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Beefsteak Plant
Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens) Native to eastern Asia. Here in North America it is a exotic invasive. On the road coming up my mountain it is a common sight. Like other members of the Lamiaceae or mint family it has a square stem. The plants that grow in full sun have leaves that are dark…
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Slugs
Something I never thought about writing about before. I encountered many of these critters this morning, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. They’re Leopard Slugs (Limax maximus). Its scientific name means, “biggest slug.” Though actually only the second largest in the genus Limax. The one in the image above stretched out to six or…
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Bloom Where You’re Planted
A glimpse of a very determined plant this morning, outside the Stanardsville, Va., Post Office brought back memories from long long ago. Back then my husband and I would go to our absolute favorite restaurant at least once a week, and often twice a week. The restaurant, run by Kip Laramie, The Sante Fe Cafe,…
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Big Meal For Little Spider
This afternoon I discovered a little White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) enjoying a late lunch consisting of very large meal, a Tachinid Fly (Tachinidae). The White-banded Crab Spider uses its two front pairs of legs to capture its prey and then bite it, injecting venom to disable its meal. Its strong legs and use of…
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What Color?
Viscid Violet Cortinarius (Cortinarius indes). Purple. Or as the common name suggests, Violet. Rich enough around the edge that I don’t think I could call it lavender. No matter the label, I can feel safe in calling it beautiful. Who would have thought a mushroom could be such a lovely color. Part of the world…
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Saprobic
Here is another saprobic mushroom, or mushroom that creates its energy by decomposing nonliving organic matter. That nonliving organic matter is also known as detritus. This is a fungus known as Hairy Rubber Cup (Galiella rufa). Hairy Rubber Cup is found throughout eastern North America. But you’ve got to look carefully. It blends quite easily…
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Golden Spindles
So much to see out there as you wander through the woods. One must simply pay attention to what you are stepping over, walking through, hiking past, to see more of the world of nature. Did you know there are mushrooms in every color of the rainbow? Here I present YELLOW. One of many, many…
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Black, White, And Orange
The reason I grow Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), it is the Zebra Swallowtail’s (Eurytides marcellus) host plant. And it is one of the many butterflies that I adore seeing. Here, one is enjoying the nectar of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).
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White Blue-eyed Grass
What a surprise to find that Blue-eyed Grass is not necessarily blue. This is a species in the genus of Blue-eyed Grasses, Sisyrinchium. White Blue-eyed Grass. In the family, Iridaceae, or Irises. The plant is a grass-like forb with leaves that are reminiscent of miniature Iris leaves/blades. Native to the southeastern United States.
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Late Thoroughwort
Late Thoroughwort (Eupatorium serotinum). A poisonous perennial herbaceous plant that is native to eastern North America. Many insects such as bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, moths and beetles are attracted to these flowers mostly for the nectar. Late Thoroughwort is one of the last wildflowers to bloom in the autumn, and before we know it, autumn…