08.28.07 IRONWEED

The deep purple flowers of the tall weed known as ironweed (Vernonia genus) have begun to appear. The butterfly visitor is difficult to identify; this could be either a black swallowtail, a female tiger swallowtail, or a pipevine swallowtail.

07.17.07 BLACKBERRY LILY

If you come back in the fall and see the seeds created by this flower, Belamcanda chinensis, you will know why it is called a blackberry lily. The clusters of black seeds look a lot like blackberries, making this plant ornamental in the garden in two seasons. This plant, originally a native of Asia, has become naturalized in this area, having escaped from residential gardens. Thomas Jefferson probably grew it at Monticello where the seeds are now sold to tourists. Poisonous.

The beautiful butterfly may be a black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes. (It is difficult to identify for certain since there are several similar looking butterflies.)