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Canadian Owlet Moth Caterpillar
Quite the impressive caterpillar. Caterpillar of the Canadian Owlet Moth (Calyptra canadensis). Native to most of Canada and the United States. Adults have a wingspan of a bit less than 1.5 inches and are pale brown, looking much like a dried up leaf, a perfect camouflage. The caterpillars of Canadian Owlet Moths feed exclusively on…
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A Gorgeous Beetle
Shiny black, like patent leather shoes, with an impressive purple edging. A Ground Beetle with no common name, but a scientific name of Carabus serratus. Ground Beetles are a large family of beetles, Carabidae, with around 2,000 species in North America. Ground Beetles eat slugs, snails, worms, and insects in all stages of growth. All…
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Selfheal
Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris). A member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). Pollinators such as Bees, small Butterflies and Skippers seek the nectar of Selfheal. And Halictid Bees collect Selfheal’s pollen. In the image above, a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) is gathering nectar. _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign…
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Tall Bellflower
Tall Bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum), in the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae). In bloom right now, in many spots up here in the woods. The common name of Tall Bellflower is certainly appropriate since these plants grow to be from 2, all the way to 6 feet tall. Usually each plant is a single stem, although on occasion,…
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Canada Violet
I’ve recently come upon these beautiful snow white Canada Violet (Viola canadensis) on the trail going up Hightop, and also at the yoga studio where I can often be found. As you see here, they often bloom one at a time. Petals of this species are longer and more narrow than other violets. Each of…
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Berry Plume Moth
Quite the surprise to find these moths on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). These are Berry Plume Moths (Geina tenuidactyla), a member of the family Pterophoridae. Moths that look to me as if they are from the Mesozoic Era, and coexisted with dinosaurs. But they’re here today along with Monarchs and Tiger Swallowtails. Tiny winged creatures.…
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Pollinators’ Delight
Heading out to yoga this morning, I had to stop to take some pictures. Pollinators on the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) having a grand time, were calling to me. In the photo, I captured more than I expected. The Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was what caught my attention, and there to its right a Bumble…
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Dancing Garlic
It’s a first for the vegetable garden. Garlic (Allium sativum). Planted several months ago. It’s been a learning experience to see it coming up, green leaves reaching for the sky. And now flower buds atop their stems, bending in unison, Rockettes style. Who would have thought that garlic dances in the garden?! _______________________________________________________________________ If you…
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Striped Wintergreen
In bloom right now, in my woods. Such a treat to see. Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata). Small, evergreen plants that grow from rhizomes. With the blooms, the Striped Wintergreen is 6 to 10 inches tall. The plant without its flowers is 3 to 5 inches tall. Those beautiful evergreen leaves are thick, waxy-looking, a blue-green…
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Yucca Filamentosa
Yucca filamentosa. They’re in bloom right now. Today was mostly a gray day. I wanted to get some photos, so I waited until the sun was out a bit, to add that extra bit of color to the air. My camera and I stepped out when things looked just right. Having these plants on my…