Welcome

To all those interested in the natural world. Please add your sightings.

In the woods we return to reason and faith-Emerson

Best-Lynn

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

3-12 Beaked Hazel, Hepatica, Black Vulture

3-12 The tiny crimson flowers of Beaked Hazel are opening.
An occasional Hepatica is in flower.
And a Black Vulture has joined the more common turkey vultures in the West River valley. John

Sunday, March 10, 2024

3-10 Winter Cutworms

3-10 This morning the fresh snow was littered with the larvae of Large Yellow Underwing moths (Noctua pronuba). This European moth was accidentally introduced into eastern Canada in the late 1970's and has rapidly spread south and west. Its larvae are commonly referred to as "winter cutworms."

Friday, March 8, 2024

3-8 Dandelions, Red Dead Nettle, Chickweed, Myrtle

3-8 Today Dandelions were in flower at two locations.
Red Dead Nettle was just starting its flowering.
Waste places and agricultural fields were dotted with Chickweed.
And Myrtle was putting on a show on at least one sunny bank. John

Sunday, March 3, 2024

3-3 winter fireflies, turkey vultures, crocuses

3-3 Today Turkey Vultures were circling over Black Mountain. Last year I first saw one on the 3rd. The year before that Feb. 28th. Winter Firelies were feeding on oozing Hickory sap. This is a fireless firefly species! And, in a neighbor's yard, crocuses were flowering. John

Monday, February 26, 2024

2-26 Mouse-ear Cress, Spring Whitlow Grass, Colt's Foot

2-26-2024 Both Mouse-ear Cress and Spring Whitlow Grass are winter annuals. They start growing in late summer or fall, overwinter, and then flower. Late season cold or snows will have no negative impacts.
And Colt's Foot, although alien and invasive, is a welcome hint of what's to come. It flowers are only open in full sunlight. All three were inflower today! John

Saturday, August 26, 2023

8-26 Sweet Everlasting, Sand Jointweed

8-26 Sweet Everlasting favors dry fields.
Dry acid sands are the preferred habitat of Sand Jointweed, which is just starting its flowering. John

Friday, August 25, 2023

8-25 Purslane

8-25 Purslane, AKA Pusley, is a weed of gardens and waste places. Its tiny yellow flowers open for only a few hours in the morning sun. John

Thursday, August 24, 2023

8-24 Black Nightshade, Nodding Ladies Tresses

8-24 Woods and waste places are home to Black Nightshade. Its fruits will be a black berry.
Nodding Ladies Tresses - a late summer and fall bloomer - is common in moist meadows, swamps and woods. John

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

8-23 Fall Dandelion, Pennyroyal

8-23 Clumps of Fall Dandelions dot fields and lawns. This is one of four species of dandelion in our area.
And the very small blue flowers of American Pennyroyal might escape our notice but the scent of oil of pennyroyal is unmistakable. Look for it in fields and dry woods. John

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

8-22 /common Arrowhead, Bottle Gentian

8-22 Common Arrowhead grows in shallow water and marshy soil.
Closed, AKA Bottle, Gentians favor moist woods and meadows. Although the flowers of the gentian never open bumble bees enter and pollinate them. John