Get ready for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! Help scientists study pollinators by counting pollinators in your community on Friday and Saturday, August 22-23, 2025. Enter your data online at the Great Southeast Pollinator Census website.
Blogs
Kudzu
You’ve probably seen kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) along a highway roadside. This invasive, twining vine can grow up to 100 feet tall, and takes over everything. I’ve read that it can take down utility poles. Today was the first time I had a chance to get up close to kudzu. It is beginning to… Continue reading Kudzu
A Smile for Your Monday
I spotted my first ditch-daisy (midwestern tickseed-sunflower) of the season today. They always make me smile. Happy Monday!
Quiet Nature- August 14, 2025
Enjoy some quiet nature today with this double-banded scoliid wasp (Scolia bicincta) on common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).
Field Report- August 11, 2025
I hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the trails a little more, now that the extreme heat is behind us! What has been blooming during the first half of August?
What’s That? August 6, 2025
What’s that orange vine growing on top of everything? That is common dodder (Cuscuta gronovii), a leafless, parasitic vine that is native to this area. This vine has white flowers in the late summer. I will try to get a picture of them when they bloom. Have you found any common dodder?
Identifying Partridge Peas
It’s easy to see the common partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) flowers this time of year. If you look carefully, you can find its smaller relative, the sensitive partridge pea (Chamaecrista nictitans). Common partridge pea flowers are about one inch wide. The flower petals are about the same size. The sensitive partridge pea flowers are less… Continue reading Identifying Partridge Peas
Field Report- July 28, 2025
What’s new on the trails at the end of July? When the weather is so hot, I usually walk in the early morning. With other obligations, I have not been able to canvas the trails as much as I normally do. The weather should break later this week, and hopefully I’ll be able to get… Continue reading Field Report- July 28, 2025
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? August 2025
August is a golden month for flowers! I’m looking forward to fields of goldenrod and midwestern-tickseed sunflowers. We should start to see some asters, and more of the bonesets will bloom in August. Ragweed will also make an appearance, so be mindful if you are allergic. Mark your calendars for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? August 2025
Sunflowers at Dix Park
If you get a chance in the next week, take a walk around the sunflower field at Dix Park in Raleigh. There is plenty of parking, bathrooms are available, and there is a wheelchair accessible path through the field. The path around the field is a 0.4 mile loop. There is a smaller garden full… Continue reading Sunflowers at Dix Park