Nature Reporters Blog begins!

I get a lot of input through e-mails from readers of my website on wildflowers they've seen, questions about snakes, spiders and other critters and nature in general. I thought it would be fun and interesting for people to share their nature sightings and occurrences with others through a blog. So, I've created Nature Reporters, my first attempt at blogging! :) Please feel free to join as a Nature Reporter for your area to tell what is blooming where you live, what kind of birds or butterflies you see, or any other nature-related happenings you've experienced. This is a family-friendly site, so please keep the content appropriate! :)

Yesterday (July 24, 2008) I went to a cedar barrens in Oak Ridge and enjoyed seeing a field of Scaly Blazing Star, Queen Anne's Lace, Rose Pinks, Oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides), Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), many species of Skippers and other butterflies, crab spiders, and wasps.

Scaly Blazing Star

Later in the afternoon I watched a long-waisted fly as she searched for aphids on the milkweed leaves in my garden. When she located a suitable one she quickly laid an egg on it. I'll have to keep an eye on the aphids to see if they become parasitized "aphid mummies". For more information on aphid mummies see this link on my website:

http://www.easttennesseewildflowers.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Insects_II&id=Copy_of_Aphids1