We went for a walk this weekend and came across these colorful berries. They look like Easter eggs! What is that? These are the fruit of porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa). Before it had fruit, it looked like a frost grape vine with its forked tendrils. Porcelain-berry is in the grape family, but its berries are poisonous.… Continue reading What’s That? September 23, 2024
Blogs
Triangle Orchid Society’s Fall for Orchids Show
We had the great pleasure to attend the Triangle Orchid Society’s Fall for Orchids show at the JC Raulston Arboretum last weekend. We enjoyed beautiful displays of orchids, listened to informative talks from orchid experts, and even got to shop for orchids and supplies. The orchid show happens every year at the JC Raulston Arboretum.… Continue reading Triangle Orchid Society’s Fall for Orchids Show
Tickseed-Sunflowers are in Full Bloom
Have you noticed the beautiful displays of midwestern tickseed-sunflowers lately? The flowers can be found on each of the trails in Morrisville. These are some pictures from the Shiloh Greenway taken on September 15th.
Discovering Something New in the Ordinary Routine
I always get so excited when I find a new flower. I kind of expect to see new plants when I visit a new garden or a park. It’s especially exciting, though, when I see a different flower on the trail that I walk on almost every day. This week, I was lucky enough to… Continue reading Discovering Something New in the Ordinary Routine
Cloudless Sulphur Butterflies
Have you seen pale yellow butterflies flying around the flowers this summer? Some of them could be cloudless sulphur butterflies (Phoebis sennae). When you are out walking in late summer, pay special attention to the common partridge pea plants. They are a host plant for cloudless sulphur caterpillars.
Field Report- September 2, 2024
What’s been happening on the trail for the last couple of weeks? Have you noticed all the different yellow, daisy-like flowers? I wrote a blog about them here. I have seen kidneyleaf rosinweed, purpledisc sunflowers and small-headed sunflowers blooming on the trails in the last couple of weeks. The midwestern tickseed-sunflowers, swamp sunflowers, rough sunflowers,… Continue reading Field Report- September 2, 2024
What Flowers Will Bloom in September?
We’re heading into the end of the growing season. Many flowers are still in bloom, but will any new flowers begin to bloom in September? The asters will really start to bloom this month. Look for the many kinds of white, yellow (golden) and purple asters along the trails. Swamp sunflowers officially start blooming in… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom in September?
Quiet Nature- August 26, 2024
Good morning! This young rabbit has been hanging out in my back yard all summer.
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census- August 23-24, 2024
Have you ever participated in a citizen science program? Now is your chance! This Friday and Saturday, August 23-24, 2024, is the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Who is this for? Any resident of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Florida. This is a great program for kids! What is the census? The University of Georgia… Continue reading The Great Southeast Pollinator Census- August 23-24, 2024
Passion Flower
Have you ever seen a passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)? I’ve seen them planted in gardens over the years, but for the first time this week, I saw one growing in the wild! Take a walk down the Crabtree Creek Greenway if you’d like to check them out.