Common Buckeye, White Snakeroot and Monarchs

Wildflower Update:  With the dry weather we have had, fall nectar flow is past peak.  Goldenrod, mistflower, lobelia, white snakeroot and late thoroughwort are still in full bloom but, yellow wingstem and ironweed are well past peak.  Several asters are blooming now.  Below left, we have a lot of White Snakeroot (Ageratina rugosum) on The Kentucky Wildflower Farm. "White Snakeroot was responsible for 'milk sickness', a deadly disease encountered during early settlement by Europeans. Cows that eat the plant secrete a poison in their milk. The cattle themselves develop a disease called 'trembles' for its chief symtom.  In 1818, Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died from a brief, agonizing bout of milk sickness.  Research has shown that the active ingredient eupatorin in white snakeroot may have anticancer properties." ... p. 69,  Illinois Wildflowers by Don Kurz
     To the right, Great Blue Lobelia with some White Snakeroot in the background.

Above is goldenrod with Pennsylvania Leatherwing beetles (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus) and mist flower blooming in a pasture field.

Pollinators and Wildlife:
     There are not as many pollinators now ... a few bumblebees and lots of honeybees ... I noticed some European hornets on the prowl.  We have been seeing Monarchs fly by each day and yesterday we found three monarch caterpillars in some young milkweed (see below).  Also below, I regularly see this opossum on my walks eating persimmons. Directly below, a common buckeye (Junonia coenia) posed for a picture.  There is an abundance of plantain on this old farm which is their major food source for caterpillars. We have seen several and they might be on the move southward.

Work on the Farm:  This week we worked cleaning up flats and inserts from wildflower plantings.  Other than that during some cooler weather,  I took some walks to take pictures and we watched a few sunsets on the ridge overlooking Long Creek.  In the distance below, a V-formation of canadian geese flying toward Barren Lake, the first group I've seen this fall.

Hiking, wildflower/wildlife photography, birdwatching and native plant research available on request.  The Kentucky Wildflower Farm will be offering seed from locally collected native plant species in 2015.    ... kywildflowerfarm@gmail.com

We support:
Round House, Jeans and Workware, Made in the USA for 111 years.  
     http://www.round-house.com/
Red Pig Tools, Garden tools, Made in the USA.
     http://www.redpigtools.com/servlet/StoreFront
FEDCO, Co-op Garden Supplies, Seeds, Trees and Bulbs
     http://www.fedcoseeds.com/
Johnny's Selected Seeds and Garden Tools
     http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Roundstone Native Seed ... A Kentucky Company!
     https://www.roundstoneseed.com/
Prairie Nursery, Native Seeds and Plants
     http://www.prairienursery.com/
Kelley's Beeskeeping ... A Kentucky Company! ... at least for now.
     http://www.kelleybees.com/
and these organizations ...
Xerces Society
Journey North
Monarch Watch
Sierra Club

"Be the difference."