Michigan Lily

Michigan Lily
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

These lilies started blooming last week in the RBG's Hendrie Valley. Always a treat! It seems that bright orange wild flowers are few and far between.

Part of our First July Weekend

Part of our First July Weekend
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Our canoe has been in storage for too long. We paddled from Paris to Brantford today with the water levels not too low yet. We only hit bottom a few times and only had to walk once. I lost count of Great Blue Heron sightings. I think it was 6 or 7 plus 3 Mergansers and almost 40 Canada Geese, several kayaks, a few canoes, and a rubber raft or two.

Polyphemus Moth

Polyphemus Moth
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

According to my insect book these large silkmoths only live a few days as adults and do not eat. The larvae eat a variety of leaves from trees and shrubs. It is found in most of southern Canada and the lower 48 of the U.S. We see them almost every year and, yes, I am still in the barn. We have a bug zapper with a black light there and many moths are attracted. Fortunately this one is too big to get into the zapper but many micro moths are not so lucky. It's really for mosquitoes but many other insects are attracted.

Sheep Sorrel

Sheep Sorrel
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

The camera and I were on the ground for this photo. We have lots of Sheep Sorrel growing in our lawn and in our meadows. I think it is good to eat but we have not added it to the vegetables on the table yet.

The other strange looking flowers in the photo are on English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata.)

Ctenucha venosa

Ctenucha venosa
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Yes, another moth. They seem to be catching my eye lately. This one is the Virginia Ctenucha. It appears to be very common on our area and is often seen flying about during the daytime.
I found this one while I was out walking the dog this July 1st morning. Because it was only 8 degrees C. (46 F), the moth was not moving.