Pineapple Weed

Wow, I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything since December! I’m afraid I was hit with a combination of winter doldrums and “holy cats I’m so busy!” Spring has sprung and we’re already well into summer so, it’s high time to get back to business.

 This little beauty is called Pineapple weed. I can remember as kids finding these funny little flowers (yes, that is in full flower) and pinching the flower heads. There is something about the flower heads that is just begging to be pinched – I’m not sure what started it. I always enjoyed finding these flowers because of the wonderful fresh pineapple smell they gave off when the heads were squeezed. Imagine my surprise as an adult when I learned they were actually called pineapple weed.

They seem to prefer scrubby areas that more popular plants shun – think roadsides, parking lots, etc. I discovered these where parking lot met grass and have since seen many more along the roadsides where I take my morning walks.

The next time you see one take a moment to give it a little pinch and smell the juices that are left on your fingers – from that day forth you will be unable to resist pinching them wherever you find them. 

 

The Bold and the Beautiful

Now that the world is working hard at turning monochrome for the next several months I have to work harder to find little delights. Imagine my surprise when, spurred on by the cold, I was able to get quite close to the birds at the nature center feeders.

Now traditionally my camera has shied away from taken clear and decent pictures of anything furred or feathered but, it seems the lower temps agree with it and with the crisp clear air of fall comes the (almost) crisp and (almost) clear pictures of the birds who dare to remain through the cold months.

Before we delve into the beauty I feel the need to clear something up (two things, actually):

• Birds migrate to follow food sources (insects, grass, etc.) NOT because of lower temperatures
• Canada Geese do NOT eat fish, they eat grass and other plants (I just had to get that off of my chest, sorry)

On to the cuties!

I titled this post “the bold and the beautiful” because not all of the birds were brave enough to come to the feeders while I stood nearby. The most brash and bravest among them were the chickadees. Chickadees either have a lot of confidence or are little thrill-seekers. They often buzz by me with a complaining “chickadee-dee-dee-dee” as I fill the feeders, and will even land within two feet of me and urge me to hurry up already and step aside.

You can see two of them here along with a female downy woodpecker who seems to be enjoying the suet quite a bit. Other brave birds who ventured close despite my presence were goldfinches, juncos, tufted titmice, and the nuthatches. There are two species of nuthatch which frequent the feeders at the nature center: the white-breasted nuthatch and the red-breasted nuthatch.

The white-breasted nuthatch is a common visitor to our feeders and is often seen throughout the woods when we take hikes.

Less common visitors are the red-breasted nuthatches. There was only one flying to and from the feeder on this particular day and it was pure luck that I managed to get one picture of it at all. The red-breasted nuthatches are smaller than the white-breasted and have a characteristic stripe on their heads which appears to run straight over their eyes.

 

 

Late Bloomer

As the rest of the world dries and turns brown there is one plant that celebrates the season by blooming.

The spindly yellow petals of the Witch Hazel blossoms bring a warm glow to the crisp fall days.

 

Democracy

Exercise your right to vote.

 

Peak

Life keeps moving faster and faster but I’ve still managed to find time to appreciate what I’ve been waiting all year for…fall. It seems to be going quickly this year. It seems the leaves were just starting to change a week ago and now we are moving into the brown, bare-branched, even though you can’t bear to think about it winter is coming, kind of days. Despite the passage of time, it will always be peak leaf season in this particular post:

Pignut Hickory

 

I thought such beautiful vistas warranted the “large” format this time around. Enjoy.

Red Maples

Who can resist the sound and smell and sensation of walking through crisp fall leaves?

Just one more…

Perfection

 

Who doesn’t like spiders?

I mean really, come on. Take a close look at a spider and you can’t help but be fascinated by their complex little bodies. Eight legs, eight eyes, spinnerets! I have been taking pictures of spiders over the summer – and not just by chance. I have been seeking them out. Peeking in dark corners and under leaves, switching into detective mode whenever I notice even a tiny bit of web, and, ok, obsessing just a little bit.

