Ebony Jewelwing, Pearl Crescent and Woodland Bluegrass at Wilket Creek: June 2020

Ebony Jewelwings are found along forest streams and rivers with moderate to swift currents. They are active during the day and spend the night in bushes and other plants. Primary food is other insects. They are preyed on by dragonflies, birds, frogs, spiders, fish and water beetles.

Ebony Jewelwing
Ebony Jewelwing
Ebony Jewelwing
Ebony Jewelwing

One of the most common meadow butterflies, the Pearl Crescent flies low over the grass with alternating flaps and glides. Males will dart out from perches or break their flight pattern to investigate any passing form – butterfly, bird or human. Adults take nectar from composite flowers such as asters, thistles and fleabanes. I saw many among the fleabanes on this day.

Pearl Crescent
Pearl Crescent
Pearl Crescent
Pearl Crescent
Pearl Crescent
Pearl Crescent
Pearl Crescent

Grass identification is not as obvious as for many other plants. The pictured grass is everywhere in rich deciduous forests at the moment.

Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris)

It is in the “Poa” or Bluegrass family and the common name is, appropriately, “Woodland Bluegrass.”

Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris)

The tip of the leaf in Poa resembles the bow of a boat.

Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris)
Woodland Bluegrass (Poa sylvestris)

Park scenes:

Some botany:

Yellow Flag (Iris pseudocorus)
Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)
Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Maple-leaved Viburnum (VIburnum acerifolia)
Interrupted Fern
Christmas Fern
Poison Ivy without fringed leaflets
Poison Ivy with fringed leaflets
White Clover (Trifolium arvense)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum)
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
White Campion (Silene latifolia)
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Prickly Gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)
Red Oak acorn
Virginiana Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
Rosy Sedge (Carex rosea)
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
Goutweed (Aegopodium podograria)
Buckhorn (Plantago lanceolata)
Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis)
Sweet-cicely (Osmorhiza berteroi)
Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

NATURE POETRY

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost

Miles Hearn

5 thoughts on “Ebony Jewelwing, Pearl Crescent and Woodland Bluegrass at Wilket Creek: June 2020

  1. Marilyn Bunker

    Hello Miles, I’m always glad to see how poison ivy looks in different seasons. It can be so tricky to identify and we can never be reminded too many times
    And thank you for some Robert Frost. A favourite. Lovely to wake up to his wisdom.
    Hope you are keeping well.
    Marilyn

    Reply
  2. Pamela E Parker

    Yes, good to see the fringed leaflets on the poison ivy, and the not-fringed leaflets. Thanks.
    Always you delight us with your commentary and pictures.

    Reply

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