7-14

7-14
Among the species in flower today are Orangegrass and spotted Wintergreen. both are on the State's Rare and Unusual list.
And among the moths flying last night was a Grape Leafroller.
John

Orangegrass

Spotted Wintergreen leaves

Spotted Wintergreen flower

Grape Leafroller

7-13

7-13
Among the species in flower today are Swamp Rose and Black Nightshade. The less common white form of the normally Blue Chicory could also be seen. At a nearby pond Floating Hearts dotted the surface with tiny white flowers.
And a Blinded Sphinx moth flashed its big blue hindwing eye spots when I disturbed it this morning.
John

Swamp Rose

Black Nightshade

white Blue Chicory

Floating Heart

Blinded Sphinx

7-12

7-12
Hoary Alyssum is putting up clusters of tiny white flowers.
A Four-lined Plant bug was out doing plant bug things.
And last night a moth called the Green Arches was flying.
John

Hoary Allysum

Four-lined Plant bug

Green Arches moth

7-11

7-11
Purple-headed Sneezeweed is in flower. The tiny white flowers of Round-leaved Sundew and the bristly flower spikes of Bracted Plantain can also be found.
And a Gallium Sphinx moth caterpillar was headed caterpillar places when I happened by.
John

Purple-headed Sneezeweed

Round-leaved Sundew

Bracted Plantain

Gallium sphinx moth caterpillar

7-10

7-10
The cheerful yellow of Partridge Pea brightens waste places and the pink-dotted white of Catnip waves above fallow fields.
On a chunk of fresh sawn oak a pair of Oak Timberworm Weevils prepare for the future - she laying eggs while he stands guard.
John

Partridge Pea

Catnip

Oak Timberworm Weevils

Male Oak Timberworm Weevil

7-9

7-9
Common Agrimony - one of several yellow agrimonies - is in flower as is Canadian Tick-trefoil.
Basswood Leafroller moths are airborne.
And the butterfly called the Large Wood Nymph seems nearly ubiquitous at this season.
John

Common Agrimony

Canadian Tick-Trefoil

Basswood Leafroller moth

Large Wood Nymph butterfly

7-8

7-8
The carrion scented fungus known as Devil's Horn (mutinus elegans) poked up in response to recent rains.
The three petaled flowers of Water Plantain and the deeply cleft little pink flowers of Northern Willow Herb grace wet areas.
And a Scallop moth displayed its subtle splendor for the camera.
John

Devil's Horn fungus

Water Plantain

Northern Willow Herb

Scallop moth

7-7

7-7
Smooth Sumac has opened its pyramidal clusters of white flowers.
And among the moths flying last night were the Beautiful Wood Nymph and the Baltimore Snout.
John

Smooth Sumac

Baltimore Snout moth

Beautiful Wood Nymph moth

7-6

7-6
Pokeweed, Spotted Touch-me-not and Spiney-leaved Sow Thistle are among the species flowering today.
And last night the pretty little moth called the Straight-lined Argyria was flying.
John

Pokeweed

Spotted Touch-me-not

Spiney-leaved Sow Thistle

Straight-lined Argyria moth

7-5

7-5
Today the deeply lobed leaves and dense flower whorls of Water Horehound dot the riverbanks.
The first few flowers of Purple Milkwort are open. This is a flower of damp meadows and similar locations.
And at Sunset Lake an adult loon closely guards (her?) chick. Loons usually lay two eggs. In this case one egg was abandoned on the nest.
John

Water Horehound

Purple Milkwort

Loon and chick

7-4

7-4
Today Spiked Lobelia is in flower. There are at least four other Lobelias that can be found in this area.
Square-stemmed Monkey Flower graces wet places. A close relative, Winged Monkey Flower is also common.
And Wild Mint's pale lilac (sometimes white) flowers cluster in its leaf axils. This is among the most aromatic of the mints.
John

Square-stemmed Monkey Flower

Spiked Lobelia

Wild Mint

7-3

7-3
Wild Basil and White Vervain are among the species in flower today.
A very robust beetle - perhaps a Broad-necked Root Borer - made its ponderous way across Rice Farm Rd.
And a Porcupine grazed in my field. Porcupines like the new growth of Dogbane and Indian Hemp but shun the older lower leaves.
John

Wild Basil

White Vervain

Broad-necked Root Borer?

Porcupine

7-2

7-2
The flowers of Black Meddick resemble those of the Hop Clovers. However the leaflets of Black Meddick are each tipped with a short 'bristle' and its fruiting bodies are clusters of small black pods.
The tiny moth aptly named the Carmine Snout was airborne last night.
And Indian Pipes AKA Corpse Plant is poking up through the leaf litter. Indian pipes are saprophytic, they feed on decay.
John

Black Meddick flower

Black Meddick fruiting body

Carmine Snout moth

Indian Pipes

7-1

7-1
Marsh Hedge Nettle is in flower.
One of the many lady beetles (Propylea quatuordecimpinctata), an aphid eater, prowled over Bouncing Bet.
A stink bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana) added a bit of color to a weed patch.
And the aptly named Butter and Eggs painted a swath of yellow alongside the railroad tracks.
John

Hedge Nettle

lady beetle

stink bug

Butter and Eggs