sneezeweed

Growing from 2 to 6 feet high on angular winged stems, Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale is blooming on all sides of the pond.

The flowers are showy, golden yellow with a domed center.  These late-summer plants will feed butterflies and unfold their blooms until winter comes.

The common name 'Sneezeweed' came about because the pollen, when inhaled, causes sneezing.  In the past, the powdered flower heads were used in medicine to cause violent sneezing as treatment.

Monarda - Bee Balm

Wild Bergamot Monarda didyma is blooming now in the buffer around the pond.
Also known as bee balm, horsemint, oswego tea, bergamot, wild bergamot, mintleaf beebalm, horse-mint, purple beebalm.

Monarda species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species.

Even before it blooms, the plant becomes colorful and promises its flowers will be interesting in structure (below).

Ironweed ready to bloom

Ironweed Vernonia fasciculata is growing tall in the buffer around the pond.  Soon, it will open its brilliant purple aster-like flowers in clusters at the top of each regal plant.  The name 'Ironweed'  becomes this plant because the stem is tough, straight, and strong, up to 6 feet tall.  It is very attractive to butterflies and native bees, and is a host plant for the American Painted Lady butterfly.
In the photo below, you can see the upper 12 inches of a six-foot tall specimen with flower buds.

vibrant thistle color

On 6-7-2020 we posted photos of a lovely rosette of thistle leaves.

The Musk Thistle plant is biennial -- seed germinates in the fall and survives winter as a small plant close to the ground.  Covered by leaf litter, it is insulated through cold weather.

This plant has grown to over 5 feet tall, and branched out to display several flower buds. Each is beginning to show its true vibrant color.

Goldfinches use the downy parts of the seed produced by this flower, and they eat the thistle seed.  But it is an invasive plant and very painful to touch.

lilacs

deciduous conifers

These new cones and needle-like leaves are emerging on our non-native European Larch Larix decidua.  The old cones (at top in the photo) commonly remain on the tree for many years, turning dull grey-black.  From a distance, the new cones look like rosey flowers on the Larch tree.

native deciduous conifers

Needle-like leaves (right) emerging in clusters, and new cones developing on the deciduous conifer American Larch Larix laricina.  The seed cones will become 3/4" long, bright rosey red, and mature to lustrous brown scales containing the seeds.
The needle-leaves grow in dense clusters spirally on branches.  They will glow bright green all summer, then turn golden before dropping in winter.

viburnum

A very few of last year's berries remain on the American cranberry bush as colorful background for the new buds of this year's leaves.  This Viburnum trilobum 'Hahs'  produces high-pectin berries that hold well into winter and provide nourishing food for birds during cold months when insects are scarce.

new growth among the evergreens

The evergreen trees are showing this year's branch buds and new cones. As I wandered tree to tree, each species showed a different beauty.

January - winter buds

Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica

On winter days like these . . .  

cold and windy . . .  

it may look like the trees in the 

wild wild woods are bare, 

but when I take a closer look . . . 

Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa

Viburnum (left), Forsythia (above), Lilac (below)

These deciduous trees and shrubs actually formed buds last summer during their active growing season.  To survive the cold of winter they have gone dormant.

But next spring's burgeoning leaves and flowers are already in place, so the trees won't need to use energy now to grow those complex leaf and flower structures. 

 
 

wildflowers

In the woods today, Solomon's Seal, Rue, Violets, and Trout Lily.  After the very cold wet months of April and May, native wildflowers seem happy to be emerging from the leaf litter. 

 

 

 

more migrants

Another wave of migrants stopped here for refueling:
Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler
and Indigo Bunting.
 
  
They gorged on suet at the bird feeders, hunted insects
in the grass, and picked bugs hiding among tree
buds and blossoms.

it may seem like winter . . .

Salix caprea Pussy Willow

Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'

A sunny day . . .   welcome respite after too much late season snow.  With more heavy wet snow coming in the next few days, I took time to notice the buds on each tree and shrub.

sprouts for lunch

The elm trees are acknowledging Springtime with burgeoning leaf buds. The finches regard the buds as delectable sprouts. No need to nibble on stale boxelder seeds when such fresh fare becomes plentiful.