29-MAY-2013
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
In between showers at the garden, Claudia was able to take this sparkling shot of the seedheads of prairie smoke.
29-MAY-2013
Mayapple flower (Podophyllum peltatum)
The flower really stands out in this photo by Claudia. The mayapple flowers hang down below the large, umbrella like leaves and can be difficult to see unless looked for.
29-MAY-2013
Yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum)
Claudia dodged rain showers to take some photos of flowers in the Backyard Garden, including this lovely orchid shot. This species is native to our region, and can be found in moist woodlands.
25-MAY-2013
Great crested flycatcher
This is a superb photo by Diane, showing this large flycatcher with nesting material. These cavity nesters periodically nest at the garden.
25-MAY-2013
Yellow warbler
A really attractive photo of this pretty warbler. They are common nesters at the FWG, their song heard from all corners of the garden.
25-MAY-2013
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Diane photographed a beautiful clump of this vivid blue, non-native plant. It is often used as a groundcover in place of grass, and can be attractive and eye-catching, though it will also spread in natural areas.
25-MAY-2013
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
Always a welcome sight, this large, and very attractive plant grows in the Ash Woods.
25-MAY-2013
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Striking photo by Diane of the introduced mustard, known familiarly as dame's rocket. It comes in shades from white through pale pink to pink-blue, to this vivid rose colour. It is non-native, probably long ago escaped from gardens, and is often considered invasive.
25-MAY-2013
Golden dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
This gorgeous fly, brilliantly golden, and quite large at about 8mm, is probably the male of the species as the females are said to be greyer. Diane photographed this beauty in great light. While their unsavoury name comes from the fact that the larvae eat dung, the adults are predatory on insects.
25-MAY-2013
Root-maggot fly (family: Anthomyiidae)
Flies (Diptera) are a huge order, and many look similar to this, so it is not always easy to place them even to family. Despite their name, the adult flies nectar on flowers and eat pollen.
25-MAY-2013
Groundhog
So cute! Diane photographed this one with a mouthful of nesting material. Groundhogs have a hard time of it at the FWG with all the dogs, but each year one or two try to make a go of it.
25-MAY-2013
Broad-nosed weevil (Otiorhynchus raucus)
Diane photographed this intricately patterned weevil at the FWG. This one is non-native, indigenous to the Palearctic region. There are numerous species locally, some quite large, others tiny, but they are adept at hiding and thus our insect list doesn't contain more than a few species.
23-MAY-2013
Artists at work
Lynn and Steve are busy with their respective sketches, sitting on the Woodland Trail section of the Backyard Garden. Artists enjoy visiting the garden where they can find a wealth of native and non-native plants to sketch.
23-MAY-2013
Baltimore oriole, male, in walnut tree
Adding a touch of the tropics to the area, the baltimore oriole's vivid colouring is accompanied by his loud, "happy" sounding song, which could be heard through the rain, from many locations. These are the birds that build the tightly woven sock-like nests that dangle from high up in tall trees, often willows.
23-MAY-2013
Gray catbird
There were at least three, possibly four, catbirds calling from various parts of the garden. Some singing, some giving their "meow" like call. They build large, untidy, twiggy nests, often with strands of plastic woven through. Their nests resemble those of brown thrashers and cardinals.
23-MAY-2013
Song sparrow
One of many song sparrows around the garden, busy with nesting duties. They nest low in shrubs or on the ground, often in tangles of old DSV vines. The old field area and some sections of the new woods are particularly important nesting areas for this species, so we ask people to please keep to the paths.
23-MAY-2013
Virginian tiger moth (Spilosoma virginica), #8137
Curled up in the middle of a lupine leaf, this was one of several caterpillars all clustered around the lupine plant.
23-MAY-2013
Green blister beetle (Lytta sayi)
This large green blister beetle, with the vivid orange legs, was hiding under leaves in the BYG. This is the time of year to find these handsome beetles. I've seen them in various locations around the region over the last week.
