24-AUG-2021
Ruby-throated hummingbird
A collage of lovely shots showing a hummingbird at Phlox plants.
24-Aug-2021
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Not often that these little birds sit still but sometimes one is lucky enough to see them at momentary rest.
24-Aug-2021
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Cardinal flowers are a big attraction for hummingbirds as Paul's fine shot shows.
24-Aug-2021
Ruby-throated hummingbird
18-Aug-2021
Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
A rather unwary youngster who only moved when I got too close. This one needs to be more cautious.
18-Aug-2021
Backyard Garden
Volunteers were also at work here. Maintaining this part of the Fletcher garden relies heavily on having enough volunteers.
18-Aug-2021
House finches
Lots of young house finches at the feeder in the Backyard Garden, along with chickadees and cardinals.
18-Aug-2021
Backyard Garden
Late summer in the garden.
18-Aug-2021
Golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata)
Always a pleassure to see these tiny golden critters, which can in some cases be bright red.
18-Aug-2021
Chickweed geometer moth (Haematopis grataria)
This beautiful little Geometrid moth is fairly common around the FWG and the adjacent farm. The larvae feed on chickweed, clover and some other weedy species. This one is a male, determined by the quite spectacular antennae.
18-Aug-2021
Wood duck
The male wood duck is molting right now and needs a place where he can feel safe as he waits for his fresh and colourful new plumage to grow in. The pond seems to fit the criteria.
18-Aug-2021
Goldenrod bunch gall
These unusual looking galls can often be found at the tips of goldenrods, looking as if they are a part of the flower, perhaps. In fact, they are galls, made by Rhopalomyia solidaginis, a midge.
18-Aug-2021
Working
Volunteers are the backbone of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden and without them the garden would not exist. They do all sorts of jobs and activities. Here, a volunteer has been steadily working over the last year or two to convert the slope of the ravine below the Resource Centre, into a paradise for pollinators, as well as a visual feast for humans.
18-Aug-2021
New garden
The volunteer in the previous photo has helped to create this gorgeous spot full of plants to attract hummingbirds and pollinators.
18-Aug-2021
Ravine
A closer view of the flower-filled area on the ravine's north slope.
18-Aug-2021
Cardinal flower
This is one of the native flowers planted on the ravine slope, and is attractive to hummingbirds.
18-Aug-2021
Controlling invasive plants
Another important job is trying to control the highly invasive dog-strangling vine which is capable of quickly spreading and taking over. Different volunteers have taken on different parts of the garden and work very hard to remove the invasives and replant with native species. Here you can see mountains of the dog-strangling vine that has recently been removed.
18-Aug-2021
Rose-breasted grosbeak
Lots of young birds around the garden these days,including grosbeaks.
18-Aug-2021
American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
I surprised this squirrel who'd been napping on a tree branch. He was not happy and here you can see the end of a long tirade!
18-Aug-2021
Yellow-collared scape moth
About 4 of these slender native moths flew up and landed on stalks of grass, not surprising since the larvae of this species feed on grasses, as well as lichens.
18-Aug-2021
Old field
The old field area is ripe with the golden flowers of goldenrods, which in turn are attracting numerous insects including various bees and wasp, ambush bugs, flies, locust borer beetles, etc.
18-Aug-2021
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
This non-native species in the Scarab Beetle family, is widespread in both gardens and in natural areas. If it wasn't so unwelcome, I think many would find it attractive!
18-Aug-2021
Grass-carrying wasp (Isodontia mexicana)
A native species, relatively common in mid-summer, sometimes seen carrying long strands of grass to make a nest, hence the common name.
18-Aug-2021
Flat-topped aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
A very tall native aster, often found along sides of trails, here planted by the FWG pond; attracts a wide variety of nectaring insects.
18-Aug-2021
Assassin bug (Acholla multispinosa)
Found hiding on the stem of a black locust tree.
18-Aug-2021
Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia)
A familiar and common spider, often hidden in flower heads.
18-Aug-2021
Cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
A common non-native butterfly, here nectating on the non-native knapweed.
18-Aug-2021
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana)
In the butterfly meadow; this native plant attracts numerous bees, particularly bumble bees.
18-Aug-2021
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
In addition to the yellows of late summer, pink flowers such as this and the previous two plants are also a common sight, along with the various shades of blue of aster and chicory.
18-Aug-2021
Ambush bug (Phymata)
This common bug can be found on almost any flowering plant from mid-summer on, patiently waiting, often hidden, for prey to land and then attacking, hence the name, ambush bug.
18-Aug-2021
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
This very pretty native flower is planted in the Butterfly Meadow and spreading well.
18-Aug-2021
European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
18-Aug-2021
Cup-plant flowers (Silphium perfoliatum)
These beautiful flowers are in the Butterfly Meadow and attract large numbers of bees and other insects.
18-Aug-2021
Butterfly meadow
The dominant colour of the butterfly meadow at this time of year is yellow. The immensely tall cup-plant, native to areas south of us, and the goldenrods, are a pretty sight. Bees were abundant around these plants, mostly bumble bees, but also honey bees, and various wasps.
18-Aug-2021
Locust borer (Megacyllene robiniae)
This long-horned beetle signals late summer. When it appears, the goldenrods are in full bloom (also a sign of summer's waning). The larvae feed on Black locusts, while the adults are primarily pollen feeders.
18-Aug-2021
Hawthorn fruit (Crataegus sp.)
The eye-catching colours of autumn are previewed by the rich red of the hawthorn fruit.
18-Aug-2021
Giant Foxtail grass (Setaria faberi)
Most foxtail grasses are quite small, but not this one.
18-Aug-2021
American goldfinch
Nesting is over for these late-nesters, and the garden is full of goldfinches feeding on seeds of various plants.
18-Aug-2021
New woods
Not such new woods anymore, being over 25 years old. The huge swathe of jewelweed has been growing in that spot for years, between the edge of the new woods and the pond. Sometimes it is abundant as this year, sometimes much less so. Hummingbirds are often seen nectaring on this plant.
18-Aug-2021
Fletcher Wildlife Garden
The trail between the pond on the left and the new woods on the right.
