Have you ever taken a close look at Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)? This common native vine is sometimes confused with poison ivy. Virginia creeper’s leaves are almost always in groups of five, while poison ivy’s leaves are in groups of three. You don’t need to worry about touching Virginia creeper. It will not make you… Continue reading A Closer Look at Virginia Creeper
Month: June 2026
A June Visit to the North Carolina Botanical Garden
These are some of the flowers blooming right now at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
A Little Frustration on the Trails
Earlier this spring, I found a new (to me) plant: woolly mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus). It started as a basal rosette of large, velvety leaves. I’ve been watching it closely as it has grown taller. Two weeks ago, it was starting to grow its flower stalk. I was looking forward to July, when I… Continue reading A Little Frustration on the Trails
American Lotus in Downtown Cary Park
The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is blooming in Downtown Cary Park. These native plants are filtering stormwater before it enters Walnut Creek. Stormwater typically contains nitrogen and phosphates, which act as fertilizer for algae. The algae form dense mats that prevent underwater plants from growing. Bacteria break down the algae and consume the oxygen in… Continue reading American Lotus in Downtown Cary Park
Field Report- June 30, 2026
I haven’t done a field report for the month of June. I feel like every time I see a new flower in bloom, it’s gone pretty quickly. Blink, and you miss it. The picture of the dry, cracked ground above is yet another sign of our prolonged drought. I’ve been paying attention to the flowers… Continue reading Field Report- June 30, 2026
Green-eyed Horse Fly
Look at what was on my car this morning! Those bright green eyes and furry yellow back really caught my attention. This is a female green-eyed horse fly (Tabanus fulvulus). I learned today that the females have a space between their eyes, while the males have contiguous eyes. I didn’t know what this bug was… Continue reading Green-eyed Horse Fly
Muskrat Sighting in Carpenter Park
I saw a muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) at Carpenter Park today. Have you seen it? It was in the water for a while, then it came up on land and gathered some grass. It walked right toward me! I thought it would run away, but I learned today that they have poor eyesight. Since I was… Continue reading Muskrat Sighting in Carpenter Park
Pollinators on Stoke’s Aster
If you want to attract pollinators to your garden, plant some Stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis)!
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? July 2026
By the middle of summer, we typically have no shortage of flowers to look at. This year has certainly been different. The plants are still flowering, but much less than normal. The flowers either wither quickly, or the plants only put out a few blooms with what little energy they have from the lack of… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? July 2026