-
Purple Coneflower: A Powerful Butterfly Magnet
Leonard Weber August 5, 2023 A perennial wildflower that blooms several weeks each summer in Eliza Howell Park is Purple Coneflower. I regularly visit these patches in July and August, often pausing for extended periods of time near them. There are other flowers that attract butterflies in the park, but nothing compares with Purple Coneflower.…
-
Hummingbird Moths: Three Species in the Park
Leonard Weber July 28, 2023 While I often have butterflies on my mind when I visit the wildflower field in Eliza Howell Park in late July, there are many other fascinating pollinators that catch my attention. Perhaps especially worthy of note are Hummingbird Moths. These are daytime flying moths that are referred to as “hummingbird…
-
Red Aphids and Ladybugs: On False Sunflower
Leonard Weber July 16, 2023 On my nature walks in Eliza Howell Park at this time of the year, I regularly stop by patches of False Sunflowers. I look at — and sometimes reflect upon — the relationships that exist among a particular species of flower and two insect species. Red aphids love to suck…
-
Seven Butterflies and a Moth
Leonard Weber July 11, 2023 This is the time that Eliza Howell Park butterfly enthusiasts have been waiting for! The wildflower field is now ablaze with blooms and the butterflies are coming for the nectar. Hete is a photo report of some of my favorite observations from yesterday and today. 1. American Lady 2. Black…
-
Picking Black Raspberries: An Annual Adventure
Leonard Weber July 5, 2023 For those of us who enjoy finding and picking wild Black Raspberries, there are few sights more satisfying than a large raspberry bramble with plenty of reachable ripe fruit. I regularly walk in Detroit’s Eliza Howell for nature study and enjoyment, not to collect food. But some of what nature…
-
Milkweed Is Beginning to Flower: It’s Insect-watching Time
Leonard Weber June 26, 2023 As happens every year near the end of June, Common Milkweed is now beginning to bloom in Eliza Howell Park. This is always a noteworthy development, the point at which my insect watching begins to get more intense. Almost everyone knows of the relationship between milkweed and Monarch butterflies, but…
-
Cabbage White: # 20 of “23 Butterflies in 2023”
Leonard Weber June 23, 2023 One of the most common butterflies in Detroit’s Eliza Howell Park is a medium-sized white butterfly (with a wingspan of 1 and a half to 2 inches). It can be seen many, many times from spring to fall. Cabbage White is white, except for a dark patch at the wingtips…
-
Black Cherry Trees in Eliza Howell Park
Kathleen Garrett June 16, 2023 Black Cherry trees, both young and old, are easy to find at Eliza Howell Park. While Black Cherry trees are native to Michigan, the artistic arrangement of the trees in the open fields indicates that these trees were planted some years ago. In this open space, the crowns of these…
-
Flowers and Insects: “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over”
Leonard Weber June 14, 2023 Knowing that my walk on June 14 in Eliza Howell Park needed to be very limited in both distance and duration, I decided to focus on my favorite wildflower field. The walk demonstrated clearly that (giving credit to Rodgers and Hammerstein) “June is bustin’ out all over.” The larger wildflowers…
-
Eastern Comma and Question Mark: # 18 and # 19 of “23 Butterflies in 2023”
Leonard Weber June 9, 2023 Two of the butterfly species that are seen every year in Eliza Howell Park are so similar that it can be useful to present them together. Eastern Comma is often one of the first butterflies to appear in the spring, having spent the winter as a hibernating adult. Question Mark…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Eliza Howell Nature Walk 