24-APR-2012
Red trillium (Trillium erectum)
The small patch of red trilliums in the Ash Woods, were in full bloom, while the white trilliums were in the almost-there stage.
24-APR-2012
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Most of the bloodroot petals have fallen, and the large, eye-catching swathes of last week are a thing of the past, not to be seen until next spring. Such brief and fleeting beauty! Those flowers still left, are furled tight against the cold and gray weather.
24-APR-2012
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
This is a native member of the Heath Family (Ericaceae). It forms large low-growing clumps with glossy evergreen leaves, pink bell-shaped flowers typical of members of this family, and in fall, shiny red berries. It makes a stellar ground cover and grows well in the rockery at the Backyard Garden. However, I've been told that it doesn't always grow well in all garden settings.
18-APR-2012
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on cherry blossoms
This was taken in the adjacent Arboretum, but I put it in to show what a spectacle is made by combining this pretty butterfly with the glorious blossoms. There were scores and scores of red admirals all over the tree, so many that people were stopping to take in this spectacle. Well worth checking out in the next few days.
18-APR-2012
American lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
The red admiral migration is well underway, an astonishing one, and I had heard that another vanessa butterfly, the American lady was also flying in good numbers. I was therefore very happy to see this lovely one land on some just emerging pearly everlasting in the Backyard Garden. It hung around for a minute or so, flying from plant to plant before heading into the Arboretum. Pearly everlasting is the premier larval plant for this species.
18-APR-2012
American lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Another shot of this migrant on pearly everlasting, its larval host plant, in the Backyard Garden.
18-APR-2012
Black-capped chickadee nest cavity
As I walked past some trees I heard a loud tapping. Thinking it was a woodpecker but with the tapping a bit "off", I was curious. For the life of me I couldn't see anything until suddenly a chickadee flew out of this cavity and perched above me as if to say "do you mind!!". Then back in it went and the tapping commenced again. He was excavating the cavity and at one point emerged with a beak full of sawdust which he deposited some distance away. Imagine the work that goes into excavating these holes? Clearing out a nest chamber one little beak full of wood scraps at a time.
18-APR-2012
Hairy woodpecker, female
This large woodpecker was hanging around the BYG, darting in to feed at the suet, then off again to perch in one of the nearby trees, then back to the suet... They nested at FWG last year, and surely will again this year.
18-APR-2012
Bee box
This attractive bee box is one of several that have been erected around the FWG, as part of a project by some bee researchers at the farm. They are looking for Osmia species, in particular they are hoping to see if a non-native Osmia is found (it has been found in upper New York State, so far). But they are also interested in other bees that would nest in such structures such as Megachilids. When I put up a bee box at the FWG a few years ago, Megachilids found it almost immediately.
16-APR-2012
Leaf-mining beetle (Baliosus sp.)
This very tiny beetle was on the edge of a daffodil flower, so small I thought it was a speck of leaf matter at first. It is a new addition to our insect list.
16-APR-2012
Daffodils
Many clusters of daffodils are blooming at the moment in the Backyard Garden. They are attractive to all sorts of insects and even crab spiders will patiently sit on them and wait because they know many insects will come by and all they have to do is be swift enough to catch one.
16-APR-2012
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
There are huge swathes of this beautiful early spring wildflower in the Ash Woods. I can't believe how quickly things have appeared. Trilliums are nearly ready to open, red elderberry shrubs are putting forth flowerheads, the willow pollen (and thus the catkins) are over and done with. It is all happening so fast! The magnolias at the garden are also in bloom!
