21-AUG-2012
Dog-strangling vine leaves (Cynanchum rossicum)
All spring and summer volunteers spend time cutting, scything, pulling out DSV, a very invasive species. When it is cut, it quickly sends out a side shoot as here, which also quickly produces flowers and then seedpods.
21-AUG-2012
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
While cutting DSV in the old field this morning, I came across this tiny, perfect, treefrog sitting on a DSV leaf.
21-AUG-2012
Fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis)
I find all the fruit flies in the family Tephritidae to be exceptionally pretty, and this one is no exception. It is one of the larger fruit flies, and is also relatively common.
15-AUG-2012
Black swallowtail caterpillar (Papillio polyxenes) on Queen Anne's Lace
Diane took this phenomenal photo of one of the black swallowtail caterpillars at FWG.
16-AUG-2012
Sphecid wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata)
Another new addition to our FWG insect list. I found this in the Butterfly Meadow, nectaring on goldenrod.
16-AUG-2012
Bottle gentians
These beautiful flowers are pollinated by bumble bees and hummingbirds.
16-AUG-2012
Tachinid fly (Hemyda aurata)
This large tachinid fly is another new addition to our FWG insect list. We found it while mothing at night in the Ash Woods. It seems to have a damaged left leg. This is a fairly common fly throughout this area and I guess we've just not noticed it before at the garden, though I have seen it elsewhere in the region.
16-AUG-2012
Black swallowtail caterpillar (Papillio polyxenes) on Queen Anne's Lace
This fine fat caterpillar was in the Butterfly Meadow. Beneath it, was, sadly, a dead one, that looked as if it might have been attacked by a predatory stinkbug. Isabelle also found one of these guys, bigger than this one, in the Backyard Garden, also on queen anne's lace. These plants, along with garden dill, and wild parsnip, are favoured larval host plants for the black swallowtail.
Hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe)on phlox
Barry took this pretty photo showing the hummingbird moth (a sphinx moth), at the garden phlox in the Backyard Garden. We have seen these moths at the phlox often, and hummingbirds will also visit, behaving in the same manner as these lovely moths.
16-AUG-2012
Bee balm (Monarda) with hummingbird
This is not a great photo by any means, but you can just about see the hummingbird at the monarda. It is included more for reference than for art! Hummingbirds will visit a variety of flowers and here are some you can plant for these dainty and beautiful little birds: bottle gentians, jewel-weed, monarda, cardinal flower, garen phlox and great blue lobelia. Isabelle, who looks after the Backyard Garden, has observed hummingbirds on ALL of these plants.
14-AUG-2012
House finch
One of many house finches at the garden today. There was a lot of activity around the FWG, including a cooper's hawk, gray catbirds, yellow warblers, house wrens, rose-breasted grosbeaks, robins, American redstarts, amongst many more. American goldfinches were abundant!
14-AUG-2012
Painted ladies (Vanessa cardui)
There were about 20 painted ladies around the garden yesterday, including one on the butterfly bush in the Backyard Garden, and two sitting on a rock there.