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
Blogs
A June Visit to the North Carolina Botanical Garden
These are some of the flowers blooming right now at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
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)!
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
A Closer Look at Virginia Creeper
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
Blue Grosbeak
I saw a different bird in the neighborhood this week. This is a male blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea). He seemed to be enjoying the scrubby brush filled with blackberries. I learned that they typically build their nest in vines or briars, shrubs or small trees. So, there could be a nest somewhere close by. I’ll… Continue reading Blue Grosbeak
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? June 2026
The flower bloom time has been off this year. We are still so far behind on rainfall, even after a few downpours at the end of May. Many plants are struggling, some are blooming later, and some are hardly putting out any flowers at all. In a typical June we can see buttonbush, tick-trefoils, St.… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? June 2026
What’s That? May 26, 2026
What are those red and white circles on the maple leaves? The bright, colorful circles really stand out against the green leaves. They look like little bullseyes. These spots are a maple eyespot gall, caused by an ocellate gall midge (Acericecis ocellaris). The larvae develop in the leaves of maples in the spring. They use… Continue reading What’s That? May 26, 2026