Phenology Happenings: Butterflies in Winter
January 23, 2023
(Photos and story by Diane De Luca) In the early days of spring, we are often greeted with the first emergence of the Mourning Cloak butterfly. What a gift as
(Photos and story by Diane De Luca) In the early days of spring, we are often greeted with the first emergence of the Mourning Cloak butterfly. What a gift as
(Photos and story by Diane De Luca) The gardens are alive with pollinators. Visitors, campers, and those of us who work in the gardens are all drawn to the activity
(Photos and story by Diane De Luca) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a native perennial that is a favorite in pollinator gardens. Each daisy-like flower head has florets that surround
(Photos and story by Diane De Luca) Frigid temperatures, a hard snow pack and a couple inches of fresh snow create the perfect conditions for observing tracks. I head out
(Phenology Happenings by Diane De Luca) The Deering Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in wetlands: ponds, marshes, wet meadows, forested swamps. Winding streams connect many of these water bodies across the
(Photos and story by Diane De Luca) As the leaves fall, and brown hues are dominant, the persistent green plants stand out. Even as the snow falls, the greens still
(by Melissa Moore) You’ve seen Hobblebush along hiking trails and forest walks. Maybe you’ve tripped over it. This native shrub takes its name from its unique growth habit. As the
Diane De Luca has been collecting phenology data since 2012, including the dates of first emergence of multiple perennial wildflowers. According to Diane, “The dates have been remarkably consistent for