Fall Weekend on Lake Erie
/I ended up spending a few days up on Lake Erie again this past weekend and while the weather wasn't quite as nice as last weekend, it didn't rain much at all so we were still able to spend all our time having bonfires and hiking on the beach. New England Aster is still holding on strong up there, its purple flowers are still as vibrant as last weekend and the little rain we did get probably helped the Steelhead on their annual stream runs.
Pumpkin
CUCURBITA ????
We're still seeing Pumpkins on the beach, although I think some of the larger ones were picked but this smaller one was still hanging on. As I've said before, the soil conditions on the beach seem so inhospitable to me that I'm amazed that any fruiting plant can survive, let alone produce fruit.
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
New England Aster... such a beautiful purple flower and so vibrant that sometimes the flowers just don't seem real. It's still holding on strong up there.
Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly
Phoebis sennae
This Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly was also enjoying the New England Asters, flittering from blossom to blossom with me following along with my camera. I didn't think I was able to get any good pictures, but when I got home and downloaded them to my pc, I was happy to see I actually took 2 good photos (other one is in More Pictures section of post).
Mouth of Canadaway Creek
The sand and gravel bar that forms at the mouth of Candaway Creek is constantly moving and during times of lower water, becomes a barrier to the Steelhead trying to enter the creek. Most of the time the bar is established enough to hold the weight of a person, but other times the gravel and sand is so loosely packed that you sink up to your knees.
White Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides
There's still a lot of White Heath Aster around too, but it seems to be starting to decline. The blossoms aren't as sharp as they were and the ends of some petals are starting to droop. But, without them and New England Aster, there wouldn't be much color in the woods right now.
Heal All
Prunella vulgaris
I haven't come across any Heal All in Sewickley for at least a month or so, but it's still around up in western New York. As I've said in previous posts, the longer growing season the lake provides the region up there is evident, especially when you see flowering plants like Heal All this late in the season.
Yellow Fly Agaric Mushroom
Amanita muscaria var. formosa sensu
Yellow Fly Agaric is very similar looking to Red Fly Agaric (think Mario Bros. video game) and both are highly toxic. But I was excited to see this cluster of mushrooms and I was able to get a few good pictures.
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
BOMBUS IMPATIENS
This Common Eastern Bumble Bee was busy feeding on the New England Aster blossoms (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) when I got this picture. It bounced from blossom to blossom oblvious to me and my camera before flying to another patch of New England Aster.
More Pictures:
Pumpkin Flower
CUCURBITA ????
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly
Phoebis sennae
Yellow Fly Agaric Mushroom
Amanita muscaria var. formosa sensu