Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Strawberry bush

Another fall friend, Strawberry bush.  I like it's other name: Hearts-a-bustin.

Snap

We found this snapping turtle in Lake Lynn surrounded with little fish.  I think they were careful to stay away from his mouth.

Goldenrod

Goldenrod has a bad rap for causing hay fever.  But it's nice to see a flower blooming in the fall.

Virgin's Bower

 I found these seeds on a vine at Lake Lynn.  I think it's the native vine: clematis virginiana.  It has some wonderful nicknames: Virgin's Bower, Devil's darning needle, Old man's beard, Love vine and Woodbine.  

Which way is up?

I think this picture would make a good jigsaw puzzle. 

Enormous leaf patterns

This elephant ear (Taro) leaf was enormous!

A closer look at the flowers hiding under the leaves

According to wikipedia this taro is a staple food in most of the world. (here)

Leaf lines

A graceful set of lines on this Canna leaf.  

More leaf patterns

These leaves are more of a spiral pattern.
Some of these might follow the Fibonacci series, here, but it's hard to count it out.

Blue Agave (tequila anyone?)

Ginger

Leaf patterns

Walking through the Arboretum I was struck by the number of plants that have a radial pattern, reaching out from the center.

Agave

Sago Palm

Umbrella plant

Little lost deer

Walking on the greenway, we barely saw this little guy.  He blended in with the trees and leaves so well. The rest of his family had already run by down the trail.

Japanese

It seems whenever a plant is labeled Japanese, it is always graceful and elegant.  Above is a Japanese Maple

Japanese Cedar

Japanese "Sweetheart tree"

Peaceful Lake

The lake at Durant Nature Park was glassy.  

Foggy Morning

Everything looks more mysterious on a foggy morning.

Beauty

These aren't flowers, they're the berries on an American Beautyberry bush.  (see here) The berries are actually more brilliant than the picture shows, it's nearly impossible to pick up the rich purple color. It's an understory shrub native to the southeastern USA and it lives up to its name!

Cock-a-doodle-que

North Carolina does have great barbeque.  One of my favorites is City Barbeque.  

Rain chain

Instead of a downspout, some gardens have chains that direct the water off the roof.  Here at the arboretum, they have a rain chain with little watering cans.  I'd love to see it in the rain. 

The mother ship has landed

Looking out over the trial garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum, I noticed this building.  It looks like a landed spacecraft, but it's the arena at the NC State Fair. (see here) Can you tell that it was designed in the 50's?  Very futuristic for its time.

Clean up

We came across this industrial size leafblower cleaning the leaves and twigs off the Neuse River Greenway the day after Tropical Storm Michael came through Raleigh.  There was an other crew driving down the greenway cutting up downed trees.  We missed most of the wind and rain, but parts of Raleigh had flash floods and downed trees.  

Begonia

The begonias in the test garden at the arboretum were bright and colorful.  I'd say this one passes the test.

Pollinator garden

The Pollinator garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum was a busy place.  The bees and butterflies were everywhere. As they should be when they have their own homes right there.

A home for cavity dwelling bees

And busy hives for the honey bees.

Mardi Gras or Halloween?

This caterpillar looks like he's ready for Mardi Gras, although it looks like his range never gets to New Orleans.  He's a White-marked Tussock Moth caterpillar. here 

Peaceful Warrior

This warrior kneels in the Japanese garden at the JC Raulston Arboretum.  I'll think of him now when I do the yoga pose.

Beginning of fall

This little bit of red was the first sign that fall is here. 

Yellow Mushroom

I believe this is a Caesar's Mushroom, but it's very hard to identify from pictures.  

Fungus

 These delicate little threads reached up from the forest floor.  I think they are Clavaria (here)

Fringe

I finally identified this tree.  It is a Fringe tree, native to North Carolina (here)  I posted a picture of it  in August (here) and thought it was some sort of wild plum.  I can't wait to see it blooming next spring.

Spiders in the grass

The dew on the grass collects on the grass spiders' webs in the morning.  The lawn is dotted with these little webs.  The web is like a little funnel with a flat sheet and a little tunnel for the spider to hide in (see here .)  If you look really closely you can see the little light brown spider in the web.

Spider season

Fall begins, not with leaf colors, but with spiders.  Their webs are everywhere now.  They build their webs at night. And surprise! In the morning I get a faceful of spiderweb when I go out to get the paper.

Maybe...

This guy might be an Aminita Farinosa...or not.  

Warning to shoplifters

This unfriendly character was standing at the exit of the Lowes in Wake Forest.  I'm not sure how many shoplifters they have, but it would keep me from going out the emergency exit. 

Theme day: Change

The theme this month is CHANGE.  For those in northern climes, the leaves will be already changed.  Here in North Carolina, I looked and looked and finally found one leaf on one tulip poplar that has turned yellow.  Another month of summer here...