23-MAY-2013
Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
The tulip tree sapling, which appeared one day several years ago, as a tiny seedling, has survived three winters, including the recent quite cold, harsh one. I wondered whether this Carolinian species, which is out of its range here, would survive this recent winter, but it did.
23-MAY-2013
A section of the Butterfly Meadow
The north end of the Butterfly Meadow, with the old split rail fence, and an abundance of columbine and mustards.
23-MAY-2013
Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Also in the old field area, I saw some celandine popping up. This non-native garden plant has been growing in that area for years and years, a legacy of the time when leaves from gardens were dumped there for use as compost. In Britain it is also known as swallowwort (just like our beloved pale swallowwort!). The name derives from the blooming time in Britain coinciding with the return of swallows. Wort, of course, is an old English name for plant.
23-MAY-2013
Dog-strangling vine (Cynanchum rossicum)
AKA DSV or pale swallowwort. The frost of over a week ago, caused much frost burn on thousands of DSV plants. These ones are still looking beaten down, compared to others at FWG where the frost did not hit (protected sites), which are growing quickly, and looking tall and vigorous.
23-MAY-2013
Garlic mustard seedlings (Alliaria petiolata)
In the rototilled section of the Old Field, thousands of tiny garlic mustard seedlings have sprung up. Horrors! It seems the more we pull this plant, the more we find. The rototilling last spring, must have provided good conditions for the seedlings to emerge this spring. I'll have to take a hoe to them, as they are far too tiny to pull.
23-MAY-2013
Lilacs
Gorgeous colour on this particular lilac, hidden amidst a thicket near the old field.
23-MAY-2013
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
A gorgeous plant, native to southern Ontario, whose long plume-like seedheads give rise to the other common name of old man's whiskers. It is sometimes listed under Erythrocoma triflora.
23-MAY-2013
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
Another view of the plant, without the seedheads.
23-MAY-2013
Water avens (Geum rivale)
This native species is considered quite rare in the Ottawa area, with only a few known locations in the region. The water avens looks very similar to prairie smoke at this stage.
23-MAY-2013
Mayapple flower (Podophyllum peltatum)
these creamy blossoms hang down underneath the very large leaves of the mayapple plant, a native species, though not to the Ottawa area, but a little further south, down near Kingston.
23-MAY-2013
Yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum)
One of several clusters of these pretty native orchids, planted in the BYG and doing well.
23-MAY-2013
Woodland walk
The woodland walk always looks its absolute best in spring, as shown here. So many native woodland plants in flower, ferns unfurling... it is lovely.
23-MAY-2013
The Backyard Garden May 2013
Looking from the end of the garden toward the Interpretive Centre.
23-MAY-2013
Backyard Garden and Interpretive Centre
A collection of ostrich ferns against the back wall of the Interpretive Centre.
23-MAY-2013
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
I was last at FWG a week ago, when the comfrey plants were a few inches tall. A week later, with all the rain, some sun and warmth, they've taken off. These non-native plants can spread quickly, once they become established, but they also provide nectar for many insects, especially early emerging ones, and even for monarch butterflies (
http://www.pbase.com/fwg/image/138387873) when the flowers last into summer.
23-MAY-2013
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
The pretty, bell-like flowers of the comfrey plant.
23-MAY-2013
Bladdernut shrub (Staphylea trifolia)
Bladdernuts are native to Ontario, but quite scarce in the wild around Ottawa. This one, in the Backyard Garden, was planted, and is doing very, very well. The common name derives from the shape of the fruit capsules, which are quite attractive in their own right, and unique. See next image.
16-MAY-2013
Andrenid bee (Andrena sp.) on dandelion
You can see the heavy pollen load on this bee as it crawls across the dandelion. It went from one to the other, and it is evident that at this time of year, dandelions are important for bees, and many other insects. Other photos in this blog show a lady beetle and a nomada bee on dandelions.
