Photo: April 23, 2008
I found this metallic green bug slowly crossing our driveway. It's the Tiger Bug (Cicindela sexguttata). Sexguttata refers to the six white spots on the perimeter of the half-inch long body. He eats other insects smaller than himself including larvae. Luckily, I didn't touch him as I read he might bite.
Photo: April 25, 2008
The Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) is in the Buttercup family and flowers about the same time as the non-native Buttercup which is abundant in the wet pastures. I spotted the first flower on April 21.
Photo: April 25, 2008
Another member of the Buttercup family is the Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) which likes to grow on rocky hillsides. The appearance of the buds coincides with the arrival of the ruby-throated hummingbirds, signalling me to put the feeder up.
Photo: April 25, 2008
Last year, I removed a stand of the non-native garlic mustard in front of our machine shed. In its place this year grew a thick stand of May-apples (Podophyllum peltatum). They are welcome to stay.
Photo: April 28, 2008
Virginia Bluebells or Virginia Cowslip (Mertensia virginica) line both sides of Walker Creek. This plant is in the Forget-Me-Not family rather than the Bluebell family. The flowers have been blooming for a week already.
This afternoon, I ventured outside after the rain stopped (we received 1-1/2 inches since last night!).
Photo: April 28, 2008
Some of the May-apples are already blooming. Mostly, they bloom in May and bear their "apples" in June. Maybe they should be called June-apples around here!
Fabulous shots! That tiger bug is awesome!! I love finding new wildflowers...and I am so happy that we are getting some nice soaking rains! Everything looks so GREEN!
ReplyDeleteKerri--I love the good rains even if it means we will get "greened in" in our little hollow.
ReplyDeleteLove the beetle--emerald, indeed!
ReplyDeleteI wish something as welcome as Mayapples would replace MY garlic mustard.
I've been pulling for years, hoping to eradicate it--it alwasy comes back.
I've read the seed banks can last seven years or more!
Love Bluebells.
Nina--I didn't know until last year that garlic mustard was an alien and invasive so I guess I'm lucky we don't have more. I did see that there was a stand on Walker Creek--that would be so sad if it moved in on the bluebells. I will make this plant another of my eradication tasks (along with multi-flora rose, japanese honeysuckle, periwinkle, etc.).
ReplyDeleteAll lovely shots - the tiger bug was very interesting. Who knew that such a cute thing could be ferocious.
ReplyDeleteColumbine and bluebells! WOW you have some great flowers showing up already! Love your green bug!
ReplyDeleteshellmo--I liked the Tiger bug too even though he is ferocious.
ReplyDeletemon@rch--I'm enjoying those spring wildflowers and learning about bugs.
ReplyDeleteThose are some geat shots! The color of that insect is absolutely stunning as well.
ReplyDelete