Author: Jaclyn

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It’s Berry Season

It’s berry season! The spring flowers have given way to summer fruit. What fruits have you seen this year?

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Categorized as Plants

Joro Spider

We saw our first Joro spider (Trichonephila clavata) this weekend! The large web was what caught our attention. We didn’t realize what spider we were looking at until after doing some research at home. This yellow and gray spider is native to Asia. It was introduced to Georgia in 2014 and has been making its… Continue reading Joro Spider

July Fourth

In honor of the 4th of July holiday, enjoy this image of a firecracker plant. Happy Independence Day!

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Killdeer Crossing

I was watching a pair of killdeer in the retention pond at the corner of Town Hall Drive and Harris Mill Road. At some point, one bird flew away while the other stayed in the pond. I finished taking my pictures of the bird in the pond, and started to walk to the other side… Continue reading Killdeer Crossing

Ladies’-tresses

A few different types of ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes) can be found along the trails now. Their small white flowers spiral around the stem. Did you know that they are part of the orchid family? Here’s a closer look at the flower of spring ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes vernalis):

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Luna Moths

Be on the lookout for beautiful Luna moths in late May and early June. Luna moths spend just one week as an adult butterfly. They typically fly at night. I’ve had luck seeing them in the morning on cloudy days. Luna moths have three broods in North Carolina, each 8-10 weeks apart. They can be… Continue reading Luna Moths

Lunar New Year

Happy Lunar New Year! The leafy cover of the fruit of smooth ground-cherry (Physalis angulata) reminds me of a paper lantern.

Migration of the Monarch Butterfly

Every fall, monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) fly all the way to Mexico to spend the winter. As the temperatures warm in the spring, the monarchs travel north again. I had heard this story many times, but I never really looked into the details. Monarch butterflies typically only live for a month. They eat, they mate,… Continue reading Migration of the Monarch Butterfly