Cosmos in bloom, Shadyside, 5 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
10 August 2024
This week a flower garden caught my attention with bright yellow-orange cosmos flowers. The plants were in three stages: flowering, going to seed, and seeds formed.
Cosmos suphureus petals are quite showy to attract pollinators to the central disk. When the small flowers inside the disk are fertilized the petals fall off and the disk begins to develop into long thin seedpods.
Cosmos: A single flower going to seed, 5 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
When complete the seed pods resemble the hitchhiking seeds of beggar ticks (Bidens frondosa). Both are in the Coreopsideae tribe along with coreoposis, dahlias and many others.
Cosmos: Seeds maturing, 5 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Also seen …
It’s August and, as expected, deer are more visible in Schenley Park. Two does and two fawns approached Panther Hollow Lake on Friday. We can expect to see lots of deer lounging in the city parks in the days ahead. It is The Calm Before The Rut.
Four deer in Schenley Park, 9 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
On the cloudy morning of 6 August, daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus) was still opening its flowers in Frick Park. Fleabane petals respond to light levels. It’s part of Fleabane’s daily exercise program.
Daisy fleabane, still opening flowers, Frick Park, 6 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
After all these years I’ve just discovered that horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) is a fleabane. (That’s what comes of learning plants on the fly.)
Horseweed in bloom, near Aspinwall Riverfront Park, 8 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Leaves turned white, Three Rivers Heritage Trail near Herrs Island, 3 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
5 August 2024
Last weekend I noticed something I hadn’t seen for a while. Among a sea of green leaves a single plant had turned white. One was at the Herrs Island back channel, the other at Duck Hollow.
My two specimens are not the same species and they haven’t turned white in the same way. The plant above seems to have whitened from its tips inward. The plant below is turning white from the stem outward.
Leaves turning white, Duck Hollow, 2 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
The difference in their response may indicate different reasons why they are experiencing chlorosis, or it might be specific to species.
Seven years ago I ran into a similar puzzle and described possible causes in this vintage article.
Pokeweed flowers at the tip and fruit forming at the bottom, Duck Hollow, 2 August 2023 (photo by Kate St. John)Small teasel completely in bloom, Herrs Island backchannel, 3 Aug 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Insects are busy in the heat. On 28 July sycamore tussock moths (Halysidota harrisii) dangled by silk threads as they lowered themselves from the sycamore trees. The only way to photograph one was to wait until he landed.
Sycamore tussock moth at Frick, 28 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Zabulon skippers (Lon zabulon) have been easy to find. Some of them look ragged.
Zabulon skipper, Frick Park, 31 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
We found a pair of greenhouse millipedes (Oxidus gracilis) who kept walking as they mated. Two million legs in one photo?
Greenhouse millipedes mating, 31 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
And on 29 July I was surprised to see seven common mergansers (Mergus merganser) at Duck Hollow. They made arrow shapes on the river’s reflection as they swam. (The seventh one is underwater.) All but one of them looked female — in eclipse or molting.
Common mergansers make arrowheads on the surface of the Monongahela River, 29 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Lesser purple fringed orchid, Jennings, 26 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
27 July 2024
At yesterday’s annual Wissahickon Nature Club outing at Jennings Prairie we found many familiar plants in the expected places, but some that should be at peak in late July were already past their prime, probably due to this year’s heat. We found some other surprises as well.
We usually have to search with binoculars to find a lesser purple fringed orchid (Platanthera psycodes) nestled in the distance but yesterday we saw this one near the trail.
Hairy willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) was exactly where we expected it in the valley under the footbridge, but we also found some in the woods.
Hairy willowherb, Jennings Prairie, 26 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana) flowers are usually white but these were pink as well.
Jumpseed with unusually pink flowers, Jennings, 26 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Jack-in-the-pulpit fruit is still green. It won’t turn red until next month.
Jack-in-the-pulpit fruit, Jennings, 26 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Here’s a two-step lesson on how halberd-leaf tearthumb (Persicaria arifolia) got its common name.
