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

Friday, July 31, 2015

7-31

7-31
Along the West River both Marsh Speedwell and American Germander, AKA Wood Sage, are in flower
John
Marsh Speedwell

American Germander

close up of Germander

Thursday, July 30, 2015

7-30

7-30
The multiple dull yellow flowers of Pinesaps - a common woodland parasite - are pushing up through the ground litter.
Tiny pinkish flowers spangle Hairy Pinweed, one of eight Pinweeds listed in my field guide.
And an Assassin bug - well camouflaged atop a Goldenrod - waits for an unwary insect to get too close.
John
Pinesaps

Hairy Pinweed

Assassin bug

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

7-29

7-29
The strange little saprophyte, Spotted Coralroot, has opened its purple spotted white flowers.
ANd Golden Hyssop, AKA Golden Pert, graces shores and stream banks.
John
Spotted Coralroot

Golden Hyssop

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

7-28

7-28
Another Aster, probably the one called Purple-stemmed Aster, joined its numerous relatives today.
Wild Cucumber opened its pale six pointed stars.
The fragrant maroon flowers of Ground Nut draped riverside thickets.
And two pink Primrose moths tried to crowd into one Primrose blossom.
John
Purple-stemmed Aster

Wild Cucumber

Ground Nut

Primrose moths in a Primrose

Monday, July 27, 2015

7-27

7-27
The dull purple flowers of Water-shield, a Water Lily relative, fleck the surface of ponds.
Inflated Bladderwort floats on modified leaves and dangles carnivorous bladders below the surface.
And the cockeyed yellow-green flowers of Green Wood Orchis dot wet woods.
John
Water-shield

inflated Bladderwort

Bladderwort flower

Green Wood Orchis

Sunday, July 26, 2015

7-26

7-26
Flat-topped Asters, Marsh Skullcap and Blue Curls are all in flower today.
Also during my rambles this week I have seen 3 Monarch butterflies. No pictures possible.
John
Flat-topped Asters

Marsh Skullcap

Blue Curl

Saturday, July 25, 2015

7-25

7-25
The pink flowers of Common Burdock are open. The hook-tipped burs stand ready as they dry to hitch a ride on clothing - or dog hair.
And the bold cream and brown wing patterning of a Double-toothed Prominent moth makes identification relatively easy.
John
Common Burdock

Double-toothed Prominent

Friday, July 24, 2015

7-24

7-24
Resembling a thorn should give a Two-marked Treehopper an edge over hungry predators … although evolution obviously didn't foresee window screens. Scientists disagree over whether these treehoppers are a single species or a complex of up to 9 different species.
And a Greater Grapevine Looper moth strikes an odd pose with its abdomen in the extremely contorted position it assumes when at rest.
John
Greater Grapevine Looper moth

Two-marked Treehopper moth

Thursday, July 23, 2015

7-23

7-23
Today Water Pennywort and Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain are in flower.
And, last night, a boldly and beautifully marked Clymene moth came to my lights and stayed for a picture.
John
Water Pennywort

leaf of Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain

Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain

Clymene moth

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

7-22

7-22
White Turtlehead is in flower. Turtlehead is a plant of wet places.
And a Shagreened Slug Moth (Apoda biguttata) decided that my finger was a good place to perch. The caterpillars of slug moths have suckers instead of Protolegs and glide in a slug-like fashion. There are about 30 slug moths that can be found in our area.
John
Turtlehead

Shagreened Slug Moth

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

7-21

7-21
Today both Doorweed and Arrow-leaved Tearthumb decided to flower.
ANd Sumac Leaf Beetles dotted a patch of Sumac along Route 30.
John
Doorweed

Doorweed close up

Arrow-leaved Tearthumb

Sumac Leaf Beetle

Monday, July 20, 2015

7-20

7-20
Sedum, AKA Live-forever, is in flower.
A single, insect damaged Sunflower topped a thicket.
A Woody Underwing moth displayed its rear wing flash points - after I pestered it.
And a Crab Spider fed on a Primrose Moth while dangling from the primrose where it had waited in ambush.
John
Sedum

Common Sunflower

Woody Underwing moth

Woody Underwing moth flash points

Crab spider and Primrose moth on Primrose

Sunday, July 19, 2015

7-19

7-19
Among the species in flower today are Canadian Burnet, Joe Pye Weed and Marsh Bellflower.
John
Canadian Burnet

Joe Pye Weed

Marsh Bellflower

Saturday, July 18, 2015

7-18

7-18
Aster season is upon us. These - perhaps Schreber's Asters? - were flecking a roadside this afternoon.
John
asters

Friday, July 17, 2015

7-17

7-17
Tansy, once a garden favorite, is now a roadside weed.
Bull Thistle towers over unmaintained fields and waste places.
And Ditch Stonedrop lifts its unpretentious yellow-green flowers over wet swales and ditches.
John
Tansy

Bull Thistle

Ditch Stonecrop

Thursday, July 16, 2015

7-16

7-16
Among the species flowering today are Hemp Nettle, Spotted Knapweed and the alien orchid Helleborine.
John
Hemp Nettle

Spotted Knapweed

Helleborine

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

7-15

7-15
At six feet tall, Great St. John's-wort towered over a roadside thicket today.
Horseweed's tiny flowers flecked waste places.
And in wet mowings the deeply cut yellow-green flowers of Ragged Fringed Orchids lurked among the grasses.
John
Great St. John's-wort

Horseweed

Ragged Fringed Orchid