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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…
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Viceroy
I’ve seen one two times, that I know of, and I’ve gotten photographs both times. A Viceroy (Limenitis archippus). The first one was spotted and photographed at my cousin’s house in Ottsville, Pennsylvania. The second photograph was taken at the bottom of my mountain, where I stopped at the stop sign and this Viceroy came…
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First Of The Summer
A male Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) caught my eye today. How could I miss this sight, complete with knock your socks off crimson. A red that would make a male Cardinal look dull. That bill, large, thick, blunt-tipped is helpful in eating fruit and nuts. The first male Scarlet Tanager sighting of the summer. Looking forward…
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White Avens
White Avens (Geum canadense). An semi-evergreen plant that is native to the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and most of eastern Canada. The perennial plants, which grow to 1 to 2.5 feet tall, have white flowers that are about .5 inch across, blooming from May through October. The flowers have 5 snow white, nearly round…
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Eight-spotted Forester
Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Alypia octomaculata). They’re found in Maine and southern Quebec to Florida; west to South Dakota and Texas. Unlike most moths, they are diurnal rather than nocturnal. Flying during the day with a wing-span of 1.5 inches. Flying, in search of the nectar of flowers, making their fluttery appearance in May and throughout the…
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Gnat Ogres
These creatures are the size of an average Mosquito. Think of measuring them in millimeters. Incredibly tiny, but look at those eyes! I don’t find much information about these insects in my many books, or on the Internet, but I see that they are in the Robber Fly family. And in the genus, Holcocephala. Here…
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Mysteries
Every now and then I get a request from a friend to help solve a mystery. The mystery is, “What is this plant?” or perhaps, “What is this insect?” I thoroughly enjoy the mystery and sometimes I actually come up with the correct answer, but not always. Sometimes the question comes with several great photographs…
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Whorled Rosinweed
Whorled Rosinweed (Silphium trifoliatum) are in bloom right now, and through the fall, along trails up here in the mountains of the Blue Ridge. An herbaceous perennial native to eastern North America. Whorled Rosinweed grows to 3-5′, or on occasion up to 10′ tall. It’s unbranched, except where the flowers appear. Occasionally there are side…
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Those Wheels are Turning
As the squirrel is looking over at the bird feeders in frustration, those wheels are turning. There is a squirrel baffle that works extremely well protecting those feeders from the marauders. It is one of those black metal, bent into a blunt cone-shape. It works really well. But it certainly gives the squirrels’ brains a…