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

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

8-23 black Swallowtail caterpillar

8-23
The caterpillar of a Black Swallowtail butterfly fed on Queen Anne's Lace this morning.
A Cuckoo with a caterpillar in its bill posed in a dense thicket while I took its picture. I suspect a black-billed cuckoo although juvenile yellow-billed and black-billed cuckoos can be confused … at least by me.
John
Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar

Cuckoo

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

8-22 Pearly Everlasting

8-22
Pearly Everlasting is at its best, reminding me a bit of a griddle full of tiny little fried eggs!
A pair of Red-humped Caterpillars met on the midrib of a willow leaf. They are the larvae of the less than creatively named Red-humped Caterpillar Moth.
John
Pearly Everlasting

Red-humped Caterpillars

Monday, August 21, 2017

8-21 Great Lobelia

8-21
Great Lobelia is in flower. Most specimens seen locally are probably garden escapes although it is native to this area.
John
Great Lobelia

Sunday, August 20, 2017

8-20 Beechdrops

8-20
WHite flowers with purple blotches are scattered along the stem of Beechdrops which are parasitic on the roots of Beech trees.
John
Beechdrops

Beechdrops

Saturday, August 19, 2017

8-19 Common Arrowhead

8-19
The brilliantly white three-petaled flowers of Common Arrowhead brighten mud banks and shallow waters.
Giant Chickweed favors damp edges and ditches.
John
Common Arrowhead

Giant Chickweed

Friday, August 18, 2017

8-18 Buckeye Caterpillar

8-18
The larvae of a Buckeye Butterfly feeds on Slender Gerardia, one of its primary host plants. Gerardia is hemi-parasitic.
John
Buckeye Caterpillar

Slender Gerardia

Thursday, August 17, 2017

8-17 Panicled Hawkweed

8-17
Both Panicled Hawkweed and Wild Marjoram are in flower.
John
Panicled Hawkweed

Wild Marjoram

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

8-16 Hairy Bush Clover

8-16
Hairy Bush Clover - a state listed rare species - is in flower.
A Woolly BEar Caterpillar worked its way up a stalk of dead grass. Woolly Bears are the larvae of Isabella Tiger Moth. There are two generations a year at this latitude.
John
Hairy Bush Clover

Woolly Bear Caterpillar

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

8-15 Smartweed Caterpillar

8-15
I found this Smartweed Caterpillar feeding on Purple Loosestrife. It's the larva of the Smeared Dagger moth. These caterpillars are said to be "highly variable in coloration, but nearly always some combination of black, yellow, red and white."
The always ratty looking flowers of Whorled Aster dot the woodlands.
John
Smartweed Caterpillar

Whorled Aster

Monday, August 14, 2017

8-14 Sand Jointweed

8-14
The strange little, almost leafless plant called Sand Jointweed is in flower.
A boldly colored orb weaving spider commonly called a garden spider  - more formally called a Black and Yellow Argiope - posed undisturbed as I took its picture.
John
Sand Jointweed

Black and Yellow Argiope

Sunday, August 13, 2017

8-13 Round-leaved Bush Clover

8-13
In dry weed patches Round-leaved Bush Clover is flowering.
Along the banks of the West River Virginia Mountain Mint has its day.
Groundnut drapes thickets and perfumes the air.
John
Round-leaved Bush Clover

Virginia Mountain Mint

Groundnut

Saturday, August 12, 2017

8-12 Spearmint

8-12
In wet ditches and along field edges Spearmint is in flower.
An infestation of Shining Flower Beetles (Phalacridae sp) dots Goldenrods.
An Ambush Bug - one of 22 related species - awaited prey on the same flowerheads.
John
Spearmint

Shining Flower beetles

Ambush Bug

Friday, August 11, 2017

8-11 White Snakeroot

8-11
White Snakeroot is frosting roadsides and thickets. It likes rich soil.
A Cranesbill - perhaps the introduced Siberian Cranesbill - is also flowering.
John
White Snakeroot

Cranesbill

Thursday, August 10, 2017

8-10 Common Dodder

8-10
Common Dodder, AKA Love Vine, is in flower. This plant is completely parasitic, wrapping itself around its host and absorbing its sap through tiny suckers.
Wild Mint flourishes in wet ditches.
John
Common Dodder

Wild Mint

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

8-9 Gray Tree Frog

8-9
A Gray Tree Frog chose Tall White Lettuce as a place to perch. This frog was less than one inch long!
John
Gray Tree Frog

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

8-8 Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

8-8
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain is in flower.
John
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

leaves

flowers

Monday, August 7, 2017

8-7 Pinesaps

8-7
Pinesaps - so named because they are saprophytic on white pines - are up and flowering. They are also found in oak woods.
Silverrod - the only Goldenrod which is not yellow - is having its day.
Three Birds apparently likes the cool damp weather we've been having. This little orchid is rare and individual plats do not appear above ground every year. This year they are prolific!
John
Pinesaps

Silverrod

Three Bird orchids

Three Bird Orchid

Sunday, August 6, 2017

8-6 White Turtlehead

8-6
White Turtlehead likes - appropriately enough - wet feet.
Spotted Coralroot, a saprophyte, flourishes in deep woods.
Along the West River, an Egret, probably a Great Egret, searched for a meal.
John
White Turtlehead

Spotted Coralroot

Egret

Saturday, August 5, 2017

8-5 Partridge Pea

8-5
Partridge Pea - although an aggressive invasive - flowers beautifully.
In riverside areas inundated for most of spring and early summer Creeping Spearwort blooms.
A nicely marked bug posed for a picture. I believe that it's the 5th instar of a Green Stinkbug which - as the name implies - is simply green.
John
Partridge Pea

Creeping Spearwort

5th Instar of Green Stinkbug

Friday, August 4, 2017

8-4 Crimson Clover

8-4
Crimson Clover, an introduced species I have never previously seen, is in flower. One lone roadside specimen with one very crimson blossom!
John
Crimson Clover

Thursday, August 3, 2017

8-3 Blue Curl

8-3
Blue Curls are starting to flower. Long curling stamens and a spotted lower 'lip' mark this little mint family member.
John
Blue Curl

Blue Curl

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

8-2 Green Woodland Orchids

8-2
Green Woodland Orchids are in flower.
Another orchid family member, Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain, is also in flower.
John
Green Woodland Orchid

Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain

leaves of the Checkered Rattlesnake Plantain

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

8-1 Shrubby St. Johnswort

8-1
Shrubby St. Johnswort is in flower. There are 12 St. Johnsworts listed in Newcomb's Wildflower guide but this is the only woody species. Orange Grass, one of the smallest St. Johnsworts, is also in flower.
John
Shrubby St. Johnswort

Orange Grass