Monday, September 26, 2022

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Spider suckers

Chenille stems for legs

Monday, September 5, 2022

Mantis

Mantises have stereo vision. As their hunting relies heavily on vision, mantises are primarily diurnal. Many species, however, fly at night, and then may be attracted to artificial lights. Flying at night exposes mantises to fewer bird predators than diurnal flight would. Many mantises also have an auditory thoracic organ that helps them avoid bats by detecting their echolocation calls and responding evasively. This one was on my front porch. It was at least 10 inches long

Friday, September 2, 2022

Snap Dragon Seeds

Snapdragons are short-lived perennial plants that survive well in cold seasons but are often replanted each spring and considered annual plants. They do best in full or partial sun, in well-drained soil since their roots are susceptible to rotting. Removing the dead flowers is important to help them to continuously produce beautiful flowers throughout their growing season. They are susceptible to ethylene gas so removing dead flowers and keeping them away from ripe fruits or vegetables also helps them bloom longer. They grow during their peak seasons of April to June and August to October in the Northern Hemisphere. The seeds look like skulls.

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Monday, August 1, 2022

Cone flower

Echinacea is most common in the Ozarks and in the Mississippi/Ohio Valley. Its habitats include dry open woods, prairies and barrens. Echinacea purpurea is an herbaceous perennial up to 47 in tall by 10 in wide at maturity. Depending on the climate, it blooms throughout summer into autumn. Its cone-shaped flowering heads are usually, but not always, purple in the wild. It is pollinated by butterflies and bees. It prefers well drained soil and full sun. It is also grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Baorangia bicolor

The two-colored bolete, or red and yellow bolete, is an edible fungus in the genus Baorangia. It inhabits most of eastern North America, primarily east of the Rocky Mountains and in season during the summer and fall months. Its fruit body, the mushroom, is classed as medium or large in size, which helps distinguish it from the many similar appearing species that have a smaller stature. A deep blue/indigo bruising of the pore surface and a less dramatic bruising coloration change in the stem over a period of several minutes are identifying characteristics that distinguish it from the similar poisonous species Boletus sensibilis.