26-JUL-2015
Big stretch
A fat and happy young groundhog having found heaven in the garden!
26-JUL-2015
A mouthful!
This youngster is happy as can be having found paradise in the Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. However, not everyone is happy that he is eating the plants that were planted to attract wildlife. It is a conundrum for sure! But I think this little guy is so cute that I'd allow him to chomp away.
26-JULY-2015
Happy Groundhog
Hans found this young groundhog happily eating flowers in the Backyard Garden. This should not be a surprise. We created this garden to show people how they can also create a wildllife friendly backyard, one that is full of plants supplying nectar, pollen, seeds, fruit, and other edibles for wildlife.
23 July 2015
Art in the woods
In case you were wondering, several of the ash tree stumps in our Old Woodlot were carefully embellished by students from an Ottawa School of Art camp under the direction of Marika Jemma, a well known local artist. This morning, Sandy showed the group around the FWG, visiting the Butterfly Meadow, Insect Hotel, and Old Woodlot. After lunch in the Arboretum, the students returned to work on environmental pieces in the woods.
23 July 2015
Bark and DSV
The students used dog-strangling vine in some of their pieces of art after asking permission to pull some from the field north of the woods - of course, you can pull it; please feel free to weed the whole field!
23 July 2015
"What you give you get back only 10x better."
A lovely sentiment and a lovely montage of found flowers, grasses, seed pods, and a wreath made of DSV.
23 July 2015
Beetle trails, flowers, and sticks
An interesting juxtaposition of a piece of tunneled wood, tiny flowers, and sticks wrapped with leaves and wedged under the bark of this ash stump... And nice use of the setting.
19-JULY-2015
Chipmunk
Checking out the plums. Chipmunks, though they are mostly seen on the ground, are adept tree climbers and will often be seen high up in a tree in pursuit of food.
19-JULY-2015
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
One of the cutest of frogs! These little creatures never fail to delight. As their name suggests, they are primarily a species of upland habitats, often found in trees, or perched on vegetation, only spending time in aquatic settings when mating and of course, in the tadpole stage.
15-JULY-2015
Soldier beetles (Rhagonycha fulva)
An introduced species that is now quite commonly established not only in Ontario but across Canada. Barry found this mating pair on queen anne's lace.
19-JULY-2015
Eastern comma butterfly (Polygonia comma)
A rather tattered comma on a coneflower plant, photographed by Barry. Eastern commas are one of several species of butterfly that overwinters as an adult at the FWG.
19-JULY-2015
Hover fly (Eristalis arbustorum)
The queen anne's lace is is full flower now and attracting a myriad of insects, such as this bee mimic hover fly. Eristalis arbustorm was introduced from Europe.
19-JULY-2015
Leafcutter bee (Megachilidae)
A heavily laden leafcutter bee on a yarrow plant at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and photographed by Barry. The leafcutter's carry the pollen on the abdomen rather than in pollen sacs on their legs.
19-JULY-2015
Ambush bug (Phymata)
By July these bugs are abundant, perched on all types of plants, either hidden or not, waiting for an insect to land, at which they pounce. Lying in ambush... they are well named.
19-JULY-2015
Ambush bug (Phymata)
Another photo by Barry of the ambush bug on its yarrow perch.
17-JULY-2015
Common burdock (Arctium minus)
Barry dug up this plant and was amazed at how long the tap root is. This is why just cutting down the plants doesn't prevent growth, and why pulling them up is impossible.
09-JUL-2015
Predatory stinkbug nymphs
These nymphs have recently emerged from their eggs, seen in the background. Very soon they will disperse. This cluster of eggs was on a Canada goldenrod leaf. I also found several other stinkbug egg clusters on the same day, more predatory stinkbugs on another goldenrod leaf too.
09-JUL-2015
The old woods
Looking south along the trail in the woods where things have changed considerably since last year's removal of 50 mature ash trees.
09-JUL-2015
The old woods
In this image, looking north through the woods with much new growth on both sides of the trail.
09-JUL-2015
The old woods
This is the southern entrance into the old woodlot. A split rail fence provides not only a focal point but a place for insects. Some scrape wood fibres from the logs, others bore into them, or under them or use them as perches, etc. The log in the foreground is the remnant of one of the many ash trees cut last year.
09-JUL-2015
Common yellowthroat, female
A very common nesting warbler in the Ottawa region, they began nesting at the garden about 10 or 11 years ago, and though they have not nested every year since then, they have only missed a few.
09-JUL-2015
American redstart, male
This little warbler was singing constantly while I was at the garden. We first found them nesting about 16 years ago, and they have nested every year since.
09-JUL-2015
Wild raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Red, ripe and luscious... attractive to humans and wildlife alike.
09-JUL-2015
Spotted orb-weaver (Neoscona)
A very small spider, this one hiding in a canada thistle, that is common but because so small, they are often overlooked.
09-JUL-2015
Mason bee sign
On the southern edge of the old woods at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, is an insect hotel (see NEXT image) created by Sandy. It has been well used by bees and this year has the addition of these mason bee boxes which were made at a spring workshop. They were quickly used by mason bees but sadly, the nests were opened and the larvae removed, but we are not sure by whom.
