by Christine Hanrahan

Christine is one of FWG’s volunteer naturalists who writes in great detail about her visits to FWG. A great way to visit with us virtually and keep on top of what you might see when here in person!

Hi All,

This is really just a note to let you know that I have uploaded some fantastic photos by Diane Lepage, to the August Pbase photo blog.
She was there in the late afternoon, working with Brian, Sandy and Barry, to remove the abundant flowering rush from the pond.

Last year, by the way, the flowering rush was greatly diminished thanks to the work of the muskrats in the pond. I regularly watched them gathering and eating flowering rush roots. But we seem to have lost our muskrats this year. [Ed note – anyone have a spare muskrat to lend us 😉 ]

I was at the FWG in the morning and found many of the large locust borer beetles, a native long-horned beetle, on the goldenrods. This is certainly the time to find them. Just check the goldenrods.

Locust borer. Photo by C Hanarahan.

Among other things, I found an intriguing set of eggs on a blade of grass. The cluster was on both sides and was perhaps 2 cm in length.

Pretty little white eggs! Photo by C Hanrahan.

There were scores of minuscule opalescent eggs. I don’t know what laid them, but wondered if a moth might have done so. Must ask our resident mothspert, Diane! In order to photograph them with my wretched camera, I had to place a leaf underneath so that I could focus on them. But you can still see the blade of grass. When I see something like this, I am always awed by how grand nature is! To me, these little eggs are works of art.

Cheers!