16-Jul-2019
Brown-headed cowbird being fed by female american redstart
In Britain it is the cuckoo who lays their eggs in other birds nests. Here, it is the brown-headed cowbird. This young bird has no idea he is an imposter. He just thinks the smaller bird is his natural mother, and she obediently feeds the young bird that hatched out of her nest.
16-Jul-2019
Brown-headed cowbird
Another shot of the cowbird waiting to be fed. He sat peering anxiously until his 'mother' returned with food.
16-Jul-2019
South side slope
Long-time visitors to the Fletcher Garden will know that where this slope is used to be flat land with perhaps a slight rise. Then the pond was excavated to rid it of decaying vegetation, cattails and flowering rush. All that stuff was piled up south of the pond burying several bird boxes in the process. It was supposed to be there temporarily, but several years have gone by and the slope has become covered with dense vegetation and now looks like a perfectly natural part of the landscape, as if always there.
16-Jul-2019
Northern flicker, juvenile
Also in good numbers at the garden - northern flickers both adults and juveniles.
16-Jul-2019
American robin, juvenile
The robins have fledged their first brood and will be starting on another one now. This streaked-chested youngster was part of a much larger group of adult and juvenile robins feeding on the various fruits available around the garden.
16-Jul-2019
Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus )
This one popped out of the dense vegetation on the southern slope of the pond, where it had no doubt been finding seeds from the variety of plants growing there.
16-Jul-2019
Entrance to the garden
As you walk from the parking lot south into the garden, you pass by this relatively recent installation and planting. The fence is a fine rustic addition to the plants put there to replace Dog-strangling vine.
16-Jul-2019
Mallow (Malva moschata)
A non-native plant that comes and goes at the FWG. There used to be a big mallow bank leading to the Arboretum, then it was reduced considerably for various reasons. The plants are now back in part, and are springing up here and there in small numbers. A garden plant that has made itself at home.
16-Jul-2019
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)
This beautiful tall native plant is flowering near the pond. The flowers attract various pollinators.
16-Jul-2019
Wild parsnip and insects
There are only a few parsnip plants, well away from the trails. These plants are an important host plant for the native black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. They also provide abundant nectar for a wide variety of insects, including plant bugs, bees, butterflies, etc.
16-Jul-2019
Purple flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
This large patch of the native Rubus has been growing on the edge of the old field area for years. It hasn't spread much, but it does prevent dog-strangling vine from growing.
16-Jul-2019
Purple flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Another photo of the native shrub, this one from the back.
