Tag Archives: dragonflies

Arboretum: Beggarticks and its Pollinators

by sicloot Posted on September 12, 2013

Aside from the aphids, I spotted a number of other creatures in the Arboretum last week. An American bullfrog was spread out lazily in the marsh waters.

American bullfrog lounging in water
American bullfrog

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Arboretum: Bussey Hill Trees and Insects

by sicloot Posted on August 19, 2013

Late last week, I went to the Explorers’ Garden on Bussey Hill on a pleasant, sunny day. A few butterflies passed me by but did not perch. The eastern kingbird below paused at a the top of a crabapple tree. In about a month, this kingbird will probably make its way to South America for the winter.

Eastern kingbird in a crabapple
Eastern kingbird

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Ward’s Pond: Robins and Robber flies

by sicloot Posted on July 31, 2013

On my walk around Ward’s Pond last week, I saw a pair of hungry baby robins eagerly awaiting food from their parents.

Baby robins in nest
A pair of baby robins

The Pond’s boardwalk, which had been shut down for years, has been re-opened. According to the July 22 edition of Boston’s City Record, the 250-foot boardwalk was damaged by storms in 2010. Its restoration by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, to the tune of $111,000, was funded through FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Assistance Fund and the Mayor’s Capital Plan.
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Jamaica Pond: Dashers and More

by sicloot Posted on July 17, 2013

We attended the Landmark Orchestra performance at Pinebank Promontory Sunday evening. Quite a number of people came out. It didn’t take long, however, for my three-year-old nephew to get restless. So, off we went searching for bugs. Turns out he is excellent at spotting dragonflies.

Male blue dasher at rest
Male blue dasher

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Urban Nature Walk: Bussey Meadow

by sicloot Posted on July 4, 2013

On Sunday, Jef led a small group of us on an urban nature walk. We started at the Bussey Brook Meadow and moved on to the Arnold Arboretum, ending at the Forest Hills gate. Mosquitoes hounded us, especially in the Meadow.

Jef called the meadow a European wildflower garden. We saw some periwinkle-colored chicory flowers (Cichorium intybus) and bird’s-foot trefoil flowers (Lotus corniculatus) with orange streaks on bright yellow. These were among the many wildflowers native to Europe.

Chicory flower
Chicory flower

Bird's-foot trefoil flowers and flower buds
Bird’s-foot trefoil

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A Walk through Olmsted Park

by sicloot Posted on June 5, 2013

I took a walk through Olmsted Park yesterday, a piece of the Emerald Necklace within Jamaica Plain. I saw a mother mallard duck with a dozen ducklings in tow.

A mother mallard duck with some of her dozen ducklings
A mother mallard duck with some of her dozen ducklings

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