Unfortunately for my new spider obsession – it hasn’t been much of a year for spiders. At least not around here. I haven’t found any of the impressive yellow and black argiopes in the gardens around the nature center. No big fat marbled orb weavers in the meadow. No silver argiope on the trails. No wolf spiders dragging egg cases or carting around newly hatched young. Sigh.

Also, my groovy new digital camera (that allows me to share the big beautiful world with you all) hates spiders. I’m convinced of it. One second they will be in focus and then the next, it’s like they aren’t even there.

Being a bat lady at heart, I guess it is hard for me to understand why people fear spiders. The thing is, while I have always found them interesting, it wasn’t until I really started seeking them out that I was able to truly appreciate how amazing they are.

Despite the paucity of “findable” spiders this summer, I did manage to capture a few. So, here goes…

My “almost invisible” office mate

Just look at that leg posture – crab spider for sure. This is the first time I have found a crab spider that was so dark. He (I’m guessing here – I didn’t get a good look at the pedipalps to know for sure) surprised me one day by appearing on the floor of my office at the nature center.

Ballooning

How precious is this one? I found it one afternoon as I was eating lunch at the zoo. It is using the corner of my lunch tray as a launching platform. Its butt is hoisted up in the air so that a good breeze can catch the line of silk trailing behind it and carry it off to a new adventure. Most young spiders, and some adult ones too, use this method of transportation to get from place to place. It is called “ballooning.”

Too cute for his own good

This is a jumping spider and he is just too cute for his own good. It was a miracle I got this shot - jumpers are almost hyper in their movements and barely give you time to focus. And they do jump. This little one was too excited to sit still and jumped from plant, to bench, to my hand, and back again. Notice the two central eyes and how much larger they are than the rest. Jumpers have binocular vision thanks to those big eyes. Sometimes, when you are fortunate enough to have one on your hand, they will make eye contact with you. Try to get them to look at you – turn your hand so you can see those big eyes and give them a strong look. If they look back you will know it because they will stop shifting around and actually raise up slightly using their front legs. And, of course, those eyes will be looking right back at you. Being stared at by a jumping spider is very cool, that is until you start having thoughts of him suddenly jumping onto your head.

I’ve got too many spider pics for one post but you have to see this one. I almost missed finding this lovely lady. She is the crowning spider of my pics so far this year (my spider pics, that is). Thanks to my digital camera, I can go places I normally wouldn’t be able to – like in the leafy lair of a shamrock spider…

Hidden treasure

I suspected there was a spider in there so, I set my camera to the macro setting and held it under the leaf to see what might be inside. The first visitors of the day found me in the bushes taking picture after picture and, of course, talking to her.

 

Touch-Me-Not

The name sounds quite ominous, doesn’t it? More like a name befitting poison ivy, stinging nettles, or the nasty giant hogweed we hear so much about. Touch-me-not, also known as jewelweed, is far from being scary. The name is derived form the seed pods which seem to explode at the slightest touch, sending the seeds far from the host plant.

Jewelweed is a lovely and interesting plant. It grows easily along roadsides and areas with a reasonable amount of moisture. The flowers have an interesting structure that makes extra work for bumblebees – and extra fun for onlookers who get to watch the bees force their fuzzy bodies into the bright flowers.

Jewelweed

The flowers can be either yellow…

Yellow Variety

Or a fiery variegated orange…

Orange!

The interesting shape of the flower, when seen from the side, shows the work that must be done by bumblebees and others who seek the sweet nectar. Check out the little swoop at the back end – the flowers are going to make the pollinators work for it. By making the insects climb all the way in to get to the nectar, they can be sure the pollen will be rubbed off onto their bodies to be transported to the next bloom.

