On Tuesday, Jeanne, Alan, and I headed back to the Caddo NG to continue the survey for Baptisia and the Frosted Elfins’ habitat.
This is the prairie we were about to search.
At the gate, someone else was apparently doing a survey for insects!
Mosses and lichens were growing on the big poison ivy vine!
Jeanne found the first flower of the day! It is the Prairie Buttercup (Ranunculus fascisuclaris).
We would find many more patches of them in the prairie!
The prairie was singing that day. We saw and heard Eastern Meadowlarks, Song Sparrows, phoebes, wrens, vultures, Cardinals, and I am probably forgetting something else. If you will notice, Alan and Jeanne are spread apart because then we can cover more ground.
We found multiple clumps of roses. It is mostly likely the Climbing Rose (Rosa setigera) with its long woody vines. It will be a spectacular prairie when they bloom! These are the old rose hips.
An insect casing!
A bagworm also on the rose. More tomorrow at the Caddo NG!
Incredible article – much food for thought.
Bagworms are such fun
I love them. Beautiful and interesting.