16-MAY-2013
Andrenid bee (Andrena sp.)
These bees make their nests in holes in the ground. Although solitary nesters, they gather in large aggregations. There are several locations around the FWG where these bees are found. This one was on the rim of a bucket filled with uprooted plants in the BYG. Bug Guide notes that because Andrenid bees will fly at much cooler temperatures than honey bees (Apis mellifera), they can be superior pollinators when the weather is too cold for other bees.
16-MAY-2013
Spotted lady beetle (Coleomagilla maculata)
One of my particular favourites amongst all the different types of lady beetles, this tiny native beetle is brightly coloured and smartly patterned. Don't let the small size and cuteness fool you, however, for these are fierce little predators. As you can see, it is on a dandelion. I frequently find these beetles on dandelions, sometimes 5 or 6 or more on one flowerhead. Dandelions, also attract many, many, many other insects, so they can be considered a VIP (very important plant) for insects.
16-MAY-2013
American emerald (Cordulia shurtleffi)
Barry found this dragonfly in the BYG this morning. Not a new species for our list, but one that we don't often see at the garden, despite it being a common species in the region. So, a nice find.
16-MAY-2013
Nomada bee on dandelion
Nomada bees are tiny wasp-like red and yellow bees. Here, the dandelion was so occupying the bee, that I was able to get very close. Normally, these bees rarely stop!
16-MAY-2013
Dog-strangling vine (Cynanchum rossicum)
This is also called DSV for short, as well as pale swallowwort. Here, you can see the frost bitten leaf tips. Many, if not most, of the DSV plants in the open areas were similarly 'frosted'. Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to damage the plant at all, and growth proceeds apace.
16-MAY-2013
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
The fresh green leaves of black walnuts are vivid right now. The long drooping clusters of the pollen flowers are very apparent too.
16-MAY-2013
Blossom time at the FWG
It is a feast for the senses at FWG right now. The trees are full bloom with apples and wild plum, hawthorn, chokecherries, all over the garden. Here, from left to right are: apple, hawthorn, and choke cherry. Sadly they don't last long!
16-MAY-2013
Ash woods
Looking south from the ravine to the north side of the ash woods.
16-MAY-2013
Lilacs
When we became managers of the site that would become the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, there were already many trees planted, mostly non-native such as magnolias (just to the left of the lilacs), crabapples, and of course, many different types of lilacs. These all attract large numbers of flies and bees as well as butterflies.
16-MAY-2013
Amphibian pond
A long view down to the pond, past the apple blossoms. The cattails are just beginning to grow, but it is the dead ones from last year that the red-winged blackbirds like for nesting in.
16-MAY-2013
Bee box
This is one of four bee boxes placed around the FWG again this year, by Sophie, an AAFC bee researcher. It won't be long before leafcutter bees are checking these out.
07-MAY-2013
Nomada bee on wild plum
One of many bees nectaring on the plum blossoms. These tiny bees are rarely still, so it is difficult to photograph them. With their 'wasp waist' and lack of hair, they look like wasps, but are in fact bees. They are parasitic on andrenid bees and if you see nomadas, you are guaranteed to see andrenids nearby. Typically, you see nomada bees zig-zagging back and forth a few inches above the ground.
07-MAY-2013
Ichneumonid wasp (Ophion sp.), female
One of about 4 Ophions found on the walls and windows of the interpretive centre early in the morning. According to Bug Guide, they are attracted to artificial lights, which would explain their presence near the security lights on the building. These wasps are parasitic on moth caterpillars.
07-MAY-2013
Daffodils in early light
It is just about 6:30 a.m. and the sun is making an appearance in the Backyard Garden, where there are multiple clumps of daffodils. These non-native garden plants are attractive to many insects, providing a lot of nectar.
07-MAY-2013
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Last summer, I planted many pearly everlasting plants in a section of the old field habitat. Some already had american lady caterpillars on them. I am very happy to see these plants looking well and healthy.
