Bees and butterflies are finding plenty of nectar.

Although many of the flowers in our Butterfly Garden have died or are fading, there is still much beautiful color there.  Many bees and insects are enjoying these blooms, as are butterflies such as this Pearl Crescentspot and Fritillary.

 

Late flowers still showing color

Don't give up - there's still lots of color around Reflection Riding, especially yellow!  Fields of yellow are abundant along the lower road and on the short-cut exit toward the upper road.  There are many blooms still showing in the Butterfly Garden behind the education offices.  And along the way on any road you may see small patches of beautiful fall colors.

Blue-violet is a lovely color for October

Mistflower, of the aster family, can spread quickly and make a large bank or field of pretty violet flowers.  You may see butterflies or bees enjoying it.

 

Leafy Elephant's Foot, sometimes called Carolina Elephant's Foot, is another blue-violet flowe which may be seen on the Creek Road.  It has broad leaves, which may be the origin of its name.  There is an Elephant's Foot plant which is related to the palm tree and not related to this flower.

Yellow is the "in" color this week.

Goldenrod can be seen in huge patches of yellow almost everywhere right now.  Some have alleged that they are allergic to goldenrod, but it has an interesting and varied history: Native Americans chewed it to relieve sore throat and toothache. Famous inventors such as Thomas Edison and George Washington Carver experimented with goldenrod in attempts to produce rubber, ethanol, etc. In fact, Edison owned a T Model Ford with tires made of goldenrod-produced rubber. Its bright fall beauty has caused the state of Kentucky to name it the state flower and South Carolina its state sunflower.

 

 

The Woodland Sunflower is another yellow flower which can be seen mainly along the Creek Road.  Unlike other varieties of sunflower, it prefers partial shade and moist soil.

Is your heart bursting with love?

These beautiful crimson flowers are called "Hearts-a-Bursting," sometimes adding the words "with love."  They are so named because there are four to five bright red seed capsules which, when opened, reveal four to five shiny red berries, which remain attached to the plant for several weeks.  You can't miss one inflorescence of this plant as you walk into the visitors center office.  Look for more behind the office.  This flower is sometimes also called Strawberry Bush.

 

One of fall's most beautiful blooms is the aster, and you may see several varieties as you travel the upper road at Reflection Riding, especially near the Squincy Bird Cabin.

What is an arboretum?

An arboretum is simply an area with trees and shrubs. At Reflection Riding, we use the term more broadly: many acres of trees, shrubs, flowers, ponds, etc. As a Level 4 Arboretum, we have at least 150 trees identified. If you are interested in learning trees, now is a good time to start, before the leaves drop. A good way to start would be to walk on some of our roads or trails and find trees with identifying plaques. Take paper and pencil with you and make notes about the tree you are seeing: About how tall is it? What does the bark look like? What is the shape of the leaves? How do the leaves grow (two on opposite sides of a stem, alternating sides of the stem, etc.)? Are the edges of the leaves toothed, smooth, or -? Better still, sketch one or more leaves. You do not have to be an artist to do this.

Red Maple

Bitternut Hickory

More about our trees later

Fall in love with fall flowers.

Purple coneflowers and asters can be seen around Reflection Riding, such as near Squincy Bird Cabin and on the right side of the upper road as you near the exit near the barn.

Hurry, hurry, hurry before the wind blows them away!  Pilewort is blooming on the lower road and in a huge clump in the middle of the little garden at the end of the lower pond.  The inflorescence is a fragile white tuft, easily blown by the wind, leaving many stems with pods that look something like okra without the points.