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

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Self-heal, Hedge Bindweed, Deptford Pink, Purple-flowering Raspberry

Self-heal is a member of the mint family. It has dense, tubular flower spikes.
Hedge Bindweed is a common perennial vine known for its climbing habit. The flowers open in the morning.
Deptford Pink has five rose-pink petals dotted with small white spots.
Purple-flowering Raspberry has no thorns or prickles and has showy purple flowers.

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Galinsoga, Bristly Sarsaparilla, Monkey-flower, Crown Vetch, Horsenettle, Motherwort, Evening Primrose

Galinsoga, also called quickweed or shaggy soldier, is considered a serious weed in gardens or disturbed areas.
Bristly Sarsaparilla is a perennial plant in forests and rocky woodlands.
Allegheny Monkey-flower thrives in wetland habitats.
Crown Vetch features 1-inch round clusters of 10 to 25 small pea shaped flowers.
Horsenettle belongs to the nightshade family. The stems and leaves are covered in sharp yellowish prickles.
Motherwort is a member of the mint family. It has square, ribbed stems and whorls of hairy flowers located in the leaf axils.
Narrowleaf Evening Primrose is also called Shrubby Sundrops. They only open during the day.

Friday, June 12, 2026

Sheep Laurel, Indian Hemp, St. John's-wort, Steeplebush, Rough Cinquefoil, Alfalfa

Sheep Laurel is native evergreen shrub that is toxic which explains its other name of Sheepkill or Lambkill.
Indian Hemp or Hemp dogbane features white to greenish-white, tubular-bell-shaped flowers.
St. John's-wort petals have black glands or spots along their margins. This plant was covered with St, John's Wort beetles.
Steeplebush or White Meadowsweet is deciduous shrub found in wet soils, ditches and meadows.
Rough Cinquefoil is a common weed in disturbed areas and moist soil. The five petals are often heart-shaped.
Alfalfa is a legume known for its forage value. It has purple flowers in clusters.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Monarch Butterfly, Milkweed Bugs, Carpenter's Square, Goatsbeard, Green-flowered Pyrola

Saw two Monarch Butterflies - the first of the year.
Milkweed Bugs have a black body with red or orange markings. They feed on milkweeds.
Carpenter's Square, also called Maryland Figwort, has a four-sided stem and small, sac-shaped flowers that are greenish-purple in color.
Beardtongue gets its name from the small, sterile stamen inside the flower that is covered in fine hairs.
Green-flowered Pyrola is a mixotroph, meaning it acquires carbon through both photosynthesis and by drawing nutrients from root fungi that are connected to nearby trees.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Shining Ladies Tresses, Butter-and-eggs, White Sweet Clover

Lanceleaf Coreopsis is found in sunny meadows. It has bright yellow, ray-like petals that are deeply notched.
Shining Ladies-tresses have small white flowers arranged in a spiral pattern.
Butter-and-eggs or Yellow Toadflax flowers are snapdragon-like with yellow petals and a bright orange throat.
White Sweet Clover is a member of the pea family. It has spikes of small, white flowers.

Monday, June 8, 2026

Arrowwood Viburnum, Poison Ivy, Low Baby's Breath, Moneywort

Arrowwood Viburnum has flat-topped clusters of white flowers. In late summer it produces blue-black berries.
Even the flowers of Poison Ivy contain urushiol which causes an allergic rash in most people.
Low Baby's Breath has small, delicate pink flowers. It grows in disturbed areas.
Moneywort, also called Creeping Jenny, forms dense mats. It thrives in moist, riparian areas. It has bright yellow five-petaled flowers.

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Tall Meadow Rue

Tall Meadow Rue poses against ferns. It is also called king of the meadow.

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Lesser Toadflax, Daisy Fleabane, Curly Dock

Lesser Toadlfax, also called Small Toadflax or Dwarf Snapdragon, is found in railroad ballast.
Daisy Fleabane, or Annual Fleabane, is known for its daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.
Curly Dock is identifiable by its densely packed whorls of small, yellowish-green flowers.

Friday, June 5, 2026

Whorled Loosestrife, Orange Hawkweed, Canada Frostweed, Mountain Laurel

Whorled Loosestrife is a native plant found in woodlands and clearings. Its leaves are arranged in whorls around the stem.
Orange Hawkweed has distinctly bright orange petals surrounding a yellow center.
Canada Frostweed only opens in bright sunshine for a few hours.
Mountain Laurel is beginning to open its flowers.

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Maple-leaved Viburnum, Maiden Pink, Wood Sorrel, Wild Geranium, Greater Stitchwort

Maple-leaved Viburnum is a deciduous shrub. The small, striped beetle is a flower longhorn beetle.
Maiden Pink is a mat forming perennial. Its 5 petals are pink and have a dark band near the base.
Wood Sorrel has clover-like, heart-shaped leaves that fold up at night.
Wild Geranium has ten stamens with yellow tips that darken over time.
Greater Stitchwort has star-shaped, white flowers that have 5 deeply notched petals making them appear to have ten.