June 21, 2015

The sights and sounds of the Lakes Region this week were those of chrome and the thrum of the V-twin as the annual migration of motorbikes passed through the area.

Meredith, and the Harley-Davidson dealer is a key attraction for the herd.

The Laconia motorcycle rally is the third largest in the country, behind Sturgis and Daytona, though it's older than both of them, dating from 1924.  It attracts riders from all parts of the country and a wide variety of mechanical machines.  I had to drive to Center Harbor on Saturday, so I stopped to catch a few sights. 

Back home away from the highways it was much more peaceful;  the gentle brush of a butterfly is somehow a bit more relaxing.  I noted a couple of weeks ago that the summer wildflowers were blooming, and this has drawn the butterflies to their summer homes.

White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)

This White Admiral butterfly started with the daisies;  I was surprised when it set down on a hemlock tree.

I thought it was just resting for a moment, but then it unfurled its proboscis and started to suck some sort of tree nectar from the where the needles attach to the branches.

Rolling out its proboscis

It sat in one spot and reached here and there with its feeding tube to tap into whatever tiny drops of sustenance it could find.

A few of the wetland flowers around Lake Wicwas are still blooming as well;  these may be visited by bees, but I haven't noticed butterflies on them.

Larger Blue Flag

Sheep Laurel

If you take a trip around the shores of the local lake you are bound to see these two flowers (the Blue Flag grows mostly in marshy areas).

On a run through the Hamlin-Eames-Smyth conservation easement I met up with the Meredith Conservation Commission "Tuesday Trail Crew" maintaining the trails again.  This time they were cutting back the eager young trees - mostly maple and witch hazel - that continually push new branches out into the trail in search of sunlight.  They were also doing bridge maintenance, and addressing any other items in need of attention.

Jim Gregoire and Don MacFarlane of the Meredith Conservation Commission "Tuesday Trail Crew"

We can't thank these great volunteers enough for all they do to protect this valuable resource and make it accessible to all of us.  They are always looking for more volunteers to help out;  you can contact them at Conservation@Meredithnh.org if you would like to help.  Here is just one of the hundreds of creatures you will find if you visit these trails.

Eastern Newt (Red Eft phase)

On Saturday evening if you were outside with a view to the west you were treated to neat coalescence of three astronomical bodies:  Jupiter, Venus, and the moon.

Jupiter is upper-most of the three.  I savored the cosmic display while being serenaded by the tender drone of the V-twin Harley.

June 17, 2012

This weekend was cool for June, but it was bright and dry.  I'm still not seeing a lot of animals, but the plants around Lake Wicwas are taking full advantage of the long summer days.  On a kayak trip, I found a lot of Sheep Laurel blooming all around the aptly named Sheep Island.  They grow with the huckleberries and blueberries on the shoreline, and their blossoms are small, and easily overlooked from a distance, but they are beautiful flowers.

Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)

 Also growing along the shoreline are the Larger Blue Flags, a wild iris.

Larger Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)

Back on shore the Orange Hawkweed have joined the wild daisies. Their colors are so intense in the bright sunshine.

The honeybees are taking advantage of their pollen, buzzing in and around and building large yellow balls of pollen on their legs to bring home to make our honey.  Good thing they are not allergic - they are covered with pollen - eyes, antenna, and hair.

Other insects that thrive on plant juices are butterflies.  This White Admiral was flitting around this weekend, complementing the Red Admiral that I saw back on May 6th. 

White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)

At one point, when I was trying to get close for a picture, it landed right on my finger.  I got a good look at it, but it was not conducive to photography!

Unlike the Red Admiral, the White Admiral doesn't migrate.  They will mate in summer, lay eggs that hatch into caterpillars that will feed for the summer and hibernate over the winter.  In late April each caterpillar will feed some more before it forms its chrysalis where it transforms into an adult butterfly.

I've seen these foam bubbles on blades of grass for many years, and have never been sure what they are - the rumor is Spittlebugs. 

Spittlebug Protective Bubble

So I did a little research and in fact that's what it is.  Spittlebugs are tiny, aphid-like insects that feed on the juices of plants.  They build this bubble home to protect them from predators, and to keep them from drying out.  They are expected to appear around the summer solstice, so this one is right on schedule.  The foam is harmless, and even the insects rarely are a problem to the host plant.

Back in the lake, I noticed this trail through the weeds that the beavers have worn by passing to and from their lodge.  First they cut down trees within the protected 50 foot zone, then they dredge the lake to put mud on their lodge, and now they are forming channels through the marsh.  Someone better call the DES!

I'll finish this with a couple more bright examples of nature's artwork.  A bright yellow fungus, and another Orange Hawkweed.