09-JUL-2015
Insect hotel
An interesting and quite artistic structure designed to help bees by providing homes for them. Of course, other creatures sometimes can be found here too. Sandy found a garter snake curled up behind some of bee boxes!
6 July 2015
Snake moves in
You can just see a medium-sized garter snake disappearing from behind one of our mason bee boxes on the 6th floor of our "insect hotel."
09-JUL-2015
Old woods
A view of the the old woods looking north along the main trail. This is year two after the big cut, when approximately 50 large ash trees were removed (dead, thanks to the emerald ash borer). I never thought I'd say this, but I find the site now more appealing. Not only are many trees being planted but the vegetation that is growing up naturally is very diverse and this year is different from last, and will be again next year. Unfortunately, not all the vegetation is welcomed, and while the dog-strangling vine is remarkabaly absent (thanks to hard work by volunteers), the invasive motherwort and common burdock have sprouted up in good numbers.
09-JUL-2015
Butterfly meadow
This is another part of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden that has been created by the hard work of many volunteers. It is lush and full of plants to attract butterflies and pollinators.
09-JUL-2015
Stinkbug eggs (Pentatomidae)
More stinkbug eggs discovered yesterday, also on a goldenrod leaf. Unlike the previous ones posted, these are not predatory stinkbug eggs.
09-JUL-2015
Predatory stinkbugs eggs and nymphs
Just hatched stinkbug nymphs clustered around their eggs on the leaf of a goldenrod. I later found another set of such predatory stinkbug nymphs on a nannyberry leaf, as well as more, unhatched, stinkbug eggs on another goldenrod leaf.
09-JUL-2015
Parsnip webworm ( Depressaria pastinacella)
There is not a lot of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) at the garden, but the few that are there are now showing signs of the presence of parsnip webworm. This non-native species feeds exclusively on the wild parsnip, but whether it will ever get to the point of controlling the huge populations of the plant around the region, is doubtful.
09-JUL-2015
Dogwood spittlebug (Clastoptera proteus)
During May and especially June, dogwoods (Cornus) are often festooned with tiny blobs of white foam. These are the nymphal shelters for this dogwood. By July the adults have started appearing and are numerous, mostly on dogwoods but also on many other plants. These critters are tiny, about 3 mm.
09-JUL-2015
Lady beetle (Brachiacantha)
A common little lady beetle, about 3mm in size, often found on milkweeds.
09-JUL-2015
Leafhopper (Graphocephala)
One of our most colourful leafhoppers, quite exotic looking with their rainbow colouring. There are a number of species all quite similar. The nymph is a creamy white and was seen frequently until the adults appeared recently. They are now abundant.
09-JUL-2015
Two-spotted stinkbugs (Cosmopepla)
On Figwort, which these bugs seem to quite like.
09-JUL-2015
Red-winged blackbird, male
Enjoying the food provided by the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, this blackbird was only one of many birds using this and the big feeder.
09-JUL-2015
Red-winged blackbird, female
Perched on the handle of the wheelbarrow in the Backyard Garden section of the wildlife garden, this female seems to have lost her tail.
09-JUL-2015
Song sparrow
Although difficult to believe, summer is heading into the peak season, and soon will be on the downward slide to autumn. Already, shorebirds are heading south, and many nesting birds are now either feeding young, or starting on a second brood. This song sparrow is carrying food for its young.
09-JUL-2015
Monarda
These plants not only provide food for insects, but a lovely burst of colour for passersby.
09-JUL-2015
Chipmunk
It seems we can't let a spring or summer month go by without a photo of one of these adorable little creatures. And more than just cute, they are clever. They don't just dig into the ground in winter and sleep away the cold months. Instead, they develop not only sleeping quarters but a larder too, where they will store food for the winter. This is because they are not true hibernators, as say groundhogs are, for they will periodically wake up and head to their food area for a snack, and if the winter sees some unseasonably warm days, these guys will pop outside for awhile.
09-JUL-2015
Milkweed leaf beetle (Labidomera clivicollis)
One of the flower longhorned beetles whose life cycle is associated with milkweeds.
09-JUL-2015
Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden
The Backyard Garden, BYG for short, is a major feature of the 15 acre wildlife garden for visitors, many of whom rarely venture beyond this section. It is entirely maintained by a BYG manager and a number of volunteers.
09-JUL-2015
Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden July 2015
Another view of the BYG. It is entirely maintained by a BYG manager and a number of volunteers.
09-JUL-2015
Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden July 2015
Looking across the rockery to the woodland walk on the right and the small pond straight ahead. The backyard garden is entirely maintained by a BYG manager and a number of volunteers.
09-JUL-2015
Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden July 2015
Looking NW across the garden past the tall purple fireweed. The Interpretive centre is on the right, hidden by vegetation in this shot. This garden is is entirely maintained by a BYG manager and a number of volunteers.
06-JULY-2015
Tortoise beetle larva
We have several species of tortoise beetles at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and I am not sure which species this is that Barry Photographed, as the larvae look pretty similar. That bit of black on its back is a fecal shield, used to ward off or deter predators. Pretty effective I'd say, if I was a predator anyway!
