Friday, August 2, 2019

DragonFly On Mullein

DragonFly On Mullein
 Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. 
There are more than 5,000 known species of dragonflies, all of which (along with damselflies) belong to the order Odonata, which means “toothed one” in Greek and refers to the dragonfly’s serrated teeth.
Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to two feet.
Dragonflies are expert fliers. They can fly straight up and down, hover like a helicopter and even mate mid-air. Between the speed, distance and flexibility when hunting, dragonflies are one of the most exceptional fliers on the planet.
Nearly all of the dragonfly’s head is eye, so they have incredible vision that encompasses almost every angle except right behind them.
They not only have an exceptional field of vision, but they can see the world in colors we can't even imagine. 
Dragonflies, which eat insects as adults, are a great control on the mosquito population. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day. 
They catch their insect prey by grabbing it with their feet. 
Dragonflies can't bite humans. The vast majority of species don't have mandibles strong enough to break the skin. Only a small handful of large species are capable of actually biting, but this only occurs as a defensive strategy. 

Mullein is a valued medicinal herb, especially in treating diseases of the lungs. A wash prepared  from the leaves, flowers, and roots soothed sprains, reduced  inflammations, and heals wounds. The leaves can also be used as a poultice for swollen glands, bruises, insect bites, for treating sprains, swelling, and wounds. It makes a good addition to an herbal salve. The flowers infused in oil were used to cure hemorrhoids and as a specific cure for earache.

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Friday, July 26, 2019

Plains Coreopsis

Plains Coreopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria

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Sunday, July 21, 2019

Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams Bumble Bee Napping In A Cosmos Flower
 Cosmos
Bees Love Cosmos

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Thursday, July 18, 2019

Birds Foot Trefoil

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a moderately long-lived herbaceous perennial legume. Also known as birdfoot deervetch, broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil, Dutchman’s clogs, and lady’s slippers. Uses include Erosion control: used along roadsides to control wind and water erosion. For Wildlife: Birdsfoot trefoil is a choice food for Canada goose, deer, and elk. As ground cover, it provides green cover most of the year and blooms profusely. It is a beneficial wildflower for bees.
Considered both edible and medicinal but be aware that all parts of this plant are poisonous. The seeds can be nibbled and it has been used medicinally as a antispasmodic, sedative, to remove gas and reduce fever.
Medicinal use of Bird's Foot Trefoil:
Carminative, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, restorative, vermifuge. The flowers are antispasmodic, cardiotonic and sedative. The root is carminative, febrifuge, restorative and tonic. The plant is used externally as a local anti-inflammatory compress in all cases of skin inflammation.
An orange-yellow dye is obtained from the flowers.

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My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Black Crowned Night Heron

Black Crowned Night Herons 
usually forage by standing still or walking slowly at edge of shallow water. They may perch above water on pilings, stumps, small boats. They forage mostly from late evening through the night, avoiding competition with other heron species that use the same habitat during the day. They may feed during the day in the breeding season, when they need extra energy for nesting, or in unusual weather.
Black-crowned Night-Herons are common in wetlands across North America, including saltmarshes, freshwater marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, lagoons, tidal mudflats, canals, reservoirs, and wet agricultural fields. They require aquatic habitat for foraging and terrestrial vegetation for cover. They spend the winter in southern and coastal portions of their breeding range as well as across Mexico and Central America, where they use mangroves, marshes, swamps, lagoons, and flooded rice fields. They Nest in groves of trees, in thickets, or on ground, usually on islands or above water, perhaps to avoid predators.
Their Diet is quite variable, freshwater, and marine animals, mostly fish, but also squid, crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, snakes, clams, mussels, rodents, carrion, eggs and young birds, leeches, earthworms, crayfish, amphibians, lizards, and turtles.

The male chooses a nest site in a tree or in cattails, usually in a habitat safe from predators such as on an island, in a swamp, or over water. The male advertises for a mate with displays that involve bowing and raising the long plume on his head.
Black-crowned Night-Herons nest colonially, often with a dozen nests in a single tree. Colonies sometimes last for 50 years or more.

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Sunday, July 14, 2019

Dahlia Delight

Dahlias
The Dahlia Flower’s Message Is…Celebrate what makes you different. Seek out the new pleasures in life and keep moving through the challenges instead of letting them hold you back. Discover what the world holds for you, and watch out for pitfalls along the way. Pink symbolizes kindness and grace.

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Saturday, July 13, 2019

Vermont Country Yard

Things You See While Riding Through The Countryside. An Inviting Yard With A Red Barn And A Hammock.

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