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Two Very Special States
Two very special states. Two very special state flowers. In the foreground, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) blooming for the second time which pleases me greatly. Planted them last year and now they’re back again. Maryland state flower since 1918. In the background, Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) has been blooming every year for many many years in…
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Dogwood Sawfly
This, the larva of a Dogwood Sawfly (Macremphytus tarsatus). I had never seen any of these creatures until we planted Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) along our lane. Most every summer the larvae appears, it seems, out of nowhere, and they begin nibbling away at the leaves. No huge worry though. Their numbers aren’t enough to do…
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One Of The First
Black Walnut leaves creating a beautiful pattern against the late summer sky. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), one of the first trees to lose its leaves in late summer. Turning yellow and dropping to the ground as rain knocks them from their branches. Also one of the last of the trees to allow their leaves to…
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A Deciduous Holly
A picnic lunch in Shenandoah National Park and taking in all the beauty. A pleasant surprise, this tree, 15 feet or more tall, covered with these scarlet berries or drupes. This is a Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). A deciduous species of Holly (Ilex) that most often is seen as a shrub but this one is a…
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Plumes To Berries
In May Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) blooms. A cluster of snow white, or off white, star shaped, feathery flowers, on the end of each stem. Now as summer is thinking of closing down, those flowers have become berries. Berries, bright red with stripes or speckles of purple or brown. A few seeds in each berry.…
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Mushroom COLOR!
Viscid Violet Cortinarius (Cordtinarius iodes), is a gorgeous mushroom, ranging from white to lavender to violet purple, fading in color with age. It’s a fungus that pairs up with roots of a plant in a symboitic relationship. In this case the Viscid Violet Cortinarius works along with the roots of Oak trees. This mushroom helps…
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A Brown Butterfly
A Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), yes brown, but a butterfly not a moth. The adult Hackberry Emperor feeds on sap, scat, decaying animals, old fruit, and the nectar of Hackberry flowers. ________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Undulation
Sometimes my paintings are not serious. Imagine 3 walls of a 2 car garage with this design. Yellow Undulating Stripe in Garage. ________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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An Eye-catching Spider
An intriguing spider that creates a zigzag design through the center of its circular web, the Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia). Not only intriguing but also impressive in size. The male is smaller, but the female can measure 3 inches in total length. They capture and consume bees and butterflies, but also aphids, flies, grasshoppers,…
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A Glimpse
A glimpse of things to come. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). Some of them. I notice their leaves changing color in late June/early July. Most people don’t pick up on it simply because they’re not expecting it. It’s very subtle. I’ve noticed it for several years now and watch for it. Minute changes from pure green…