WALK AROUND GREEN SPRING GARDENS CONTINUED...7-21-22

I found it hard to leave those lotus flowers and the refreshing fountain in the middle of the pond.  Though we couldn't feel its cooling spray, it was enough to sense it.  We sat on a nearby bench to see if any water birds would appear.  We haven't seen any Great Blue Herons at the pond since last year.  Maybe next time!  I felt lucky to see the female mallard, which I also shared in a previous post.   She was preening herself and then seemed to have a little snooze. 

I empathized in that heat, most definitely, but at least she could take a swim later to cool off. I always enjoy reading about them and adding to what I have already learned.  Some facts I know, others I don't, some are a good refresher course. Today I read that ducks can live from 2 to 20 years, depending on the species and whether they are wild ducks or ducks in captivity. It is a fact that a wild duck can live 20 years or more. Domestic ducks typically live 10 to 15 years in captivity. The world record is a Mallard Drake that lived to a ripe old age of 27 years.

Someone had scattered a mixture of corn and other seed near the bench, and this little girl had her lunch not far from where we were sitting. The corn was too big but she seemed to be enjoying the tinier seed.  I believe she is a female House Sparrow but please correct me if you think I am incorrect.

There was also an American Robin nearby, but that was it for the smaller birds.  The others were very elusive on our visit.  However, always grateful for small mercies, as the old saying goes.  True!

At the other end of the pond were water lilies.  There were also dragonflies.  They were flitting around and I couldn't get a proper focus for a photo.

It was time to move on and we walked towards the path that would lead us up the hill, to the flatter part of the garden.  We said goodbye to the pond area, at least until next time.

At the beginning of the path was a sign asking not to feed the ducks and geese...

and another making us aware of their ecological restoration.  There is an article at this link which tells us all about it.

Not too far from this sign we spotted the family of deer.  We counted three at least.  They were quite a distance off from us and this is one of several photos I took but these didn't exactly work out.  The tree on the right is one we pass all the time where many couples have had their names carved into its bark over many years.  You can just about make out a deer's shape in the center of the photo.  Also, the little blue glints are the reflection of its eyes.  I don't remember the flash going off.  Perhaps it was a trick of the sunlight filtering between the trees.  I shared a better photo here on my first post from our recent walk, and it is the 6th one down.

I also enjoyed the wildflowers as I walked.  Below is Blue mistflower, botanical name Conoclinium coelestinum.  Its other names are Mistflower, Wild ageratum, Blue boneset and Hardy ageratum.  It is an herbaceous perennial, is native to North America and blooms in summer and the fall.  

Next are the berries of the American elder.  Its botanical name is Sambucus canadensis.  Other names it goes by are Common elderberry, American elderberry, Elderberry, Canada elderberry and American black elderberry.  It is native to North American, a deciduous shrub and provides food for over 100 species of birds, as well as shelter for nesting.  The dark purple elderberries are used to make jellies, pies, juice, and wine.  The flowers are star-shaped and are a yellowish-white.  

We spotted a beautiful black swallowtail on the pink Garden phlox, botanical name Phlox paniculata.  Also known as Summer phlox, Fall phlox, Perennial phlox and Cross-leaved phlox.  Phlox is a Latin word for 'flame'.  It is also native to the United States.  You can read more about the butterfly at this link.  There are great photos!

Purple Joe-Pye weed is next, botanical name Eutrochium purpureum.  I feel like I am auditioning for a Harry Potter movie with all these botanical names, but I enjoy learning them.  Other names are Kidney-root, Sweetscented Joe Pye Weed, Sweet Joe-Pye-Weed, Gravel Root, Trumpet Weed and Feverweed.  It is native to eastern and central North America, and blooms in the summer and fall.  Its flowers have a strong vanilla fragrance, which makes it a favorite of butterflies.  No flutterby friends on them as I passed by.

We have crossed the stream and are making our way up the hill and will end up in the top part of the garden.

These beautiful yellow flowers are called the Cup plant, botanical name Silphium perfoliatum.  Other names are the Common Cup plant, Squareweed, Carpenter's weed, Pilot weed and Rosinweed.  It is a native to the Eastern and Central United States.  The height of this plant typically reached from 3 to 8 feet and as you can see, their blooms are similar to sunflowers.  They grew in abundance on each side of the path and these towered over my head.  

And frankly I loved them as you can see by the many photos.  There were hundreds of them along the pathway.

A closer view of one shows a bright green bug with wings.  I wish I could crop it closer without blurring it out too much (I only had my cell phone - Gregg and I swap cameras and he was further along than I was. He carries our larger camera with the zoom lens.  It is a lot heavier and my wrists start to ache if I carry it for too long.  He jokes that he is my porter, and will give it to me when I want to see something up close.  I am glad he likes taking photos as much as I do, and many of his photos I share on my blog.)   

The ID of the bug is the Augochlora pura, also known as the Augochloral sweat bee. 

