Monthly Archives: September 2014

One of Nature’s Mysteries to Solve

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Hey there,

Missed my column last week, but things are becoming crazy here. Acorns starting to fall, means squirrels have got to get busy. But we do take time to snack, and not just on acorns. What do you think this fall berry treat might be?

 

Mystery #104

Will check back later for your guesses!

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Bet you recognize the leaves from many trees in the east – maples. This shrub isn’t in the same family, it just has a similar looking leaf. It’s a Maple Leaf Viburnum, Viburnum acerifolium. Because the shrub’s branches are thin, birds feed on the fall berries more than we d. But a squirrel will try anything!

Thirsty Thursday

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Well folks, we’ve had a fair amount of rain this year in northern Virginia. The drainage ditches seem to have fresh trickles, good for a quick sip.

drainage ditch on Reston National Golf Course

Enough rain has fallen even the grass has stayed green. Not only on our nearby golf course where the humans water, but also where they don’t, like the shrub patches.

Shrub patch on Reston National Golf Course

See that orange peeking out?

Jewelweed

Jewelweed. That water-lover is still blooming in September! That’s how you know we’ve had enough rain!

 

Yes, our readers have seen Monarchs!

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A reader responded to Monday’s questions with photos of a Monarch caterpillar-turned chrysalis-turned butterfly!

Monarch caterpillar on MilkweedMonarch chrysalisMonarch on zinnia

This butterfly will make its way south, probably to find another patch of Milkweed and lay eggs along the migration route. Those eggs may not hatch until next spring to start the cycle again.

Thirsty Thursday

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Wouldn’t be summer if this old squirrel didn’t show off the most striking flower around our natural ponds, and backyard ponds.

Cardinal Flower

Here in the east, that’s Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinals. See how this flower makes a trumpet? Smaller than the ones Hickory showed Sunday, but still a trumpet!

Cardinal Flower

 

The hummingbirds really love ’em, and they need all the fuel they can get to make their migration flights, just weeks from now. Yep, folks, we’re heading’ into fall!