Eastern Band-Winged Hover Fly on Gardenia bloom The “Insect ID” app identifies the insect on this gardenia bloom as a Eastern Band-winged hover Fly, Ocyptamus fascipennis. Hoverflies have mimicked the body shape of wasps and hornets, but are actually harmless. They are beneficial to garden plants because they feed on aphids and serve as pollinators.
Author Archives: jimr77
Cherrybark Oak
Cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) is a large and valued Red Oak found in the southern United States. They commonly attain heights well over 100 feet and can have trunk diameters of up to five feet. I have an awesome specimen of this tree in my backyard in SE Louisiana — because of it, my backyard […]
Louisiana Spring #2
This is simply a slide show of four beautiful flowers now in bloom in SE Louisiana. First is the Virginia Iris, it is followed by Flame Azalea, a Common Blue Violet, and Wisteria.
Cherokee Rose
White blooms of the Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) are a common sight along southeastern Louisiana roadways in early March. A native of southeast Asia, in the United States it is an invasive species. It has thrived in the southern US since its introduction here long ago (~1780), and was adopted as the state flower of […]
Louisiana Spring
In late February spring has arrived in Louisiana — many plants are in bloom. I thought images of our flowers might be appreciated by Northerners eager for the end of winter. Azaleas Camelias Flowering Trees Spirea
Louisiana Sunrise
Gorgeous sunrise in Louisiana this January morning.
January Rose #2
Another rose is blooming on this beautiful, brisk January morning in Louisiana. This is a fragrant English Shrub Rose named “Jude the Obscure”.
January Rose
Warm weather has continued into January in Louisiana. This Queen Elizabeth rose has been reliably blooming for over 20 years, but I don’t recall it flowering in January previously.
A Warm December
This December has been unusually warm in Louisiana. As evidence — I picked this gladiolus from the yard today (December 29). Happy New Year, everyone!
Southern Trees; Southern Live Oaks with Spanish Moss
Oaks are common both in Minnesota and Louisiana. Like pines, oak species are different in the north vs. the south. Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana ) is a distinctive and beautiful oak species found along the Southeastern Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Florida, and along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. Live Oaks retain […]
