09.28.07 CRIMSON CREEPER

Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is easily confused with poison ivy this time of year as it, too, turns a bright red. Virginia creeper is a native vine and can be destructive as it climbs very high and can block off light to the tree it climbs. Despite its pervasiveness, it is often grown as an ornamental, especially in Britain where bright red fall color is not so common. Poisonous berries.

09.27.07 BLACKBERRY LILY

On July 17 I made an entry noting the beautiful orange flowers of blackberry lily, Belamcanda chinensis. Now the very same plant is in full seed, and the reason for its name "blackberry" becomes obvious. Poisonous.

09.26.07 CRIMSON CLIMBER

Posion ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, is showing off once again. My last entry recognized the beautiful red of its brand new spring leaves. The leaves have turned back to red again from summer green. Its fall coloring is an early color in the autumn forest and is quite spectacular inspite of the plants bad reputation.

09.25.07 FEAST DAY FLOWER

Now is the time I look for these wild purple flowers. When walking in England in the fall many years ago I first noticed a similar flower coming in to bloom in early autumn. It had been named a Michaelmas daisy because it blooms at the time of the ancient Christian feast day of St. Michael (September 29), the warrior archangel who has come to protect us in the coming months of darkness. I wonder if this fall flower is related?

09.24.07 MODERN PTERODACTYL

I have seen several of these magnificent birds lately. They did not notice me as they were intent on wading in the edge of ponds searching for fish, frogs, and other delectables. The great blue heron, Ardea herodias, is one of the largest birds in this area with an incredible wingspan of almost six feet! In flight, their great long bill sticks out ahead giving them the appearance of a modern day pterosaur.

09.23.07 THE FOX AND THE MOON

Huge vines of hanging berries appear as the leaves begin to turn, fall and reveal their hiding places. Two species of vines with berries look very similar. One, the fox grape, Vitus labrusca, is the ancestor of the delicious Concord grape. The similar looking Canadian moonseed vine, Menispermum canadense, unfortunately is quite poisonous. Wonder what this attractive vine is?

09.22.07 MONARCH MIGRATION

The monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, are taking the hint and leaving for the south. Suddenly with the change of the season we start to see them flying high in the air instead of just from flower to flower. Ours are on their way to their winter homes in Florida, Texas, and Mexico. They have no problem flying over the ocean if they need to on their way. Monarch butterflies usually only live for about two months around here, basing their life cycle around different varieties of milkweed, genus Asclepias, which their larva devour. Their trip south and vacation there is longer than their average life cycle. Some butterflies will enter a special state called diapause helping them live longer. But the butterflies which return next spring may be several generations removed from the butterflies who left here. Amazing.