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Beautiful Magenta
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), native to the eastern United States. Just beginning to bloom in my woods now. Sometimes growing to 5 feet or a bit more. Those blooms, a gorgeous magenta. Pollinators are various species of butterflies and bees. This pollinator is a Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon). What a lovely color combination, the…
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Bees And Butterflies On Thyme
A lovely patch of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) that has been blooming for three or four weeks now. Bees and butterflies have been enjoying the flowers. The patch is quite abuzz. Quite the small butterfly, an Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas), enjoying the nectar of the flowers. Another butterfly, a bit larger than the Eastern Tailed…
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A Couple Fritillaries
A Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) enjoying the nectar of a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). And another Fritillary, a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) on another Purple Coneflower. The common name, Fritillary, comes from the Latin, fritillus: chessboard or dice box. ________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up…
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And Another Summer Visitor
This, a female Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) taking care of her feathers. Hooded Warblers are summer residents here. Not a lot of them but enough to see and enjoy from time to time. These Warblers eat insects and other arthropods, so they have no interest in my feeders. That’s okay, I get to see them…
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Downy Leather-wing
If you find any of these in your garden, you are in luck. You’ve got help controlling pests. This is a Downy Leather-wing (Podabrus pruinosus), a species of Soldier Beetle in the family Cantharidae. Specifically how are they going to help you in the garden? They eat Aphids and Spider Mites. Good ones to have around. ________________________ If…
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A Moment Of Romance
I had read of such romantic events. Some call it courtship feeding. I was fortunate to witness this just a few days ago for the first time. Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). The male is on the left, the female on the right. During courtship the male, in expressing affection, feeds the female. The male is…
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Back Again Today
Yesterday I was surprised and pleased to see a male Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) and I shared a couple pictures that I took, with you in last night’s post. Now today, again, a male Restart showed up to amaze me several times this afternoon. Here, just two of the images I was able to get. What…
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Early Evening Visitor
A total surprise early this evening as I was washing dishes. A male American Restart (Setophaga ruticilla) taking care of his feathers at the birdbath. Redstarts are not the most frequent birds I see. They seek out insects from the forest floor to the tree tops and for the most part only come by for…
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Black-eyed Susan
A confusing common name with so many species of flowers using that same one, including Maryland’s state flower. This particular one is Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) which I am working on committing “Rudbeckia fulgida” to memory to avoid confusing myself. One of the other Black-eyed Susans, (Rudbeckia hirta). Soon soon soon there will be Maryland’s…
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Baorangia Bicolor
Baorangia Bicolor (Boletus bicolor). One very cool mushroom, in a world filled with astounding mushrooms. This one red and yellow. Color is something that I adore and this fungus doesn’t disappoint. The pores bruise with a dark indigo blue stain and the stem also changes color in a matter of a few minutes with little…