This bumblebee was so taken with this purple coneflower that I don’t think he even knew that I was there.
If I understand what I’ve read correctly I think that this is a great spangled fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele.) It was about as big as a monarch butterfly but of course the best way to identify one is by the markings on the underside of the hind wing, which I didn’t get a photo of. In any case it was a beautiful sight perched as it was on a swamp milkweed flower head.
I recently found this milkweed plant covered with aphids. Not surprisingly, they are called milkweed aphids (Aphis nerii) and are tiny, bright yellow insects with black legs that pierce plant tissue and suck the juices out of plants. An aphid colony can produce large amounts of honeydew which attracts sooty mold and that is the black color. Aphids stunt plant growth and if not controlled will eventually kill the plant. These aphids are also called oleander aphids and in places like Florida can often be found on that shrub.
Growths like these on the undersides of staghorn sumac leaves (Rhus typhina) look like potatoes but they are red pouch galls caused by the sumac gall aphid (Melaphis rhois.) A female aphid lays eggs on the underside of a leaf and plant tissue swells around them to form a gall which turns red as it ages. The eggs overwinter and mature inside the hollow gall until spring, when they leave the gall and begin feeding on the plant. Scientists have paleobotanical evidence that this aphid has had a relationship with its sumac hosts for at least 48 million years.
Blackberry seed gall is caused by the blackberry seed gall wasp (Diastrophus cuscutaeformis.) These very small, round, hollow galls look like seeds and form in clusters around blackberry stems. Each tiny gall has a stiff, hair like spine and together they form a hairy mass like that in the photo. It feels very much like a baby bottle brush. These masses are usually described as being reddish brown in color so I’m not sure why this one was yellow green. Maybe they start out life that color and change to brown as they age.
After a noticeable absence of herons and cormorants through spring and early summer I finally spotted this great blue heron far on the other side of a pond and was able to get a soft edged photo of him. He spent a lot of time preening his chest feathers so I wondered if he was drying off after a fishing session.
The terminal blossom clusters of false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum) become berries that start out beige-green and slowly become speckled with reddish brown before turning completely red. This plant is also called treacle berry because the berries are supposed to taste like treacle, which we call molasses here in the U.S. Some say that they taste sweet and syrupy like maple syrup and others say that they taste terrible. If you’re thinking that you’d like to try them be certain that the plant is false Solomon’s seal. Never eat any part of a plant that you’re not sure of.
Blue isn’t a color that you see very often in nature so I’m always happy to find the deep blue fruit of the blue bead lily (Clintonia borealis.) The seeds in these berries can take two years to germinate and adult plants can take twelve years to finally show their yellow, lily like blossoms. This plant is also called “cow tongue” because of the shape of its leaves. Native Americans used the leaves medicinally.
I didn’t think anything could match the blue of blue bead lily fruit but then I saw this balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus.) I like the little starfish like stigma, which was very hard to get a sharp photo of for some reason.
Eastern red spotted newt s (Notophthalmus viridescens) are cute little things about four or five inches in length. This one watched me taking photos of a slime mold for a while before running off. They spend the first part of their life as aquatic larva before crawling onto land to begin their red eft stage as a terrestrial juvenile. After two or three years on land they develop gills as adults and return to aquatic life. The bright color tells potential predators to beware of their toxicity.
Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) and deer tongue grass (Dichanthelium clandestinum) are taking on their fall colors. The rosy brown of bracken fern and light, yellow green of deer tongue grass are a combination that is pleasing to the eye.
For all who think that plants don’t have their own inner light; behold these honeysuckle leaves.
A single flower of our native Rhododendron maximum looks like it has 5 petals when it’s on the plant but it is actually one, 5 lobed petal. The yellowish green spots are at the top of the blossom so this one is pictured upside down. I tried rotating the photo 180 degrees but then it looked the blossom was about to slide off the page.
I watched the wind blow this male calico pennant dragonfly (Celithemis elisa) back and forth like a flag as it hung onto the end of a twig, but the “pennant” part of the name didn’t click until later on when I was reading Mike Powell’s blog. A pennant was exactly what it behaved like so the name makes perfect sense. If you like dragonflies you should visit Mike’s blog. He gets far more photos of them than I do.
