Leafhoppers are back. Hooray!
They've congregated to spend their Summer on our Wafer-ash trees.
I've tried to grow Bergamot (aka Bee Balm, Monarda, etc.) in a bed beside the house the past couple of years but there wasn't enough air circulation to keep them happy. A patch is established in the sunny back yard now, and they're goin' to town.
This cultivar is planted alongside native, paler flowers that should be coming on soon.
The Echinacea is just getting started, too.
I counted nearly 100 tadpoles in the pond today!
I heard the song of an adult Northern Green Frog so I assume these are Greens as well.
We looked at a fresh oak gall a few weeks ago. Someone bored through this one-- from the inside out--
and now that they've hatched, we can look inside.
and now that they've hatched, we can look inside.
Such delicate filaments!
And here is the nursery chamber.
A patch of Common Milkweed is growing in the front yard.
"Common," indeed!
Leafing through field guides in one's spare time has its advantages. I've never seen them before
but I immediately knew these were Stinkhorns. Unlike many fungi, the spores don't become airborne. Instead, the 'shroom's odor attracts insects, the spores adhere to the insect's bodies, and are then dispersed. Crazy stuff.
13 comments:
Wow....incredible views of tiny worlds !
Lovely work Flea!
Oh, my! Thank you, Anonymous!
I have Bee Balm too planted here and there, like yours some places do better than others.
The Oak Gall even looks like a self contained little world inside. I remember finding the first one here and not knowing what the little odd thing was.
Back in May I found a small milkweed blooming on a path in the woods. I don't think it was "Common', but either narrow-leafed or 4 leaf milkweed.
♥...Wanda
Cool stuff! Good thing I don't have to pick a favorite.
Wanda, the Common Milkweeds are uncommonly beautiful, but I'd love to see other varieties. I bet everyone's baffled the first time they see a gall. I can't wait till all the Bee Balms are flowering--the scent! the insects! the color!
Thanks, Greentangle, I couldn't pick a favorite, either.
My neighbor has also pond similar to yours. There are tons of frogs that are singing to us all night long. At first it was bothering me, but now its like a music to my ears.
Sweet music it is, vrtlarica! We often open the windows at night so we can hear Peepers and other night-callers.
Hi, Jain. I was going to comment earlier in the week, but the storms blocked my satellite connection and I forgot to come back. This must be the year for stinkhorns. Several people have brought them into the office for identification. I can usually smell the fungus long before anyone can come back to pry me away from my desk.
Hi, Steve. I feel cheated. My stinkhorns had no odor.
Your glimpses into life of the garden are wonderful as always. I especially like the oak gall. Thanks for sharing your world in such interesting photos!
Kay
Thank you, Kay, and thanks for visiting. I wish I could offer you all a cup of tea.
Hi Jain
I've never seen the inside of a gall before - its fascinating isn't it
I've always wondered why my bergamot never did so well - I think it could have been lack of air circulation after reading of your experience.
Hi Rosie! I was surprised at the gall interior, too, first time I saw it. Nature never, ever ceases to amaze me.
Powdery mildew spores are happiest in high humidity, so air circulation keeps things a bit drier. This is my bergamot's first year out in the open and I'm anxious to see if they stay healthy all summer.
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