26 June 2016
Antelope Beetle (Dorcus parallelus)?
This large (22 mm long) beetle was found walking on the trail at the northern edge of the Old Woodlot. According to several people, this is probably Dorcus parallelus.
Thanks to Ken Allison for confirming this is Dorcus parallelus.
24 June 2016
Eastern Comma
Taking cover from the heat?
10-JUNE-2016
Hobomok skipper (Poanes hobomok), male
One to look out for in early June, a common species throughout the region. The female can look quite different, especially the Pocahontas form. (CH)
07-JUNE-2016
Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
A migratory species that, along with american lady and red admiral, all in the same genus, can sometimes be found in huge numbers. The last time such a phenomenon happened was 2012.
23 June 2016
Mason Bee boxes
Mason Bees, which were so busy earlier in the spring, have pretty much disappeared from the garden now. The paper tubes in these home-made Mason Bee boxes are filled with their larvae, sealed up in little chambers where they are eating away at the pollen their parent collected from our fruit trees. They'll pupate, then turn into adults in September, but they'll stay in their tunnels until next May - just in time to pollinate fruit trees again.
23 June 2016
Leafcutters using our insect hotel
While Mason Bees have "retired" for the season, we're seeing more and more leafcutters. Two species of leafcutter bee are visible here, the one on the right much larger than the one at the left of the photo.
25 June 2016
Leafcutter Bee
I find it truly astonishing that these bees can cut perfect circles out of leaves, fly with them, one by one, to a suitable tunnel - or sometimes under a rock or piece of wood - and form them into cells, then stock them with enough pollen to raise a new bee. This one is carrying a leaf circle to our insect hotel, where it has already filled several tunnels. The holes are 1/4 and 3/8 inches in diameter and both sizes are being used, although I believe by different species of leafcutters. (SG)
23 June 2016
Natural tunnels
Although we attached a bee box to this dead tree stump, bees have found better tunnels in the tree wood. Can you see the bee, covered in pollen, entering the cavity?
22-JUNE-2016
Gray catbird
Barry photographed this bird at just the right angle to show the red rump,something not always seen, but very much a characteristic of the species.
22-JUNE-2016
House finch, juvenile
Those tufts of down over the eyes, remnants of the downy feathers that covered this youngster not so long ago, give this bird a rather startled look!
22-JUNE-2016
Great crested flycatcher
These large and vociferous flycatchers have become a fixture each summer in recent years, and it is joy to see them around. Unlike many flycatchers,they are cavity nesters and will make use of the nestboxes at the garden.
22-JUNE-2016
Bumble bee (Bombus) on cow vetch (Vicia cracca)
Although this vetch is not native, it attracts a really wide variety of insects who seek nectar from it.
22-JUNE-2016
Art installations next to the garden
More installations by the folk trying to bring a botanical garden to the site next to the Fletcher Wildlife Garden (big impact if that happens, not necessarily good as there will be buildings, parking lots, noise, lots of people). It could mean the end of the FWG as it is now, an oasis in the city.(CH)
22-JUNE-2016
Art installations next to the garden
Several art installations sponsored by the group hoping to bring a botanical garden to the site next door to the FWG.
16-JUN-2016
Green frog (Rana clamitans)
These frogs were calling constantly from the aptly termed Amphibian Pond! Many were sitting on the muddy shore,while others could be seen, heads above the water, calling.
16-JUN-2016
Pistol casebearer moth case (Coleophora)
This oddly shaped little object is the case inside of which is the larva of a Coleophora moth. These are so called, because the shape resembles the handle of a pistol! They are surprisingly common.Just look at the next black speck on a leaf!
16-JUN-2016
Cuckoo Leaf-cutter bee (Coelioxys)
Cleptoparasites of leaf-cutter bees (Megachile). This one was near a bee box set up for nesting bees and which megachilids have been using.
16-JUN-2016
Warty leaf beetle (Neochlamisus)
A side view of the little (3mm) Chrysomelid beetle.
16-JUN-2016
Warty leaf beetle (Neochlamisus)
A tiny Chrysomelidae beetle measuring a few mm in size. It is said to resemble the droppings of a caterpillar, thus rendering it completely uninteresting to would be predators. This was in the Old Woods section of the garden.
16-JUN-2016
Aphids on lupines
The lupines in the Butterfly Meadow are in full bloom and in addition to attracting bees, they have here attracted some very pale aphids which are likely to be Macrosiphum albifrons, which seem to be specific to lupines.
07-JUNE-2016
Prince baskettail (Epitheca cynosura)
Barry found this large baskettail dragonfly and managed to get this shot of it. We see these every so often at the garden, and it is always a pleasure.
