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
In the woods we return to reason and faith-Emerson
Best-Lynn
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Northern Bush Honeysuckle, Beauty Bush, Blue Toadflax
Northern Bush-honeysuckle is a small shrub featuring small, yellow, tubular flowers.
Beautybush, a garden escape, is identified by its bell-shaped flowers with orange throat markings.
Blue Toadflax is a native wildflower known for its small blue-violet petals and a white throat. It's found in sandy soils and disturbed aeas.
Monday, June 1, 2026
American Cancer-root, Bittersweet Nightshade, Strawberry, Carrion Flower
American Cancer-root, previously called Squawroot or Bearcorn, it lacks chlorophyll and gets its nutrients from the roots of oak and beech trees.
Bittersweet Nightshade is a woody vine in the potato family that has star-shaped purple flowers with bright yellow stamens.
Saw my first Strawberry of the season.
Carrion Flower gets its name from the fetid odor it produces to attract flies as pollinators. They are dioecious, meaning male and female reproductive organs are located on entirely separate plants. Both plant types must grow near each other for pollination and fruit production.
Female plant:
Male plant:
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Harebell, Sandspurry, Blue False Indigo, Yellow Sweetclover, Multiflora Rose
Harebell, also called Scottish Bluebell, grows on rocky banks.
Sandspurry is a small plant that can be found in driveways and roadsides.
Blue False Indigo features blue-lavender flowers clustered on upright spikes.
Yellow Sweetclover has tall, spike-like clusters of small, yellow, pea-like flowers.Found along roadsides and disturbed areas.
Multiflora Rose features small, fragrant white flowers with a distinct yellow center. It is considered highly invasive forming dense thickets that crowd out native species.
Friday, May 29, 2026
Birdsfoot Trefoil, Cow Vetch, Alsike, Tent Caterpillar
Birdsfoot Trefoil is a part of the pea family. It's found along roadsides, in meadows and in other disturbed areas.
Cow Vetch is also called Tufted Vetch and is known for its dense clusters of purple flowers arranged on one side of the stem.
Alsike Clover is pale pink. It's found in meadows, fields and along roadsides.
An Eastern Tent Caterpillar features a black body with a continuous white stripe running down its back. Along the sides it has brown and yellow lines with distinct oval blue spots. They construct communal silk nest or "tents' in the forks of tree branches.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Indian Cucumber-root, Golden Ragwort, Northern Blue Flag Iris
Indian Cucumber-root flowers are greenish-yellow with recurved petals and brownish-red stamens. The plant has an edible root that tastes similar to cucumber.
Golden Ragwort or Golden Goundsel thrives in shady, moist environments such as woodlands, stream banks and bogs.
Northern Blue Flag Iris thrives in wet areas, including marshes, stream sides and pond margins.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Common Stitchwort, Cheeseweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Yarrow
Stellaria graminea - Common Stitchwort, Lesser Stitchwort, is in the pink family. It has white, star-shaped flowers and grass-like leaves.
Cheeseweed or Dwarf Mallow is a herbaceous plant found in disturbed areas like roadsides or fields.
Ox-eye Daisy features white ray petals surrounding a yellow disk center.
Yarrow features flat-topped clusters of small, white to pinkish flowers and feathery leaves.
Monday, May 25, 2026
Dwarf Dandelion, Glossy Buckthorn, Lady's Slipper
Virginia Dwarf-dandelion resembles a miniature common dandelion but has smaller flowerheads. It grows in sandy, dry or rocky soils in open areas.
Glossy Buckthorn's flowers are small, five petaled and white. It grows in small clusters. Very invasive plant.
Pink Lady's Slipper has a single, large, pouch-shaped pink flower that looks like a slipper or moccasin. Usually found under pines or oak trees. It is pollinated by bumblebees that enter through a slit in the front of the pouch.
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Spatterdock, Ragwort
Spatterdock, yellow water-lily, is an aquatic perennail with heart shaped floating leaves.
Ragwort is a daisy-like perennial that can be harmful to livestock but beneficial to pollinators.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Ragged Robin, Sleepy Catchfly, Tower Mustard, Goat's Beard
Ragged Robin can be found along I 91. The petals are deeply cut.
Sleepy Catchfly features small, solitary flowers. The stems are sticky.
Rising above fields is Tower Mustard which produces small, creamy-white or pale yellow flowers.
Goat's Beard or Yellow Salisfy is just beginning to open. It's found on roadsides and disturbed areas.
Friday, May 22, 2026
A whole bunch of May's showcase
Spiderwort
Common Speedwell
Hooked Crowfoot
Virginia Waterleaf
Black Swallow-wort
Feathery False Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal
Canada Mayflower
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