Category Archives: Journal

Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichum – 24 June 2016

Posted on 24 June 2016 by Botany Bill

Today, I forayed on the South Tract and spotted a bunch of Bald Cypress trees thriving in a swampy area next to Reddington Lake.  Bald Cypress is not native this far north, but can do all right when planted in … Continue reading →

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Wild Yam – Dioscorea villosa – 18 June 2016

Posted on 18 June 2016 by Botany Bill

Several vines of wild yam (Discorea villosa) L. were spotted in full bloom along the Knowles 1 Pond on the Central Tract. Wild Yam is common in North America ranging from Ontario on the North, along the Eastern Seaboard to … Continue reading →

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Bottlebrush Buckeye – Aesculus parviflora – 24 May 2016

Posted on 24 May 2016 by Botany Bill

On the way home from work today, I took a bunch of pictures of two established colonies of Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) near our home. One of them was in the middle of someone’s lawn and the other one was in … Continue reading →

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Pecan! – 21 May 2016

Posted on 21 May 2016 by Botany Bill

Today in front of the old house in which the Refuge superintendent used to live, I spotted a pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis). The pecan is native to Mexico and southeastern USA, but not Maryland.  This specimen is handsome. I wonder … Continue reading →

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21 May 2016 – Temple Grass – Zoysia matrella

Posted on 21 May 2016 by Botany Bill

Today, I found an interesting exotic on the Central Tract. It is called Temple Grass and the scientific name is Zoysia matrella. This native to East Asia and northern Australia is sometimes planted in North America as a lawn grass. … Continue reading →

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Posted on 7 November 2015 by Botany Bill | Leave a comment

1 August 2015 – Apparent Weevil Damage to Mile-a-Minute

Posted on 1 August 2015 by Botany Bill

Today I spotted several patches of Mile-a-Minute (Persicaria perfoliata) which has sustained some apparent severe insect damage in the “Savanna” restoration area. I understand that weevils have been released on the refuge. I wonder if this is not damage by … Continue reading →

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27 July 2015 – Milkweeds of Patuxent – Part 1 – Common Milkweed

Posted on 27 July 2015 by Botany Bill

Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are important to the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) because its larva feeds exclusively on it. The recent decline of the Monarch butterfly population has sparked an interest saving it by planting milkweed. The Friends of Patuxent is … Continue reading →

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ABOVE PHOTO: A view of Schafer Lake with water lilies (Click on the thumbnails below for full views.) The objective today was to find the Sundew that had been reported as occurring on the Schafer Farm section of the Refuge’s … Continue reading →

Posted on 3 July 2015 by Botany Bill | Leave a comment

2 July 2015 – Mushroom Cornucopia!!!

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Botany Bill

(Photo above – the twelve different types of mushrooms collected today) Click on the thumbnails below for full views.) After all the rain we have received this past several days, the mushrooms on the Refuge were popping up all over, … Continue reading →

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27 June 2015 – Eastern Mud Turtle

Posted on 28 June 2015 by Botany Bill

Rain was the theme of the day at the Refuge today. I drove around a bit to see what was going on, and came across another turtle trying to cross the road. This time it was a male Eastern Mud … Continue reading →

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26 June 2015 – Welchs Bog

Posted on 26 June 2015 by Botany Bill

(Photo above: Close-up of an Indian Cucumber (Medeola virginiana) flower found in this bog.) (Click on the thumbnails below for full views.) Spent about 3.5 hours on the refuge today. My main task was to locate the boggy area just … Continue reading →

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26 June 2015 – Plants are Wildlife Too

Posted on 26 June 2015 by Botany Bill

We are in print – The Friends of Patuxent Newsletter, Summer 2015, Page 3. Check it out. (Click on picture for full view.)

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26 June 2015 – Indian Cucumber – Medeola virginiana

Posted on 26 June 2015 by Botany Bill

Today, I spotted some Indian cucumber (Medeola virginiana L.) at Chestnut Oak Bog growing on a sphagnum moss hummock. One of the plants (pictured here) was blooming and was setting seed. This interesting looking member of the family Liliaceae is … Continue reading →

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26 June 2015 – Chestnut Oak – Mountain Laurel Forest

Posted on 26 June 2015 by Botany Bill

Today when foraying around the Chestnut Oak Bog AKA Welchs Bog I checked out the Chestnut Oak – Mountain Laurel Forest (CEGL006299) plant community that surrounds a good part of the bog. This plant community is found in the Mid-Atlantic … Continue reading →

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24 June 2015 – Hyssop Loosestrife – New refuge record

Posted on 24 June 2015 by Botany Bill

  This little weedy plant keys out to Lythrum hyssopifolia L. (Hyssop Loosestrife). It was found on the South Tract on Telegraph Road near the old Beltsville Airport in a wet area next to the road. The Hyssop Loosestrife is … Continue reading →

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23 June 2015 – Allegheny Mound Ant

Posted on 23 June 2015 by Botany Bill

  The Allegheny mound ant (Formica exsectoides Forel) is a field ant that found on the refuge. It ranges along the Atlantic Coast of North America from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Although they are not highly regarded by some people, … Continue reading →

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23 June 2015 – Eastern Box Turtle in Distress

Posted on 23 June 2015 by Botany Bill

This male Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina (L.) Bell ssp. carolina) was trying to get across the hot pavement, but he was running around in circles. It was hard taking these pictures, it was like he didn’t know which way … Continue reading →

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20 June 2015 – Duvall Bridge

Posted on 20 June 2015 by Botany Bill

(Photo above: new planking on the bridge)     A bridge has existed at this location since the early 1800’s. The current structure was built in 1907 and was closed to traffic in 2009 due to its deteriorating condition. Renovation … Continue reading →

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20 June 2015 – Milkweed Meadow

Posted on 20 June 2015 by Botany Bill

  This meadow on the Central Tract is located along Beech Forest Drive near where the powerlines cross MD 197 and as far as I can determine is the largest field of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) on the refuge. … Continue reading →

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