07-MAY-2013
Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum)
The mayapples are doing well in the ash woods. They have spread, though not quickly, and form a nice layer of attractive foliage. The attractive white flowers are difficult to see, as they hang below the leaves and you need to get down on your hands and knees and peer underneath the plants to see them. Another name for this plant is Mandrake.
07-MAY-2013
American Toad (Bufo americanus)
Sandy sends the following note: "I was watering the plants in our nursery this evening when the soil in one pot started to move - as if the plant was trying to get out. A closer look revealed a small toad wedged in next to a butterfly weed. Another (in the photo) had nestled into a pot of clematis, probably keeping cool and moist on this hot, dry day."
07-MAY-2013
Green heron
The heron arrived just about on schedule. Early May is when we expect to see this lovely small heron at the garden. This one was calling from various locations around the site - breeding season is here and he wonders where the female is.
It was a hot day at the garden, and as the sun rose more birds became active. By the time I left I had seen the following: yellow warblers, song sparrows, white-breasted nuthatch, black-capped chickadees, tree swallows, brown-headed cowbirds, american goldfinches, house finches, american crows, mallards, american robins, starlings, blue jay, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, common raven, blue-gray gnatcatcher, downy woodpecker, northern flicker, red-breasted nuthatch, eastern phoebe. Flying overhead was one double-crested cormorant and lots of canada geese and ring-billed gulls.
07-MAY-2013
Red-winged blackbird female gathering nest material
So far, only a few pairs found in the pond, the females of each busy building nests. It is quite an intricate process, and last spring I was able to observe this while remaining out of sight. Such a lot of work, threading the long strands of grass around last year's cattail stems, flying off to gather more material, repeating the process, again and again, non-stop until the nest is ready.
07-MAY-2013
Yellow warbler
Always a pleasure to hear the first yellow warbler song of the year. When they have just returned they are calling loudly and frequently, and just as frequently, flying all over the garden, from low down in shrubs to high up in conifers. Soon enough they will begin nesting, usually 4-5 feet up in a shrub, an intricate little cup-shaped nest made of plant fibres.
07-MAY-2013
Yellow-rumped warbler
Saw only one yellow-rumped warbler, and as they are usually seen in small flocks when not breeding, I kept looking for more, but there was only this one. They don't nest at the garden.
07-MAY-2013
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
An absolutely dreadful photo - my apologies. It is only here as a record of this species being found at the garden today, a new species for the FWG list, and a relatively rare to uncommon bird in the region. I heard it calling vigorously, and was able to easily locate it, but getting a photo was difficult for it was perched high up and constantly moving. It did not stay around long.
07-MAY-2013
Brown-headed cowbirds, male
There were four of these guys together, giving their squeaky door call and doing their little bow as they did so. I know many people do not like these parasitic birds, but I find them handsome.
07-MAY-2013
Red squirrel
This red was exhausted by all the activity taking place in his home. Or at least, that is how I anthropomorphically interpret this pose. A few minutes before, he'd been sitting hunched up as above him four male cowbirds were carrying on - screeching and fluttering and making a to-do. Eventually they left, and he ventured out along this branch, when in came a yellow-rumped warbler, almost landed on him, and began hopping along a branch just over his head. The squirrel sank down in this exhausted pose!
07-MAY-2013
Mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Two mourning cloaks (or camberwell beauties as they are called in Britain), one in the ash woods, one near the birch grove. Compared to most of the tattered overwintering ones I have seen, this one is in almost perfect condition.
07-MAY-2013
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
Two spring azures, both male, flitting around the edge of the ash woods. These are our earliest 'blue' butterfly to appear. And they are blue... when they open their wings, the males show a brilliant flash of their very blue wings.
07-MAY-2013
Green frog (Rana clamitans)
This happy looking frog was in the BYG pond. I didn't spend much time looking, and though I saw only one, there are doubtless others there, if they survived our long cold winter in that small pond.