A stream had backed up into a low depression and formed a small pond. All of its silt then settled onto the forest floor in a thick layer, which then cracked as it dried. The silt deposit was thick enough so not a single twig, stone or stem came through it, and was so flat that I could have swept it. You don’t expect to find such a desert like landscape in the middle of a New Hampshire forest, so it was an amazing thing to see.
The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself. ~Henry Miller
Thanks for coming by.
I have the Milkweed Aphids on a newly brought in plant, Orange Butterfly Weed, and one lone Lilium that was repotted. I killed them manually (ick), do you have a solution for ridding the plant of them, organically would be best. Do they harm plants outside of the Milkweed and Lily families?
There are many solutions offered here, all organic: http://monarchbutterflygarden.net/control-aphids-milkweed-plants/
I’m really not sure if they harm other plants.
kinda knew it was aphids in the green balls as I brake them open a little bit of white dust comes out and I can see the small aphid inside then will smash um or I will burn them I figure if their left on the tree then they will be on it every year and may harm the tree some how so that’s why I kill the bugs
Also I think they are the flying aphids
Thank you Mike. The sumac gall aphids are being studied by the Smithsonian Institution, so we should have all kinds of answers about them before too long. They were here collecting galls last year.
I don’t know how much damage the do to the sumacs. The trees I find them on seem to be good and healthy.
No sign of our “local” heron this Summer. 😦
There seems to be fewer of them this year for some reason.
Another very interesting post. Isn’t it time to put these together into a book? Or have you done that already?
Thanks again Cynthia. No, I’ve never written a book but you aren’t the first to suggest it. The problem is, nature is such a huge subject that I wouldn’t know where to begin.
Begin by re-reading the posts you’re proudest of.
Then find the most common theme among them.
Your general theme (from my POV) is Adventures of a Modern-Day Plant/Nature Explorer.
But as you read, you will discover a more defined theme.
Go for it!
Thank you for the encouragement Cynthia. You could be right, maybe that is the place to start.
As always I learned so much more of our state through this post! Thanks 🙂
You’re welcome. I’m glad that we learned something!
Indeed it was a great day to learn how bad did you get swamped over your way? River is real high but with 3 days of sun I hope it recedes 🙂
We had a lot of rain but no flooding that I’ve seen. This has happened several times this summer and I’ve been surprised each time by how quickly the water recedes. I hope there was no flooding in your area.
no 40 min above me and to the east of me this time the river stayed within her bank 🙂
Great bumblebee picture! Don’t bumblebees look like they are wearing fur coats? I have false Solomon seal but the berries are almost always eaten before they are fully ripe. I’m not very interested in seeing how they taste, though.
Thanks! Yes they do look furry. I wonder what is eating your false Solomon’s seal berries. I know of a spot where rabbits live near large colonies of false Solomon’s seal and they don’t seem to eat the berries. Birds, maybe.
The heron photo is magnificent, it looks like a beautiful painting. Great shots of the dragonfly and the bee too.
Thanks!
Fabulous… 🙂
Fabulous… 🙂
Thank you Sue!
Interesting shot of the aphids. Until very recently I only thought there was one type of aphid (the one we get in gardens). Your blog helps us to open our eyes, and also our minds. Amelia
Thank you. It seems that many plants have aphids that are specific to them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a large colony as was on that milkweed!
So lovely! The more I try to photograph the things I notice, the more I appreciate the experience and art — and time — you bring to this blog!
Thanks! Yes, it does take some practice and time but the serenity and joy that comes from the time spent with nature is immeasurable.
Very enjoyable post and excellent photos. Loved seeing the newt!
Thanks Montucky!
Beautiful!
Thank you Agnes, and thank you for the re blog.
You’re very welcome, Allen. Namaste
Reblogged this on Dawn of Divine Rays.
You sure live in an interesting area! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for visiting!
Another superb post! I especially liked the newt, bee and heron photos!
