13-OCT-2011
Great blue heron
This heron was fishing in the small stream that is fed by the one that trickles down from our Ampibian Pond and eventually makes its way through the Arboretum into the Rideau Canal. While I watched, several small fish were caught in the space of about 5 minutes.
12-OCT-2011
Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
We first noticed this bittersweet growing in the birch grove about 5 years ago. It was not particularly fast-growing at the time, and it was confined to draping over one of the dead birches. A few years later, it had spread some more and at that time we noticed it was the Asian Bittersweet, the very invasive one that can grow and grow... and can interbreed with our native American Bittersweet. It was cut down and the following year either we didn't look for it or its growth was minimal. This summer I noticed it had draped itself over a number of nearby dead birches, and then recently, exploring further, saw how very extensive its growth is. The interior of the birch grove is almost covered with this vine. It is climbing way up into the dead trees, and beginning its ascent up the living ones too, as well as clambering across the ground and anything in its path. Like the Kudzu Vine! As with the native bittersweet, the stem of the vine grows thicker and heavier each year, but this one seems to grow at a greater rate of speed! It can reach about 60 feet in length and the stems can achieve a diameter of about 4 inches, which is substantial. It is a lovely, vigorous vine with the same pretty fruit as our native one, and it is easy to see why it is sold as a garden ornamental. But, it is very invasive...
12-OCT-2011
New Nursery under construction
As you can see, the new nursery at the FWG is well underway. This is a much needed revamping of the existing nursery which, having served us well, for many years, now needs to be expanded and upgraded.
12-OCT-2011
Amphibian Pond
Lots of black ducks and mallards in the pond, which is surrounded by glorious fall colours. The water is getting low for the first time this year, and mud banks are exposed on the south side at present.
12-OCT-2011
Song sparrow
Lots of song sparrows around today. A few ruby-crowned kinglets, blue jays, robins, both hairy and downy woodpeckers.
12-OCT-2011
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
We have one witch hazel shrub and each October I check it for flowers and try to get one half decent shot of them, and I'm still trying! They are funny, wispy things, and I find them hard to capture well. A native shrub that flowers in the fall, in our climate, is worth planting.
12-OCT-2011
Downy woodpecker pair
Barry and I watched this pair busily working their way around this tree. At one point, the male extracted something and flew off to eat it. The female then zoomed in to the same hole, but was pushed off the male.
12-OCT-2011
Red on walnut tree
This large walnut tree by the pond has been inhabited/protected by red squirrels for years! Whether we see the offspring of the original reds to adopt this tree, or any opportunistic invader :-), who knows. What we do know, is that each year, especially in fall and winter, reds can be almost be guaranteed to be somewhere around this tree with its bounty of nuts.
06-OCT-2011
Bee moth larvae (Aphomia)
The bee moths, Aphomia, are in the Pyralidae Family. I know nothing about these moths, but when I opened a bird box to check it today, I saw this mass of tubular shaped cocoons and little yellow larvae, one per tube. The door to the bird house was firmly stuck shut and it took some time to pry open. I had no idea what could be making it so difficult to open and was surprised to see this nest with very strong sticky fibres which had, it turns out, cemented the door shut. The door itself was grooved with long channels, corresponding to the cocoons.
I had to go to Bug Guide for an answer. There I learned what made this nest and that there are only 3 species in North America, and this one is most likely Aphomia sociella. Apparently they get their name because their larvae often develop in bee's nests. However, Bug Guide also notes that they can develop in rodent nests, and that is interesting because prior to the moths taking over, this nest box had housed a family of mice!
06-OCT-2011
Bee moth (Aphomia) work in a nest box
This is the door to the nest box mentioned above. It is scored by long channels corresponding to the cocoons of the moths.
06-OCT-2011
Mushroom, possibly an Amanita sp.
This mushroom was pushing its way up out of the soil in a shady spot. I think it is an Amanita, but am not entirely sure. However, it is a strikingly orange fungus!
06-OCT-2011
Green Heron Way
This stretch of the service rd. through the garden, from Prince of Wales Dr. to the point it meets the other service rd coming from the Arboretum, we named Green Heron Way some years ago, in order to quickly identify this particular section and area. Here, I am looking west along the road, with the Old Field on my left and the Birch Grove to the right.