2007-10-08

A Weekend in the Garden

A fallen leaf from the cherry tree in the backyard
Cherry Leaf
Some macro shots of what's happening in the garden now. Most of the shots are from the backyard, some from the sideyard, along the driveway.

I was really surprised to have this Cicada fly right past me and land on the fence long enough for me to get a good shot of it. I've never see a live one so close up. I usually see them dead on the sidewalk, often missing their abdomen from predation. In that state, the markings on the top of the thorax (?) are dull dark brown and black. I think this is Tibicen canicularis, the dog-day cicada.
Cicada

I've been watching the aphids on these milkweed stems for several weeks. This photo doesn't capture the intense orange-yellow color of these bugs; they look more yellow in the photo than they actually are. I wonder if their color is caused by feeding on milkweed, much like the warning red-orange colors of Monarchs?
Aphids on Milkweed

Berries of Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana
Pokeweed Berries

Berries of Winterberry, Ilex verticillata
Winterberries

Sweet Autumn Clematis
Sweet Autumn Clematis

Sunflower
Sunflower


1 comment:

lisa said...

You got some very nice shots there! That cicada is really cool...I never get to see them alive, either. That poke berry really stains...in fact I think dye is made from it.