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Hickory Trees
There are eighteen species of Hickory in the genus Carya (from Ancient Greek for “nut”). Those eighteen, in turn, are in the Walnut or Juglandaceae family. Twelve of these Hickory Trees are native to North America. Right now on my mountain they are literally shining bright. The photograph above has Red Maple leaves in the foreground and…
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Wheel Bug
The Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) is a true bug that uses its enlarged front legs to grab and hold its prey, then punctures it with a robust, curved beak which it uses to suck the body fluids from its victims. It is part of a group of bugs called assassin bugs (family eduviidae). Measuring in at…
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Solomon’s Plume
Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum), an herbaceous perennial in the lily family (Liliaceae). The berries are a brilliant crimson right now at the end of October, and easy to spot along trails in the mountains. Just as easy to spot, in the spring, are the flowers which bloom for about 3 weeks, late April into May.…
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Chicken of the Woods
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). A species of bracket fungus found in Europe, North America east of the Rocky Mountains, and parts of Asia. Primarily found on oak, but also cherry, beech, chestnut and sometimes on conifers. These trees found with Chicken of the Woods growing on them are often dead or dying but…
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Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula). They spend their summer in far northern North America and the western mountains. Winters are spent in the southern and southwestern United States and Mexico. Some mountain populations in the West relocate to lower elevations during the wintertime. And now they’re here on my mountain. I’ve seen one or two the…
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A Coral Mushroom
A Coral Mushroom. Perhaps a Smoky Worm Coral (Clavaria fumosa/rubicundula). Captured in pixels because as I hike through the woods I go slowly. Very slowly. The more slowly I proceed, the more I see. The more discoveries I make. Not discoveries that will shake the scientific world but discoveries that will bring great jubilation to…
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Little Wood Satyr
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela). Not brightly colored. Not large. But this is not a moth but it is a butterfly. Its wingspan is 1.5 to 1.875 inches. They often perch with wings wide open on the leaves of trees or in leaf litter. Larval host plants are sundry grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, Orchard…
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Scarecrow and Goldfinch
As they look upon their world, Scarecrow and Goldfinch in serious discussion. Ruminations of Ray Bolger.
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Silverrod Revisited
Silverrod is a perennial, herbacious plant. Its scientific name is Solidago bicolor. “Solidago” in that name means that this plant is in the genus of Goldenrod. There are approximately 150 species of Goldenrod, most of which are native to North America. A few of these are native to Asia and Europe. This one, Silverrod, was a total…
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Pumpkins
Not pumpkin spice. Some think there is just too much of that. This is just pumpkins. But much like pumpkin spice, pumpkins are ubiquitous right now. These marvelous round things are native to Central America and Mexico. The pumpkin was one of the first plants grown for human consumption some 7,500 years ago. Along with…