August 24, 2025: Pollinator Paradise

Sometimes one single plant can be a huge attraction to whole host of pollinating insects.

Thread-waisted Wasp on a Flat-topped Aster.

Like the Evening Primrose, when these asters started growing in the garden we thought they were weeds.  But curiosity inspired us to let them grow and see what developed.  The result is tall (up to six feet) wildflowers that have dozens of blossoms which attract everything from honeybees to tiny flies. 

I won't even try to identify them all, but here are some of the pollinators I found on a single plant at the same time.  

Aster seeds are also consumed by birds and they provide late-season nectar for migrating Monarch Butterflies.  Native to New England and growing well in hot and dry weather, it's an all-around excellent plant to let grow in your yard or garden - and you'll be helping pollinators which are under great stress these days.  Linda's woodland sunflower patch is another pollinator heaven.

Walking by it there's a loud buzz from the hundreds of insects visiting the blossoms, though they are predominantly bees - the sunflowers don't seem to attract the wide diversity of insects that the asters do.  

On the loon front I'm sorry to report that the survey crews have not been able to locate our younger chick Star, and we believe that he has been killed.  We don't know the cause, but another loon is a distinct possibility considering there has been a constant presence of non-resident loons on the lake.  We also know that the parents had been leaving chicks alone, tucked in against a shoreline while the parents go out to fend off other loons.  Earlier this week I watched our resident north territory male defend his territory from four other loons.

Letting intruders know this territory has been claimed before they get any ideas about next summer.

Escorting them out of the cove.

"And don't come back!"

But we can take solace that the larger chick, Spangle continues to thrive.

Starting to look like a juvenile loon now.

She is not safe yet though as she remains susceptible to attack by other loons, though with only one chick to defend, she will be better protected than ever.  We'll continue to hope for a positive outcome.  

Birds with larger broods than loons have better prospects for some of their chick to survive simply due to the numbers.  

I'll close with a bright greed katydid visiting our house. 

These are perhaps the prettiest of the insects in the bush cricket family, and the one makes the distinctive "katy-did, katy-didn't" sound by rubbing it wings together.  They can be distinguished from grasshoppers by their very long and thin antennae, often longer than their bodies. 

Grasshoppers have shorter and thicker antennae.  Katydids are mostly nocturnal, but this one was out in the morning sun for some reason.

Next week I'll be looking for late summer wildflowers.  Here's a preview of what's to come:

Perley Everlasting - another member of the aster family, but with a much different flower.

It should be a good week to walk through fields and along country roadsides.