By building our powers of observation, we can discover the joy of ecology.
Hummingbird Moth at Bee Balm
There are several species of moths in New England that resemble hummingbirds in flight and are active during the day instead of at night. This one, a snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), is inserting its long thin proboscis into the tubular flowers of our native bee balm (Monarda fistulosa), to access the nectar it needs for fuel.
Cedar Waxwing Eating Amelanchier Berries
Every spring in early June, like clockwork, a flock of Cedar Waxwings descends on my small grove of serviceberry (Amelanchier) trees, to devour the berries just as they start to ripen. There, they find themselves competing with at least a dozen other bird species that also value this important food source.
Beautiful Bloodroot — an Early Spring Wildflower
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is one of our earliest spring wildflowers, with its delicate white blossoms emerging on stalks before the leaves fully unfurl. Long after flowering and subsequent seed dispersal, the beautiful leaves of this species make an elegant carpet on the woodland or garden floor.
Bumble Bee at Swamp Milkweed
Bombus griseocollis is one of Masachusetts’ native bumble bees. Although not the most common species, this one will be found where the native plants it depends upon grow, including swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Unfortunately, several of our bumble bee species are in steep decline with less than twelve remaining in the state.
Trout Lily Blooming in April
So named because their mottled leaves resemble the skin of brook trout, Erythronium americanum generally prefers slightly moist deciduous shade. Yet these plants surprised me by volunteering in my garden (somehow) in a very sunny spot but protected by the shade of larger non-native daffodils! Every little niche has so much potential.
Northern Waterthrush in My Back Garden
My small urban landscape is underlain by dense clay soil, and this part of Cambridge was once a major brick manufacturing center. Hence, when it rains heavily, my back garden floods a bit. Rather than fighting that, I enjoy it as a real asset because it provides habitat for numerous migrating birds, including this Northern Waterthrush.