The periodical cicadas are here! Brood XIX is scheduled to emerge from the ground this summer. This brood has a 13 year life cycle (other broods have a 17 year life cycle). Above ground, they live for 3 to 4 weeks, just long enough to find a mate and lay their eggs. When the eggs… Continue reading Cicada Brood XIX is Happening Now
Blogs
Field Report- April 27, 2024
There are so many changes happening out there! This week, I made sure to touch all four trails to take note of all the new spring growth. The blackberries are in full bloom everywhere. Look carefully, though, and you might notice another showy white flower: the multiflora rose. You’ll notice the smell of the roses… Continue reading Field Report- April 27, 2024
What Flowers Will Bloom in May?
The month of May is the busiest month of the year for newly blooming flowers. You can easily see a new type of flower every day, so keep a watchful eye out for them! These are the top five new flowers that I saw in May last year. Don’t forget to check the May flower… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom in May?
Identifying Blue Eyed Grass
One of my favorite springtime flowers is blue eyed grass. The leaves of this plant look like grass, and it’s called a grass, but it isn’t grass. Blue eyed grass is actually a member of the Iris family. For the untrained eye, there are two different kinds of blue eyed grass. The first is annual… Continue reading Identifying Blue Eyed Grass
A Springtime Walk in Carpenter Park
I took a walk around Carpenter Park in Cary this week. It didn’t seem like much was happening. There were a few turtles and a duck in the pond. There were a some eastern redbuds blooming at the front of the park, and some large white hydrangeas in full bloom in the back corner. Otherwise,… Continue reading A Springtime Walk in Carpenter Park
Quiet Nature- April 17, 2024
Enjoy a dose of quiet nature today. Eastern tailed-blue butterflies are 0.75-1 inch wide. They are low-flying butterflies commonly seen in fields and lawns. Their caterpillars feed on plants in the pea family (clover and vetch species). They have very thin, antenna-like tails on their wings. Underneath, the wings are light blue to gray. There… Continue reading Quiet Nature- April 17, 2024
Field Report- April 13, 2024
The first two weeks of April have been full of activity! Everywhere you look, something new is blooming. Here’s a list of what I’ve seen: Trees and Shrubs: Flowers: Can you believe how much has changed in less than two weeks? What are you seeing?
Welcome Little Ones
Do you seen anything? Look carefully. The mallard duck family welcomed TWELVE new ducklings to the family last week!
Consider Native Plants for Your Garden This Year
Are you getting ready to plant your garden? The average last spring freeze date for the Triangle area is April 8. The NC State Extension has data for the first and last frost dates for each county in North Carolina on their website here. When choosing plants for your garden, you might consider the effect… Continue reading Consider Native Plants for Your Garden This Year
Field Report- April 2, 2024
Annual blue eyed grass was seen for the first time today. The wild azaleas are also starting to bloom!