Each flower head has 20-30 yellow rays and darker yellow disks. The leaves are joined at the stem to form a small cup that holds water and attracts birds. 

I also came across another yellow flower, the Black-eyed susan, botanical name Rudbeckia hirta.  Common names are the Yellow ox-eye daisy, English bull's eye, Brown betty, Golden Jerusalem and Gloriosa daisy.  Its genus name, Rudbeckia, was named in honor of botanist Olof Rudbeck Junior, (1660 – 1740) who was a Swedish explorer, scientist, botanist, ornithologist and rector of Uppsala University in Sweden. 

People plant them to attract butterflies to gardens.  It is also a native flower to America. The stamen isn't actually black but brown.  Its yellow petals attract some birds, but the brown center isn't that attractive to our feathered friends.  However, its center acts as a good platform where they can stand and snack on the jagged ambush bugs and aphids that frequent it.  Just like echinacea, the flower has been used in traditional herbal medicine.  Growing throughout the prairies and plains, it was used medicinally by many Native Americans to care for both people and horses. 

It was declared the state flower of Maryland in 1918.  

I have a few more photos from the top part of the garden. I will share those when I can put a post together.

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful day!

I WAS HOPING WE WOULD SEE HIM....

 and we settled down on another vacant bench and waited quietly.The waterlily pads were plentiful, though the actual waterlilies had closed up for the night.  Still very beautiful!

This was our view. 

There was a splash and we saw a body, a tail and a flip as something slid under the water. 

It was our North American Beaver, which I have mentioned several times before.  (Some of my info may be a repeat.)

Our North American beaver is the largest rodent in North America, and is the second largest in the world behind the South American capybara, though smaller I believe than the Eurasian variety.   You can read about the reintroduction of the North American beaver to Europe here.

The North American beaver is semiaquatic.  The back feet are webbed while the front feet are smaller, clawed and dexterous.  They have membranes that cover their eyes to see while submerged.  It also has the ability to seal its nostrils and ears under the water, and capable of gnawing under water by keeping their lips closed behind their front teeth.

There it goes, disappearing among the lilypads.  We only had a few minutes to enjoy but we will remember to return at the same time.  They are more active later in the day.

There is more information at this website.  

We saw one turtle at the pond (right-hand side of the above photo resting on the raft).  There were also butterflies which I will share next time.  It is always very pleasant here and we go back often.

Thanks for looking and I hope you day is a great one.

WALNEY POND - PART 1

When we first arrived there were two Canada Geese swimming among the lily pads.  

I didn't see a nest and they seemed well-content and calm, not worried about us or the other visitors.

On first look it is hard to tell the difference between a male and female Canada Goose, but I found out how at this website, and also lots of interesting information at the Beauty of Birds.  The females have pointed tails, while males possess rounded tails. Sub-adults have rounded tails too but a notch is usually present that can distinguish them from mature males.  Additionally, males have larger, wider head crowns than females.

The term "sub-adult" describes a plumage that occurs after the juvenile (1st-year) plumage but before the adult plumage.  (Birds that take several years to acquire their adult plumage such as eagles, Swainson's Hawks, White-tailed Hawks and several others, have one or a few sub-adult plumages.)

Gregg found the other bird, a female Red-winged Blackbird.  I saw her mate on the other side of the pond.  It flew into a tree nearby.  Their trill is very distinctive.  I am no expert but once I hear it I know its identity immediately.  

She was very cooperative while Gregg took her photos.

The oldest recorded Red-winged blackbird was 15 years, 9 months old.  

It was banded in New Jersey in 1967, and found alive but injured in Michigan in 1983.  It was able to be released after recovering from its injuries.

Red-winged blackbirds roost in flocks in all months of the year.  In summer small numbers they roost in the wetlands where the birds breed.  Winter flocks can be congregations of several million birds, including other blackbird species and starlings.  Each morning the roosts spread out, traveling as far as 50 miles to feed, then re-forming at night.

This cute Red-eared slider swam up to us when we were standing on the overlook.  I suspect it was hoping for a morsel or two, but we have a rule about not feeding wildlife.  We have never come across a desperate case and if that ever happened  we would call a wildlife center to get help.

Our shadows can be seen here at that same overlook.

Red-eared sliders are native to the Southern United States and northern Mexico, but are now inhabiting other places because of pet releases.  I see them in almost every pond I have ever visited.  Sadly, and through no fault of its own,  this poor creature is considered an invasive species.

The Red-eared slider gets its name from the small, red stripe around its ears, or where its ears would be, and from its ability to slide quickly off rocks and logs into the water.  I have often watched them slip back into the water as we approach when walking along one of our favorite walking paths.  

Water-lilies are slowly covering the pond.  

We are looking forward to coming back to see them blooming.

Last photo of one of the geese taking off, and its mate wasn't far behind.

 As I usually do, I have more photos to share from Walney Pond.  Next time there will be wildflowers.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your day.