Smooth Horsetail, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (06/26/2011.) Scientific name is Equisetum laevigatum. Photo below was taken along the Hull’s Gulch National Recreation Trail in Ada County, ID on June 21, 2011. Go to the Smooth Horsetail detail page for more photos and information.
Smooth Horsetail, Smooth Scouring Rush – Equisetum laevigatum
Western Thimbleberry, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (06/25/2011.) Scientific name is Rubus parviflorus. Photo below was taken along the Kleinschmidt Grade in Adams County, ID on June 19, 2011. Go to the Western Thimbleberry detail page for more photos and information.
Thimbleberry, Western Thimbleberry, Salmonberry, Mountain Sorrel, White Flowering Raspberry, Western Thimble Raspberry – Rubus parviflorus
Woods Rosa, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (06/24/2011.) Scientific name is Rosa woodsii. Photo below was taken along the Hull’s Gulch National Recreation Trail in Ada County, ID on June 21, 2011. Go to the Woods’ Rose detail page for more photos and information.
Woods Rose, Common Wild Rose, Mountain Rose – Rosa woodsii
As a side note, this is the 300th species in the USWildflowers.com wildflower database.
The Chukar (Alectoris chukar) is a bird that was imported from Pakistan many years ago as a game bird. It has naturalized in dry mountainous parts of the United States. My wife photographed this one along the long driveway to the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho on June 14. This was our first time to see this bird.
Chukar – Alectoris chukar
Common Monkeyflower, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (06/16/2011.) Scientific name is Mimulus guttatus. Photo below was taken in Ada County, ID on June 12, 2011.
Yellow Monkeyflower, Common Monkeyflower, Seep Monkeyflower – Mimulus guttatus
I missed the Wings on Wednesday post last week, so you’ll get more than one photo this week. Cindy and I made a drive up Lucky Peak nearly to the top. This VERY rugged drive is great for the views, the birds, and the wildflowers. As we were coming back down and nearing Route 21, I saw a raptor flying along the hill on the left. It turned out to be a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, being quite defensive of their nest with at least one chick in it.
(Note: I’m on vacation and have so lost track of time I posted “Wings on Wednesday” on Tuesday of this week. 🙂 )
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
Followers of this journal know that I love the Boise Foothills. I headed up there as the sun was rising on our first full day in Boise for this visit. Here are a few reasons I love the Boise Foothills.
Boise Foothills in the Morning Light
Common Daylily, a non-native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (06/08/2011.) Scientific name is Hemerocallis fulva. It is considered weedy or invasive by some authorities. It’s also known by the common names Tawny Daylily and Orange Daylily. Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA on May 31, 2011.
Common Daylily, Tawny Daylily, Orange Daylily - Hemerocallis fulva
Wednesday has been creeping up on me lately, thus the almost Thursday WingsOnWednesday post. This lovely butterfly was one of many (several different species) hanging aroung the Blue Hole at Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, GA on Memorial Day 2011.
Thanks to Twitter friend @pwtphotography for the identification as a Question Mark butterfly – Polygonia interrogationis. @echoschemes and @LeeHillerLondon also pointed me in the right direction identifying it as a member of the Polygonia genus. I hadn’t gotten any closer to thinking (correctly, at least!) it was a member of the Nymphalidae family.
Question Mark – Polygonia interrogationis
Following photo added to help show the mark that is what made me decide it is a Question Mark – Polygonia interrogationis – instead of the very similar Eastern Comma – Polygonia comma.
The arrow points to the question mark.
Common Elderberry, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (06/01/2011.) Scientific name is Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis. It is also known by the common names American Elderberry and American Black Elderberry. Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA on May 31, 2011.
Common Elderberry, American Elderberry, American Black Elderberry – Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis