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Northern Red Oak in Spring
Stirring after a long winter slumber. Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra).
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Blackhaw in Bloom
Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) in bloom in the woods now. Its nectar and pollen attracting both bees and flies. Caterpillars of the Spring/Summer Azure Butterfly feed on buds and flowers of Blackhaw while later instars of Baltimore Checkerspot will occasionally nibble on the leaves. Lovely to see this small tree/or shrub blooming in its native eastern…
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Dwarf Crested Iris
In bloom right now. Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) is a striking beauty in miniature form, growing to just 4 to 6 inches tall. It’s native to the eastern United States. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
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Watching The Blueberry Crop
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) Eastern Towhees are here in the mountains of central Virginia year round. Their diet is primarily insects, seeds and berries and during the summer they tend, of course, to eat more insects. True bugs, beetles, ants, caterpillars, moths, millipedes, spiders and snails are all on the menu. But there’s something special…
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Falcate Orangetip
This afternoon the butterfly gods, or maybe it was the butterfly fairies, were taking care of me. I was out refiling the bird feeders when I spotted a small white butterfly nectaring at a Confederate Violet (Viola sororia priceana). Normally this butterfly, a Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea), flutters by occasionally but rarely do I see…
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Spring Azure
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon). With a wingspan of just 1 inch, it’s a tiny white butterfly that flutters through the woods as an adult beginning in mid-March but in that stage only lives a few days. The larval host plant of the Spring Azure is Flowering Dogwood, Blueberry, Viburnum and there may be others. The…
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Bobcat
Certainly something that I would not have expected to find anywhere around my cabin. Something that doesn’t make itself known very often at all. But on rare occasions I get the thrill of my life, when a Bobcat (Lynx rufus) makes an appearance. These creatures are secretive in nature, solitary, territorial, and nocturnal, most often…
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Io Moth Caterpillar Stings!
Io Moth Caterpillar (Automeris io), a beautiful creature that feeds on an extensive collection of plants including corn, roses, sassafras, willow, linden, elm, oak, locust, redbud, apple, beech, ash, currant, and clover. Quite the wide variety. The young caterpillar is orange. As it grows it changes color, and as a mature caterpillar it is bright…
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Here for the Winter
Today is a delightful day. Not only snow falling several hours this morning that has continued into this afternoon which now coincides with what the weather folks are saying, “Snow this afternoon.” But also a diminutive bird that I only see in the winter, and for the most part only at the birdbath, has made…
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Look But Don’t Touch!
Many caterpillars aren’t to safe to pick up. If you don’t know what the species is that you’re admiring, proceed with caution. These are four caterpillars that can cause a very itchy rash if you pick them up. To be safe, look but don’t touch. This one is a Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae).…