These hooks could tear your thumb. Jennings, 26 July 2024
Halberd-shaped leaves. Jennings, 26 July 2024
These hooks could tear your thumb. Jennings, 26 July 2024
Germander in bloom, Duck Hollow, 4 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
6 July 2024
Flowers, insects and birds were active this week though the end of the week was so humid that it felt like the tropics. Here’s a trail of photos from Duck Hollow, Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Schenley Park and my own neighborhood.
Don’t forget to check out the two photos at the end: A mystery match-the-leaves moth or butterfly and some amazing bird behavior.
Deptford pink, Duck Hollow, 4 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)Chickory in bloom, Aspinwall Riverfront Park, 2 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
With false sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides) at their peak in Schenley Park, the red aphids are out in full force.
Aphids on false sunflower, Schenley Park, 5 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Wineberry is already forming fruits.
Wineberry, fruit forming, Schenley Park, 5 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
I found a moth or butterfly that I could not identify at Duck Hollow. It was impossible to get close for a photo so this is the best I could do. Perched on Japanese knotweed. Can you tell me what it is?
What species is this insect? Duck Hollow, 4 July 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
And here’s some bird behavior I’ve never seen before: Two red-tailed hawks are perched on the hoist rope of this enormous crane on O’Hara Street near Thackeray on 29 June. This crane spends five days a week moving back and forth. I’m amazed that they decided to test it on a Saturday. Can you see them? If not, click here for a marked-up photo.
p.p.s. See Karen’s comment below in which she identifies it as a Bad-wing moth (Dyspteris abortivaria). So my next question is, Why is it called a bad wing? –> And see J’s comment with the answer!
Canada warbler, Laurel Mtn, 9 June 2024 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
15 June 2024
During spring warbler migration I try to see as many species as possible as they pass through Pennsylvania and Ohio. Unfortunately, I missed some of my favorites this year, most notably the Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis), so Charity Kheshgi and I went to Laurel Mountain last Sunday to find them on their breeding grounds.
We thought we’d be able to see at least one of the two Canada warblers we heard singing along Spruce Bog Trail, but not. However, we got lucky on the Picnic Trail when the bird pictured above and below approached us making his warning call.
Canada warbler, Laurel Mtn, 9 June 2024 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
Here’s an example of what he sounded like:
There was plentiful shade in the forest, but that made the birds harder to see. This ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) is nicely lit but still in the dark.
Ovenbird, Laurel Mtn, 9 June 2024 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
We found other delights on the mountain. A tiger swallowtail butterfly sipped nectar from pitcher plant flowers at Spruce Bog.
Tiger swallowtail at pitcher plant flowers, Spruce Bog, Laurel Mtn, 9 June 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Pennsylvania’s state flower, mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), was in bloom.
Mountain laurel in bloom, Laurel Summit State Park, 9 June 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
This trillium gone to seed showed well in dappled sunlight.
Trillium gone to seed, Laurel Mtn, 9 June 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
We heard more birds than we could see, ultimately tallying 24 species in our checklist here.
Orange day-lily, Three Rivers Heritage Trail near Herrs Island, 9 June 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
10 June 2024
Between the glory of woodland spring ephemerals and summer’s splash of native field flowers, June has fewer blooming natives. On a walk yesterday along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail near Millvale I found a host of pretty flowers, many of them invasive.
Orange day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva) is native to Asia and well established in Pennsylvania. You’ll see it blooming in ditches, along railroad tracks and in gardens. It pops up in so many places that it has at least 10 common names. Orange day-lily is considered invasive in Pennsylvania because its tubers create thick clumps that crowd out native plants in sensitive habitats.
Crown vetch in bloom, Three Rivers Heritage Trail near Herrs Island, 9 June 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
What’s that popcorn-like smell? It’s poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and it’s in bloom. You won’t want this plant anywhere you find it. Here’s how to get rid of it; expect a multi-year effort.)
Poison hemlock flowers, Three Rivers Heritage Trail near Herrs Island, 9 June 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
If you drink beer you’re familiar with the flavor of hops which is used as a bittering, flavoring, and stability agent in beer. Depending on the variety, hops can also add floral, fruity, or citrus flavors and aromas.
