22-JUN-2017
Hobomok skipper (Poanes hobomok)
Several of these skippers around the garden, along with some european skippers (or essex skippers as they are known in the UK).
22-JUN-2017
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
A happy sight today, and I later heard from Isabelle that monarchs have been seen more than a few times around the garden. I've also seen them well west and well east of the city too, so that is a hopeful sign.
22-JUN-2017
Great crested flycatcher
As they have done for some years, this species nests at the garden. This one is bringing food to youngsters. Other birds seen today include black-and-white warbler, yellow warblers, american redstart warbler, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, tree swallows, barn swallows, norther cardinals, american goldfinches, crows, white-breasted nuthatches, purple finches, house finches, song sparrows, chipping sparrows...
22-JUN-2017
Downy woodpecker, female
A very active and vocal family of downy woodpeckers kept us entertained. They constantly flew to the feeder to find peanuts or sunflower seeds, then to a nearby tree to eat them or to feed to one of the adult-size young.
22-JUN-2017
Northern cardinal, male
Lots of cardinals around today, sometimes individual males, often pairs, calling and singing all over the garden. They are always a treat to see, especially for some visitors from England who find them exotically beautiful.
19 June 2017
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Not a very showy flower, but Foxglove Beardtongue is in bloom at the moment and there are nice lots of it in the Butterfly Meadow and Backyard Garden where it is attracting the tiny bees that are so hard to identify - the "little brown jobs" of the bee domain. (SG)
19 June 2017
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Butterfly Meadow has really come to life this week with both colourful flowers and pretty butterflies everywhere. This skipper - so easy to identify with its large bright white wing-spot - was flitting from one vetch flower to another, posing nicely for photos at each stop. (SG)
17 June 2017
Snapping Turtle
The highlight of our Garden Days open house on Saturday was this gigantic Snapping Turtle, who decided to lay eggs in the Butterfly Meadow - a much safer place than the roadsides or other improbable locations that many of these endangered creatures choose. (SG)
19 June 2017
Snapper rest time
Two days later, it was good to see our matriarch back in the middle of the pond, looking like the end of a branch, enjoying the sunshine. (SG)
17 June 2017
Inornate Ringlet
Also called Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia), this little butterfly looks rather drab from a distance, but is actually quite lovely. True to its name, it is fairly common at this time of year. This photo was taken by Susan Gallinger during our open house event. (SG)
17 June 2017
Garter Snake (Hamnophis sirtalis)
Susan was surprised to see this Garter Snake sunning itself at the top of a clematis vine. Apparently snakes can climb. (SG)
17 June 2017
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Susan also photographed this Painted Lady in our Butterfly Meadow. It's sipping nectar from Dame's Rocket here, but for laying eggs, it needs its larval host plant, Pearly Everlasting, which is abundant in the Backyard Garden. (SG)
