June 2020 – French Broad Hollow Ramble

Walnut Sphinx Moth Amorpha juglandis

Southeastern Five-lined Skink Plestiodon inexpectatus

Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria

Stinky Squid Stinkhorn Mushroom Pseudocolus fusiformis

Sphinx: I was pleasantly surprised to see this this strange, beautiful Walnut Sphinx Moth (Amorpha juglandis) on one of my porch posts. (Click on the image to see a larger view.) According to iNaturalist, “When attacked by a bird, the caterpillar produces a high-pitched whistle by expelling air from pair of spiracles in its abdomen.” I wish I’d heard that!

Skinks: Many lizards live around my house and garden; I often see them sunning on the rock wall or the pebble-dash stucco. This Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus) was on a stack of leftover decking.

Pinks: Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) was introduced to North America and has now naturalized. In other words, it’s another exotic, but at least it’s not very invasive. I first noticed it in the small meadow above my house several years ago, and this year I have seen it by the road in several places as I ramble.

And stinks! Really! While searching for whatever it was that I thought had died in my garden, I found this orange claw-like thing protruding from the soil—a Stinky Squid Stinkhorn Mushroom (Pseudocolus fusiformis)! Yuck! If you find one, you’ll know why it’s called a stinkhorn!

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Today’s forecast called for an 80% chance of rain, but it’s been sunny most of the day. It was pleasantly warm after several cloudy days with lows in the low 50s and highs in the 60s. I’m still waiting for the rain, however, or I’ll have to water the garden tomorrow.

The Sphinx isn’t the only moth attracted to the porch light. Below are a Tulip-tree Beauty Moth (Epimecis hortaria), an Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (Malacosoma americana), a Locust Underwing Moth (Euparthenos nubilis), and a Large Lace-border Moth (Scopula limboundata) I saw in the meadow. (This is a good time to issue the disclaimer that I am by no means an expert on identifying most of the flora and fauna I post about. I rely on iNaturalist.org as a guide; sometimes someone with more knowledge suggests a correction, which I welcome. :-))

Tulip-tree Beauty Moth Epimecis hortaria

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth Malacosoma americana

Locust Underwing moth Euparthenos nubilis

Large Lace-border Moth Scopula limboundata

The most common lizard species near my place is the Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus). And they seem to like it here; I watched courtship (I think) and mating one afternoon (hard to see in the pic). BTW, this little hollow must have great vibes—today I saw two butterflies mating (no pic) and last year it was turkeys!

No fawn sightings yet, although I look out several times a day. I’ll be sure to post photos as soon as I have some; I hope it’s soon!

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In June 1854 Henry David Thoreau wrote, “It is dry, hazy June weather. We are more of the earth, farther from heaven these days.” In June 2020, it seems as though we of the earth are still farther from heaven, even as many try to make the earth a better place for all to live.

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Here in the Hollow, nature continues to move along in her typical languid manner, without regard to pandemics or civil unrest. It’s been unseasonably hot and humid (for here, not like in Alabama!). We’ve had only one good rain (downpour) since the last post; walking is treacherous in places where the gravel is loose and dusty when a vehicle passes by at more than a crawl. The deer are plagued by flies and other pests; I take a handheld zapper down when I feed in the afternoons.

The three yearling deer (Bambi, his brother, and the little doe) show up regularly; I think their mothers have chased them away to care for this year’s fawns. The two young bucks stay close by and often rest in the meadow. Most of the formerly pregnant does must have fawns somewhere, and I take feed down whenever I see a now-skinny doe. I expect to see a fawn any day now.

The butterflies love the sunny days.

Red-spotted Admiral Limenitis arthemis

Common Spring Moth Heliomata cycladata

Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon

Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele

Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus

Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele

Great Spangled Fritillaries Speyeria cybele

The Great Spangled Frittilaries really love the Purpletop Vervain (Verbena bonariensis), or tall verbena. (Oh yeah, a possible invasive that I purposely planted!)

I often see eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) and eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) when I walk, although they usually see me first and run off before I can get a good photo.

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I have better luck with the trail camera and capture photos many critters (some of which I would rather not have nearby). These photos are some from earlier this spring, when I had the camera set up first in the meadow and then near the salt block and creek. (For some reason, I can’t edit the captions.)