July

Butterflies on Wild Bergamot Patch (M. fistulosa).

7/5/23

Black Eyed Susan (R. hirta) is the dominant flowering plant in all Firework Prairies, Prairie One, Prairie Five, Prairie Six, Prairie Seven, and Steele Prairies.
Butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) seed pods present in Fireworks West Prairie.
Dogbane seed pods are present in Fireworks West Prairie.
Dogbane Caterpillar sighted on Dogbane plants in Fireworks West and East Prairies.

7/7/23

Adult turkey and juvenile turkeys sighted in Francis Prairie.
Purple Coneflower (E. purpurea) found in flower in Firework Prairies.
Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa) found in flower in Firework Prairies, Francis Prairie, and Steele Prairie.
Meadow Beauty species in flower (R. mariana and R. virginica), heavy in ditches and flood zones.
Over four different butterfly species, and three different bee species were sighted visiting a large patch of Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa) in Prairie Five.

Skipper butterfly on Rosinweed (S. asteriscus).

7/11/23

Rosepink (S. angularis) in flower in Fireworks West Prairie, Francis Prairie, and Steele Prairie.
Initial growth of Ragweed (A. artemisiifolia) present in all prairies.
Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort (E. hyssopifolium) in full bloom.
Roundleaf Thoroughwort (E. rotundifolium) in full bloom.

7/14/23

Blazing Star (L. spicata) in full bloom.
Rattlesnake Master (E. yuccifolium) in full bloom, some with damage from boring insect.
Buttonweed (D. virginiana) in flower along prairie floor.
Creeping Eryngo (E. prostratum) in flower along prairie floor.
Rustweed (E. procumbens) in flower along prairie floor.

7/17/23

Starry Rosinweed (S. asteriscus) is the dominant flowering plant.
Black Eyed Susans (R. hirta) are still present but significantly less dominant than a week prior. Petals are withering and stems are turning brown.
Common Milkweed (A. syriaca) seed pods are present and releasing seeds.
Initial growth of Sicklepod (S. obustifolia) heavy in disturbed areas such as Knight Woods and Prairie Right of Way Paths.
Carolina Wild Petunia (R. caroliniensis) in flower along ditches, trails and in flood zones.

Purple Passionflower (P. incarnata) in Francis Prairie.

7/19/23

Skies are hazy from Canadian wildfire smoke; the sun was a deep red in the morning.
Pokeweed (P. americana) berries are ripe in flood zone.
Green Persimmon (D. virginiana) fruits present on Persimmon Trees in Muddy Branch.
Purple Passionflower (P. incarnata) in flower in Francis Prairie.
Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa) is starting to brown and die out.
Mountain Mint (P. muticum) in flower in Prairie Two and Block House Prairies.
Mystery Rattlesnake Master caterpillar turned into a mystery moth – photos sent to entomologists for identification assistance.

7/20/23

Helped track turtles. Two new turtles were found in woods by Dry Pond. Each turtle was measured, weighed, photographed, and named. One was male and one was female – Mike Tyson and Tina Turner.

Rose Mallow (H. moscheutos) in bloom along Turtle Pond.

7/24/23

Early Goldenrod (S. juncea) starting to flower in Francis Prairie.
Horse Nettle (S. carolinense) in fruit, fruits are green and resemble small tomatoes.
Bushy St. John’s Wort (H. prolificum) flower along Halfmoon Trail, first flower sighted of the year.
Wild Cucumber (M. pendula) found in fruit in Knight Woods, New to species list.
Beautyberry (C. americana) in flower along halfmoon trail.
Rose Mallow (H. moscheutos) in flower along edges of Turtle Pond.

Bushy St. John’s Wort (H. prolificum) in flower along Halfmoon Trail.

7/26/23

Elephant Foot (E. carolinianus) in flower along Francis’ Trail.
Eastern Showy Aster (E. spectabilis) in flower along Thompson Creek, first flower of the year.
Four Monarch butterflies were sighted visiting Butterflyweed in Wildland Prairies.
Wooly Mullein (V. thapsus) in flower in Block House, Far Gate, and Dry Pond Prairies.
Bull Thistle (C. vulgare) completely died out, all individuals are brown and brittle.

7/27/23

Bobwhites heard calling in Wildland Prairies.
Wild Quinine (P. intergrifolium) in flower in Wildland Prairies and Preserve Prairies but is starting to brown and die out.
Some Common Yarrow (A. millefolium) remains in flower in Wildland Prairies, all is dead in Preserve Prairies.
Butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) flowers and seeds can be found in Wildland Prairies, much less remains in flower in Preserve Prairies.
Yellow and Black Tiger Swallowtails are very active, four individuals sighted in Redbanks Prairie visiting Starry Rosinweed (S. asteriscus).

7/31/23

Virginia Dayflower (C. virginica) in flower along Thompson Creek.
Eastern Milk Pea (G. regularis) found in flower along edge of Prairie Seven.
Sharpwing Monkey Flower (M. alatus) in flower along Halfmoon Trail.
Woolgrass (S. cyperinus) found in seed along Halfmoon Trail.
Black Eyed Susans (R. hirta) have almost completely died out in all prairies across the property – some remain in heavily shaded or wet areas.
Grey Headed Coneflower (R. pinnata) remains in flower but is beginning to droop and wither throughout Preserve Prairies.