The hops plant itself, Humulus lupulus, is a perennial vine (*) that vigorously twines itself around uprights and strings in the hopfield.
To do so it uses to a motion called Circumnutation.
Circumnutation refers to the circular movements often exhibited by the tips of growing plant stems, caused by repeating cycles of differences in growth around the sides of the elongating stem.
Leaf-out reveals the browseline, Schenley Park, 5 May 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
11 May 2024
This week I photographed a few puzzling objects for the record.
When I took a photo of Full Leaf trees in Schenley Park on 5 May I noticed something newly visible in the presence of leaves. Can you see it?
Look at the center of the photo where the path disappears in the distance. Above the path is a gap that allows you to see further under the trees. The gap flows to the right and follows the contour of the hillside. That’s the browseline, the cumulative effect of too many deer eating at the same location over and over.
I saw a native(!) honeysuckle this week. Pink with fused leaves, it’s called limber or glaucous honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica).
Limber or glaucous honeysuckle, Moraine State Park, 7 May 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Was this a cattle egret at Moraine State Park? If so it was a rare bird! Nope. It’s a white bag.
Cattle Egret at Moraine State Park? (photo by Kate St. John, 7 May 2024)
On 3 May a leaf-footed bug appeared to walk across the sky.
Leaf-footed bug walks across the sky, 3 May 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
During the Pittsburgh Marathon Dippy the dinosaur watched near the halfway mark.
Dippy wears black and gold for the Pittsburgh Marathon, 5 May 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Last Thursday four of us made our annual pilgrimage to Enlow Fork on the border of Washington & Greene Counties(*) to look for wildflowers and birds. We saw carpets of blue-eyed Mary as well as fire pink, wild geranium and dwarf larkspur in both blue and white. (Can you see the tiny spider on the fire pink petal, above?)
Hillside of Blue-eyed Mary and wild blue phlox, Enlow Fork, 25 April 2024 (photo by Barb Griffith)Wild Geranium, 25 April 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)Dwarf larkspur white form, 25 April 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
Record-setting rain in the beginning of April left flood debris in the valley. Donna Foyle photographed the fallen trees that nearly hit the pedestrian bridge.
Enlow Fork flood debris, 25 April 2024 (photo by Donna Foyle)
I tried to capture the water-swept mud and flood depth by photographing debris stuck in the trees. The high water mark here was up to my chin.
Enlow Fork flood debris, 25 April 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
The floodwaters swept freshwater clams from their homes leaving their empty shells among the flood debris.
Dead freshwater clams were among the flood debris, 25 April 2024 (photo by Kate St. John)
We didn’t see many birds at first, perhaps because it was so cold. By the time we were ready to walk back it had warmed up enough to see my First Of Year Baltimore oriole, rose-breasted grosbeak and scarlet tanager deep in the woods.
Scarlet tanager First of Year, Enlow Fork, 25 April 2024 (photo by Donna Foyle)
We also saw or heard seven warblers including Louisiana waterthrush, common yellowthroat, northern parula, redstart, Nashville, yellow and yellow-throated warblers.
At one point I put my bright hat (on top of my sun hat & headband) in case a distant wood thrush would notice. The thrush did not, but I earned the name “Golden-crowned Katelet.”
Golden-crowned Katelet, Enlow Fork, 25 April 2024 (photo by Donna Foyle)
We had a great day among pale spring leaves and blue-eyed Marys.
Kate St. John, Donna Foyle, Donna Collett, Enlow Fork, 25 April 2024 (photo by Barb Griffith)
Next week will be much warmer. Bring on the birds!
(*) Where is Enlow Fork?
The Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek forms the boundary between Washington and Greene Counties in southwestern PA. When we say “Enlow Fork” we are referring to the northern section of PA State Gameland #302 on both sides of Enlow Fork creek. The Gamelands (unpaved) parking lot is at this pin drop: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uzw42KqYZexLP4AB6.
(credits are in the captions. Thanks to Donna Foyle and Barb Griffith for contributing their photos)
