Nature Blog 2008

Life in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

 

 

   
Wolf Spider 9/30/08

 

Wolf Spider hiding in my green beans.

 

Fishing Wolf Spider at Rock Castle Gorge

 

WOlfman face. :) 9/29/08

 

Foxglove 9-27-08

Praying Mantids courting . The male on the left, is approaching the female cautiously.

 

She moves very slowly.

 

She holds this position for a few minutes, and then stretches herself on the wall.

 

The male quickly jumps on to her back, before she changes her mind. :)

 

There mating lasted several hours, and contrary to popular belief...she did not eat him.

 

   

Fishing Wolf Spider down at the creek. Yep, they are as big as they look...about 3" across. Dang blurry pictures. :( 9-21

 

9-18-08

     

Saddleback caterpillar 9/18

 

The poisonous hairs or spins are hollow and connected to underlying poison glands. Contact with them causes a burning sensation and inflammation that can be as painful as a bee sting. The irritation can last for a day or two and may be accompanied by nausea during the first few hours. Usually the site of contact reddens and swells much like a bee sting.

 

 

Black swallowtail caterpillar (First Instar)

 

i found three of these little guys in my carrots. Munch away little caterpillar, munch away!

 Black Swallowtail Caterpillar (Third Instar)

 

Warning me with his osmeterium, which is supposed to resemble the forked tongue of a snake. .

Full grown, ready to pupate. 9/15/08

Black Rat snake

First Monarch of the season.

 

We've found lots of praying mantises this year.

   

 

 

Praying mantis eating a grass hopper 9/01

 

 

 

Yellow necked caterpillar (Datana ministra ) aggregation

 

Eight spotted forrester Moth caterpillar.

 

 

 

   

Spicebush and Fritillary sharing a milkweed.

Lots of fritillaries :)

   

   

 

This Pipevine swallowtail was moving it's wings non stop, making it difficult to get a good picure.

 

 

Damsel fly

Euparthenos nubilis
"Locust Underwing" with injured wing.

 

Cabbage White Butterfly Chrysalis

   

This baby praying Mantis was less than 1" long.

 

Pearl Crescent butterfly

 

Painted Lady

 

Buckeye butterfly

 

Buckeye butterfly

 

 

 

 

 

6-5-08

 

Eastern Box Turtle

 

Mourningcloak butterfly

Little toad Sequoia found, only had one foot.

 

Beebalm

 

Borage with painted Lady Caterpillar munching on it.

 

 

 

 

5-18

 

 

 

 

The Great Spangled fritillary butterflies are everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  Yarrow

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Irises 5-15

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Female Grosbeak and Indigo bunting

 

Indigo bunting

Red Bellied Woodpecker, caught in the chicken pen. :)

First Signs of Spring

 

 

Acorn beginning to sprout. Feb 24th

 

Daffodils trying to bloom March 5th.

 

March 13th.

 

Little Snail in the creek.

 

First Snake of the season.

 Crawdad on the creek bottom.

 

First Crocus.

   

 

Blue Sage flowering.

 

Early tomatoes!

 

 

Yellow wood violet 4/5/08

 

Skunk Cabbage shooting up!

One week later, the temps were in the 70's

Good day for hiking.

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

Tired of the dreary gray, i went on a search for the colors of winter.

 

 
  

 
  

 

 

 
  

 

 

 
  

 

 

 
  

Early winter morning

 

January ice storm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i started my nature blog early this year, to find the beauty in all seasons.

 

 Archives

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Spring/Summer 2005

Summer 2004

Early Spring 2004

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