Virginia A. Spiegel

Arachne

Technically this probably isn’t a very inspiring photo, but I still like it for its levels of sharpness and blur. The spider webs have been beautiful and numerous of late.

This plant is one of what I call Contractor Shrubs. They are planted because non-gardeners have a hard time killing them, although they are of dubious landscape value. This is barberry with nasty thorns.  I should have taken these barberries out when I started my own landscape gardening, but now have more or less muted them out with other plants.  I didn’t photoshop this at all, but the general hue of this small shrub is generally more purple than red.

Number 12

This photo has sort of a “Little House on the Prairie” vibe.  The prairie reserve has a bluebird house trail.  I notice they allow swallows to nest in them also.  I have never had a bluebird nest in any of my houses. I keep cleaning out sparrow nests until I’m sure the bluebirds aren’t going to make a go of it and then put the houses away until the Fall when I put them back out for winter shelter for the chickadees.  It bluebirds can’t nest in my yard, I’m glad they are able to fly out to the prairie reserve and nest in peace.

Sunshine

The prairie is overflowing with photo opportunities right now.  This is Compass Plant (Silphium lacinatum).  I also have one in my garden (purchased at the Friends School Plant Sale), but it is delayed in blooming.  When it came up this Spring, I thought it was just one more thistle in my thistle patch until the hidden plant label came up with the root.

Let me recommend again Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers by Ladd/Oberle.  Great photos and interesting for casual reading. For example, it notes that the Compass Plant has a resinous sap that was dried and used by Native American children as chewing gum.

Working

You know I couldn’t let the summer go by without a photo of milkweed.  The flying bee was just a lucky bonus. I have noticed that although the butterflies don’t seem to be around in appreciable numbers, the bees have taken up the slack.  Milkweed and catmint honey!

After more research, and confirmation from BJ Parady, an Inspiration Tuesday moth was correctly identified, I believe, by Louise Schiele as an Abbott’s Sphinx moth. Thank you, Louise!

Tomorrow continues Nature Notes’ week. Mixed-media artwork – - small, evocative, natural.

Mystery

I’m hoping one of you can help identify this moth.  It was perched on the edge of the garage door a couple of days ago.  Is this normal or is the big gap in its wings to due an injury or malformation?  I have noticed that although the milkweed is in full bloom that the number of butterflies is as depressingly low as last year.

I always appreciate your comments.  Do read the comments for last week’s inspiration photo if you are thinking about buying loosestrife.  There is a plant that is sometimes called loosestrife that is a very invasive species.  Readers were on the job and pointed this out.  I also should have mentioned in the main post that I love plants that are “thugs” since I garden on clay.

Nature notes:  Saw a baby bluejay in the grass when I took out the compost yesterday.  It couldn’t fly at all, but hopped into the long grass.  The most beautiful fledgling I have ever seen. Blooming in the garden now:  monarda, Asiatic lilies, alliums, hemerocallis, sea holly, catmint (should be cut back, but the bees are still working it), hydrangea, roses (of course!), hostas (just starting).