let those leaves offer protection for these critters.
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