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Another Brown Thrasher
Last night I posted about Brown Thrashers and mentioned how much they remind me of Road Runners. Here’s one in a, “I’m NOT a Road Runner” pose. No doubt about it, definitely NOT a Road Runner!
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Multiflora Rose
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) native to east Asia. These roses bloom right along with Blackberry bushes up here in the mountains. Often people will see the roses and mistake them for blackberry blooms. They do look a bit similar but there is a very easy way to tell the difference between the two. By their…
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Itchy
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is in bloom right now. The plants are dioecious, meaning that each plant is either male or female. All the plants get flowers, male or female flowers. Blooms that looks quite similar, a greenish-yellow color with a width of less than 1/2 inch. Male flowers have prominent stamens covered in brilliant yellow pollen.…
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Starry Campion
Starry Campion (Silene stellata) is a native plant found in the eastern and central United States. It is here on my mountain, greeting me as I roam the trails. Pollinators are mostly moths and an occasional bumblebee that slurp the nectar. A herbaceous perennial plant, loosely branching, 12 to 30 inches tall. The flower has…
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Oh So Good For You
Within a week or so my blueberries are going to be turning to their bloom covered midnight blue, signaling the start of a wonderful time of year – blueberry season. There are maybe a dozen mature blueberry bushes in front of my cabin, in front of the wood shop, and in front of the vegetable…
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Spots In The Woods
Spotted in the woods, a spotted butterfly. A Great Spangled Fritilary (Speyeria cybele). One of the top contenders for most often seen butterfly in my gardens during the summer. Many species of native violets serve as a larval host plant for the Great Spangled Fritillary. Enjoy those beautiful violets and enjoy the thought that you’re helping…
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Puddling
An aggregation of butterflies at a mud puddle. Sometimes moths do this too. This is called puddling. It’s mainly the male of the species that you’ll find puddling. This moist soil or sand provides salts and minerals which the male of the species passes along to the female in their sperm. This improves the viability…
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Bright Day In The Garden
Bright sunshine, with warm temperatures, and brilliant colors in the garden. In posting this image, I have to explain. Though I am truly dedicated to planting natives in my garden, there are a small number of choices that are based entirely on sentimentality. As is this one. My Mom’s favorite flower, the Iris. Oh the…