4 June 2016
Annual Native Plant Sale 2016
And here come the customers!
4 June 2016
Plants are ready
The shelves are stocked with a variety of species, thanks to Sue and many other volunteers who cheerfully carried heavy trays of plants first thing in the morning.
4 June 2016
Eye level is not the same for everyone
Each species is labelled with name, photo of the flower, size, light and water requirements, and wildlife uses.
4 June 2016
Customers have arrived!
We try to help customers by organizing the plants into Sun, Shade, and Wet sections. This one is sun.
4 June 2016
Shade
These are plants that will grow in shade, carefully protected from the sun by an open tent.
4 June 2016
Wet environment
And plants that need a lot of moisture. The trouble is, some plants will do well in both sun and shade. Some like to grow in damp soil, but will do fine in a normal garden.
4 June 2016
Are we sure?
Maybe we need one more of this White Snakeroot?
4 June 2016
Difficult choices
The garden is obviously a shared project in this family.
4 June 2016
Is this one good for pollinators?
Always wise to read the label. The info on them comes from our database where we store info about our own experience growing these plants and wildlife we have seen using them.
4 June 2016
Yellow for sun
And, in case you hadn't noticed, green for shade and blue for high moisture.
4 June 2016
Will I remember the name?
4 June 2016
Our label table
We provide labels and pens, so you'll remember what you bought when you get home.
4 June 2016
Water as needed
We also keep water on hand for plants that might droop in the hot sun.
4 June 2016
Long-time guest vendors
Philip Fry (in the baseball cap) of the Old Field Garden in Oxford Mills has been selling his wonderful woodland wildflowers at our sale for many years. As in the past few years, Catherine and Rachel have come along to help.
Not shown, but this year Stefan Cherry of Twigs Nursery was also on hand selling trees and shrubs grown from local seeds.
4 June 2016
Information please
Elizabeth and Connie staffed the information table this year, armed with field guides and textbooks on growing wild plants.
4 June 2016
Advice on a tricky garden problem
And Renate was also on hand to provide advice or suggestions.
4 June 2016
Choices made
Time to get these plants home and into the ground.
4 June 2016
Checkout
Marilyn, who keeps the volunteers supplied with coffee and delicious snacks, chats with Allison and Jesse at one of the two checkout tables. Standing to the right of the table, our mascot Great Blue Heron is actually a donation box - for unwanted change.
4 June 2016
Satisfied customers
Off to plant their new acquisitions!
03-JUNE-2016
Treehopper (Cyrtolobus sp.)
A nice find by Barry. This little treehopper is one of several species that are very closely associated with oaks. A few years ago I found the Smilia camelus treehopper at the garden, and have been looking for it, and at least three other species that are usually found on oaks. No luck. But Barry found this attractive little hopper. At the same time as he found this one, I was finding all four of the oak species on oaks in the east end of the city. Now, to find them at FWG! (CH)
01-JUNE-2016
Dot-tailed whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta), female
A common species in this region and at the garden.
One of the Whiteface dragonflies
I'm not sure, from this position, which whiteface this is that Barry photographed, but a nice closeup detail of the head and face anyway.
01-JUNE-2016
Butterfly meadow
Barry's shot shows that it is lupine time again at the garden. The bees will be especially happy as many of them nectar on these flowers.
01-JUNE-2016
Racket-tailed emerald (Dorocordulia libera)
Another view of the very attractive emerald species of dragonfly.
01-JUNE-2016
Yellow warbler, female
Barry reports that there was breeding activity taking place with a pair of yellow warblers, so always a good sign. Most years we have several nests at the garden, and hoping for the same again this year. They nest low in shrubs so we hope people are careful and do not go off-trail, or let their dogs run through the bush.
01-JUNE-2016
Two-spotted stinkbug (Cosmopepla)
An abundant species at this time of year, and right through the summer. These bugs are not fussy about which plants they eat; anything will do. The adults spend the winter in leaf litter, just as the Cuerna striata leafhoppers do, in large aggregations.
01-JUNE-2016
Racket-tailed emerald (Dorocordulia libera)
Another abundant species at the moment. A beautiful shiny dragonfly, often quite cooperative for photos!
01-JUNE-2016
Common whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
And yet another common species in the region. Barry had great luck in finding dragonflies at the garden today, and it has been awhile since so many have been seen in one day.
01-JUNE-2016
Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
This species is really noticeable at present, being found all over the region.Barry was fortunate enough to start off June with a great sighting and shot at the garden.