After birding for several days straight, I headed to a nearby woods to get some plant photos:
MYSTERY PLANT
I will identify it at the end of the post.
We’ve been finding many tiny beetles either alive or dead around the house these days. Being unable to identify them I took some photos and sent them to Ken Sproule.
Here is Ken’s reply:
Hi Miles,
It looks similar to species in the Trirhabda genus of which the Goldenrod Leaf beetle is one (can be seen in abundance on goldenrod in the summer). But this one is the Elm Leaf Beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola) which overwinter as adults (in diapause – i.e. semi-dormant) in buildings.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/105144
Thank-you Ken!!
MYSTERY PLANT
This is a good one to know in all seasons: Poison Ivy
DANDELION DESCRIPTION
When full, they look like the sun.
When they go to seed, they look like the moon.
When the seeds fly, the seeds look like stars.
Miles Hearn
Too bad I thought the mystery plant was the Violet (I identified it–but maybe it HAD a caption I didn’t notice)! I got the positioning of the photograph and the “mystery plant” designation wrong. Would I have gotten it? Maybe…but regardless, it is, as you say, very important to know!
What delicious close-ups of flowers/buds/plants etc. in spring! How delightful to be able to see things (here) that don’t tend to be in gardens. Thanks, Miles!
And–the “bug question answered”–thanks, Ken!
great pictures of all those neat plants and buds,it amazes me how you find them!!!! and, I sure did not get the ‘mystery plant’……..thanks Miles