07-MAY-2013
Snail on wild plum
Even this snail seemed to enjoy the wild plum, oozing along the branch, while various bee species nectared on the flowers
07-MAY-2013
Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)
The early morning sun backlights the fresh green leaves and the old 'cones' on this sumac shrub. Fresh leaves are delicate and beautiful and now is the time to see them on many of our trees and shrubs. With the warm weather (+27c today), everything is growing fast, right in front of our eyes.
07-MAY-2013
Red oak leaves and pollen flowers (Quercus rubra)
The oak leaves look so bright and soft here, unlike the tougher leaves they soon become.
07-MAY-2013
wild plum (Prunus)
Abundant in the garden, these thicket forming shrubs or small trees are at their best right now. Bees find their nectar a magnet and on one tree swarms of nomada, small carpenter, and sweat bees, as well as bumble bees, were found.
07-MAY-2013
Black maple (Acer nigrum) new growth
Lime green against the sky, these lovely maple leaves with their flowers, make a vivid image. Black maple leaves are very soft and 'fuzzy' underneath, a good way to check whether or not the tree is a black maple or sugar maple.
07-MAY-2013
Bleeding heart (Dicentra)
A gorgeous pink garden plant, not our native species, but still lovely. This is growing in the Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden.
01-MAY-2013
Magnolia
There are two magnolia trees at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, both planted there long before we took over the site. The flowers have just opened and were a magnet for bees and flies, but particularly bees. Sweat bees, nomada bees, andrenids, others I couldn't ID, all swarming around the flowers, landing and crawling into the centre, back out and on to the next...
The warm weather also brought out more than insects. Gray treefrogs were calling from various locations in the garden, and toads were trilling in the ravine. I expect in a day or two they will also be calling from the pond.
01-MAY-2013
White-throated sparrow
Sitting on the compost bin, this white-throated sparrow was one of several at the garden today. Last week there were many, but now there are only lingering birds. They nest in the region, but not at the garden.
01-MAY-2013
Eastern phoebe
A tiny bit of plant matter can be seen in the bill of this phoebe. It is one of a pair building a nest at the garden. If they nest successfully, it will be the first nesting of the species at the Fletcher garden!
Speaking of nesting, the red-breasted nuthatch pair have seemingly abandoned their attempts to nest in a maple snag. Perhaps this is for the best, because the location was very public, and very easily interfered with.
01-MAY-2013
Eastern phoebe with nest material
A pair of eastern phoebes has decided to nest over the security light on the side of our centre. Last week, they were investigating a much more busy site on the front of the building, but I guess they rightly decided it was too busy. I watched them for quite awhile and marveled at how they carried tiny bits of vegetation (mosses and other plant matter), one beakful at a time, back to the nest site, and then spent much time positioning it just so.
01-MAY-2013
House finch and eastern phoebe
At one point, the phoebe was sitting down on the light and arranging the plant material for its nest, when a house finch flew in. It was about to land when the phoebe sat up and the finch 'back-pedaled' furiously!
01-MAY-2013
Scilla (Scilla siberica)
A garden plant and non-native, that is growing in small clumps in a couple of places around the garden. These early blooming flowers are very attractive to bees and provide sustenance to those species which emerge early in the season. They are suggested as a good pollinator plant by the Xerces Society, in their wonderful book, "Attracting Native Pollinators."
01-MAY-2013
American kestrel, male, with meadow vole
The kestrel has found some food. He was calling to his mate, and eventually flew off with his prize.
01-MAY-2013
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
At last... some wildflowers in our woods. These beauties are amongst the first to appear in spring. They are now in full bloom in many locations throughout the woods, having spread well over the years, thanks to ants who help disperse the seeds.
01-MAY-2013
Backyard Garden on May 1st
This is our "model" backyard garden, where we showcase ways to garden in a wildlife friendly manner, with plants that are beneficial for wildlife (nectar, seeds, etc). The garden is just awakening from a long winter...