Another great group of folks joined me for First Wed! Yes, it was a bit warm. However, that did not stop us from enjoying the grasslands and each other’s company!
While waiting for the group to arrive I took a close look at some Doveweed (Croton) next to the car. A new lacewing was my reward! It is the Stink Lacewing (Chrysopa oculata)! The family is Green Lacewings (Chrysopidae)
A lousy photo but as I tried to get the close up, it was enough detail to get an ID! Here is a better close up photo. If you follow the link I recommended, scroll down to the Life Cycle part for interesting photos. Its habitat includes low vegetation, trees and fields. Most people would be thankful to have one since its diet consists of aphids, mites, and soft-bodied arthropods. (BugGuide)
Another fungus next to the cars! It was at the base of a stump. Loved the “ears” on this one!
Strolling on down the trail, this bolete mushroom was a few feet off the path. I thought it looked like a butt so of course I called it the butt mushroom. Furthermore, I see two dimples. LOL
A bolete is a polypore mushroom. Under the cap, it has pores instead of gills. Polypores are wood rotters meaning they assist in the decomposition of dead wood. (MushroomExpert.com)
American Beautyberry!
The spent blossom of the Low Ruellia (Ruellia humilis) was as pretty as when it was fresh!
Dayflower (Commelina erecta var. angustifolia)!
Part of the group on the trail!
Then some went off trail to get a closer look at the hill side!
Along side of the trail, Western Scarlet-pea (Indigofera miniata) was found and none had not been fertilized that I saw. And how do you know?
If you see the pistil, an insect has done its job as in this photo. Unfortunately I did not see any today that had been fertilized.
Indeed, it was a great outing with my fellow nature lovers!
Great pics. It was a nice day in spite of the heat. Always great to be out with nice like minded folks. Thanks
It was an enjoyable morning! And I suspected the “butt mushroom” would make the report LOL. Fellow naturalists are fun folks!