Side view

Now, about that name – touch-me-not. As I said, the name is taken from the plant’s interesting method of seed dispersal. When the pods are ready, the slightest touch causes them to burst and send the mature seeds flying in all directions. Manhandling pods which aren’t quite ripe will eventually produce a slightly less enthusiastic popping and reveal seeds that are green – not ready. When ripe, the seeds that emerge from the pods will be a dark brown color. The seeds are considered edible by many. I have tasted them and the best comparison I can make is to walnuts. Very strong walnuts.

Seed pod

Burst pod with ripe seed

Burst pod or modern art?

For all that has been covered, we are not giving jewelweed its due. For many, jewelweed is prized as a medicinal plant. The sap, when squeezed from the hollow stem of the plant, is a remedy for the nastiest plants out there – poison ivy and stinging nettle. I can personally attest to its powers at relieving the sting from nettles. Many people have noticed, as have I, that jewelweed often grows in and around nettles. The two plants seems to have an affinity for similar habitats.

 

Ramp

I have been waiting to introduce you to ramp for a few months now. It was only recently that I was able to capture the right picture to complete the story.

It’s not much of a story really. Just a little ditty about an often overlooked plant which is found in our woods. Allow me to introduce you to the wild leek – sometimes called wild garlic, other times called ramp. Wild leeks are beautiful in all their stages. First, in the spring, they carpet small patches of brown woodland with bright flashes of green. The leaves, which appear before and not with the flower, are very much like the wide green blades of tulip leaves. The dense patches of green they create in the woods are like bright billboards announcing the arrival of spring. I wish I had a picture for you.

The green is seen by many to be unspectacular at best. Once the leaves soak up enough sun and make their food they diminish into the brown forest floor and the flowers begin to emerge.

A patch of wild leeks

Without their green leaves the flowers seem somehow incomplete. Yet, at the same time, they are interesting for the same reason.

Closer inspection of the flower patch above would reveal the busy flight of bumblebees enraptured by the nectar they provide. For humans, the plants provide something even better – a small bulb at the base of the flower stem that smells and tastes very much like garlic. Strong garlic. Really strong garlic. There is a rule among eaters of ramp and other wild edibles that, if you are going to eat wild leeks you must make sure everyone else in your company does as well. The reason? Soon after eating you will begin to smell more like you rolled around in the ramp instead of eating it.

Pretty and potent

My favorite aspect of wild leeks happens in the fall, but we’re not there yet… Once pollinated by so many hungry bees, the flowers close up and begin the work of making seeds. Even now, with no flowers to tempt us, the plants are still attractive. The bright green balls reminding us of what’s to come.

Almost there

The best is yet to come. In the fall, the green pods dry and crack. As the old petals are peeled back the jewel-like seeds are revealed. Now, to some I am sure they don’t look particularly interesting but, out on the trail, looking right at them, they look like black pearls. They have a pearlescent sheen that defies the covering of any other berry or seed in the fall woods.

Treasure revealed

I don’t think the camera was able to do them the justice they deserve. Along with my favorite smelly pignuts, the seeds of wild leeks are one of the special fall treasures I am impatient for every year.

 

Stony Brook

I have recently been extolling  the wonders and virtues of fall. Expect more ladies and gentleman, because it’s only just begun!

This week I had a sort of mini-vacation and got the chance to visit a place I have not been to since I was a child – Stony Brook State Park. If you live in western New York or are planning to be in the western New York area any time soon, you must take the time to visit it. As state parks go, Stony Brook is fairly small. What it lacks in size and square acreage it makes up for in natural splendor.

The visit began with a seemingly endless uphill hike along the east rim trail. Every time I was certain we couldn’t climb any higher I ran into more stairs. The height, while proving a challenge to my out of shape self, provided many spectacular views of the gorge down below.

gorge-ous

The hike up the east rim trail held delights other than the view as well. As I mentioned in my last post, fall is the time of berries and there were some beauties waiting on the rim.

Solomon's Seal

This is a flower I have seen often in the woods where I work, but never have I seen the berries in the fall. What a treat!

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

This Jack was layed flat for some reason but proved an excellent subject with its telltale leaves yellowed yet still attached.