There are times when I think that I spend too much time on the photos and photography in general on my blog, and that I should include more information as you do. But then our blogs would be about the same, and we don’t need that. 😉
Thanks Jerry!
I tend to agree. I think people visit different blogs because they are different. If they were the same life would be a lot more boring.
Personally I like your commentary as much as your photos and have since I’ve been reading your blog, and I think others feel the same.
balloon flowers are one of my favorites. the color is so rich and the shapes of the buds and flowers are so beautiful. Have been enjoying all the flying visitors in my flower beds too. Sometimes those bumble bees look absolutely drunk on the nectar.
I agree with your thoughts on balloon flowers. I’ve admired them for many years. That’s true about the bumblebees too. I’m not sure that this one even knew that I was there!
A feast for the eye yet again.
Thank you, I’m glad that you think so.
Wow – you had a great week! Terrific photos. 🙂
Thank you Judy! Yes, just about every week seems to be a good one.
So enjoyed your pictures! Love close ups of bees -yours is stunning! Also, each time I read your blog, I learn something new. And I love both the close up of the balloon flower and the composition of the honeysuckle leaves.
Thank you Donna! I learn something new each time I do one of these kinds of posts. This one taught me how to tell the difference between a bumble and carpenter bee.
I have to echo Donna’s assessment of you bee pic. Wow. She’s a beauty! (And yes, it’s a she – males do not collect nectar).
Hmm, now I’m wondering what the males do. Thanks for the information. Clearly, I’ve got some reading to do!
Nice shot of the great spangled fritillary! It’s not one we see often in Ohio.
Thanks! I just hope I’ve identified it correctly. I’ve heard they can be tough to I.D.
A nice selection of critters as well as fruits (and other parts). That looks like a different species of bumblebee than we have here in the upper Midwest, and of course we usually are too dry for newts to live here.
Thanks Sue. I didn’t know that there were different species of butterflies between here and there. I’ll have to do some more detective work and see if I can pin down which one this is. The huge bee that I commented on your blog about one day turned out to be a carpenter bee.
What with the Henry Miller comment and the photograph of the Great Blue Heron, this was a special post.
Thank you Susan. That quotation is one of my favorites and I’m always on the lookout for great blue herons!
I love the bumble bee covered in pollen and the Eastern red spotted newt! The bumble bees are still gathering pollen here too and with all of our rain it is easy to find the Eastern Red Newts in the leaves on the forest floor. Our bracken ferns are all still green but we have not had the August heat just yet, it’s raining again today. Have a great weekend!
Thanks Michael. I don’t see too many newts but we have plenty of bumble bees. You sure are having a lot of rainy weekend there this summer-more than your share, it seems like.
I agree with you on that Allen, rain started yesterday and is suppose to continue thru early next week.
Not much you can do about it, I guess. It’s bound to stop sometime!
Your post full of inviting images of a closer look demonstrates the sentiment of your chosen quote wonderfully, Allen…nicely done. 🙂
Thanks Scott, I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
All so interesting and beautiful. I can’t decide what bit of information and what photo I like best despite scrolling up and down many times. I do like the blue berry and the blue balloon flower but I am a sucker for anything blue!
Ha, I know what you mean Clare, blue is my favorite color.
Thanks for the mention, Allen. I may feature more dragonflies than you do, but you got a shot of one that I have never seen before. Your posting had shots of interesting creatures, like the newt and the aphids, in addition to fascinating information about the wide variety of plants that you have seen. It’s always nice to see where we have geographic overlap, though I am much more attuned to the wildlife and probably miss many of the plants that you highlight. I love your very first shot–that bee close-up photo really grabs the reader’s attention.
You’re welcome Mike. That was a tough dragonfly to get a shot of because of its colors and because it was in full sun. In contrast the bumblebee was easy-he just sat there and posed. I probably miss as much wildlife as you miss plants, but that’s the great thing about reading different blogs. You get to see it all eventually.
The clarity and colors in the first photo are stunning! The bracken fern is such a reminder that fall is coming, too soon if you ask me. Great post.
Thanks Laura. I know what you mean; I’m not at all ready for fall!