Bright blue Chicory wildflowers are blooming all over Fort Hill on Cape Cod. Their intense blue color makes them easy to spot on the sides of the trails or in the fields.
Chicory grows on a stiff stalk and has numerous 1 and 1/2″ stemless flower heads with fringed petals. These bloom for only one day from June to October.
The part of the Chicory that always catches my eye are the exquisite stamens and pistils in the center. They look like little blue rods with a lasso at the top. Just beautiful!
What do you think?
I saw this Little Wood Satyr butterfly at Fort Hill on Cape Cod. I had never seen one before. It was right off the trail leading out to Cutting Rock.
The Little Wood Satyr is light brown in color with two yellow-rimmed black eyespots on both sides of its forewings. The hindwing has two spots. The Little Wood Satyr prefers habitat that is open, contains deciduous trees along with marshy areas.
Have you ever seen a Little Wood Satyr?
The Climbing Nightshade wildflowers, also known as Bittersweet Nightshade, are just beautiful at Fort Hill in Eastham on Cape Cod. You can see them on the trail near the Cutting Rock or on the trail leading up to the overlook parking lot.
Climbing Nightshade wildflowers are a climbing vine with purple shooting star-shaped flowers of about 1/2″ which grow in clusters at the ends of long stems. Their petals are swept back from a yellow central “beak.”
One of my friends just commented that these plants are extremely toxic. I did some research on the internet and learned:
“The foliage is toxic to many people and should be handled with care. The fruit is said to also be toxic, particularly to children.”
Be careful and not touch this wildflower!
Thanks, Mike, for the “heads up!”
I almost missed this little American Copper butterfly at Fort Hill on Cape Cod. He was pretty camouflaged until he opened his wings for a second and I saw the beautiful orange color and black spots.
American Copper butterflies are small, only about 1″ with orange forewings and about 8 black dots and a black outer edge. When their wings are closed up, they look light grey with fine black dots and blend in very nicely .
Have you ever seen an American Copper butterfly?
The American Copper is one of Massachusetts more common butterflies. During the height of its flight periods it can be found in almost all areas of the state.