As we marched on the trail provided other delights including a hearty harvest of chestnuts, shagbark hickory nuts, basswood seeds, the samaras (you know, the helicopters!) from striped maples, and one of my favorites – the fragrant pignuts. (You can bet we stopped to smell them!)

As we neared the top of the rim a blazing red caught our eye. A single maple, among so many green trees, that seemed to feel the same pull for fall as I do. Every leaf on its slender branches was a brilliant red.

An impatient maple

 After our grueling climb we finally made it to the crossing and began the descent down the west rim of the gorge. The trail led us right to the water’s edge where we stepped carefully on the wet slate and stopped repeatedly to gaze and comment on the beauty of the day and the landscape surrounding us.

After a ways we came to a great view of the red maple we had seen from the forested path on the east rim. Now we could take it all in.

A few more steps provided an even better view that well represents the beauty of the park.

Stony Brook

 

Big Beautiful Busy World

Yes folks, it still is a big beautiful world! It’s also become quite a busy one at my end. I am still busy as ever taking pictures of the wonders I see everyday – my camera goes almost everywhere with me. Lately my life has become so busy with work and school that I haven’t found the time to just sit and write and ponder the things I have been capturing with my camera.

While I hate to rush – I feel it is about time for a BBW solute to fall. Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. I don’t know if it is the combination of colors, temperatures, and smells, or the myriad of pleasant childhood memories that seem to focus on this season. At any rate, I have been breathing a little deeper lately and driving a little slower. I just can’t seem to get enough of the sounds, sights and smells that accompany the season. What could be better than the smell of fresh, damp, cool woods or the sight of gold and purple lining the roadways, or the sound of leaves crunching underfoot? I just know it is going to go too fast! As my life speeds by and with it, the wonders of the season, here are a few of the beauties that have recently caught my eye…

walking in the woods

I took a much needed walk in the woods the other day and was almost instantly struck by the color decorating the ground…

Hawthorn fruits on the trail

The colors of fall are many and the fruits that grow where flowers once bloomed can be as colorful as the  petals that greeted us in spring.

White Baneberry

White baneberry are also known as Doll’s eyes. An appropriate nick name for the beady-eyed fruits perched on blood red stalks.

The berries above are from gray dogwood (also called red-panicled dogwood – note the red stems). As the season progresses the green leaves behind the berries will turn a deep purple. The purple serves best to advertise the white berries, letting the birds know they are ready to eat and ensuring that the seeds will be spread. This neat little process is called foliar fruit flagging (how’s that for a tongue twister?).

Buckthorn

Buckthorn berries are deep purple, almost black, and don’t play the foliar fruit flagging game like the dogwood does. I admire buckthorn berries for their beauty and their lasting ability. As winter nears its end you will still see dark clusters of these berries decorating leafless limbs of buckthorns. It seems the buckthorn is not a favorite of local birds yet, it will eventually provide an important food source while the birds wait for the gifts of spring to arrive. As my friend and fellow naturalist likes to tell people “when the birds poop purple on your car, they’ve been eating buckthorn berries.”

Short-winged Blister Beetle

How funky is this critter?! I had seen one of these before but couldn’t remember the name until I consulted mytrusty field guide. The short winged blister beetle is, indeed, short winged. The elytra (hard cover that protects the wings – think ladybugs, etc.) attached at the front of the abdomen are teeny tiny when compared to other beetles. The blister part of the name comes from a clear liquid that is sometimes excreted from the legs and can cause blisters on the skin.

What I love about these beetles is how different they are. At least, they are different from the beetles that I am used to seeing regularly as I tour the nature center grounds. Take another look at the picture above – the blue is not a photo error or trick of the light, they really are blue, sort of a metallic blue over black. I found not one, but dozens of them crawling all over a beautiful native variety of clematis growing in the nature center back garden. They remained on the plant, feasting and pooping, for more than a week.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into fall. I know I’ve enjoyed reliving my little adventures!