I don't have any idea what this wild flower is but when we were out birding yesterday we drove through a sea of this white fluffy stuff. Not only was it pretty but it was like a world of butterflies and insects. I took this picture hoping to capture all the Buckeyes and Red Admirals that flew up out of the flowers. Obviously it didn't work but I thought I could show you how tall the flowers were and thick.
Does anyone know what this wildflower is? It is quite tall as you can see in the photo. It would be a good one to have if you are wanting to attract butterflies.
I had never seen such a large amount of Buckeyes in one place. 
There were also lots of these caterpillars. I have no idea what kind they are. They aren't Buckeyes or Red Admirals I know for sure.
This one looks like one of the Wooly family.
There were also a few Red Admirals flitting around with the Buckeyes.
It seems that no matter where you are at this time of year there will be some type of grasshopper. This one had reddish legs.
On a bird note we had a couple of Ruddy Turnstones. They are in inbetween (breeding/winter) plummage. They are very interesting birds in that they are named so because they indeed turn over stones where ever they hunt for food. These stones are too large for the bird to turn them over but they love to pick through the crevices looking for bugs.
For another interesting look at what is found under stones you can go to Nina's blog Nature Remains and see what she found onInternational Rock Turning Day. I am sure the Ruddy Turnstones would approve.
I want to thank my Dearly Beloved for taking most of these pictures and allowing me to use them. 
Aaaaahhhh what a beautiful post, full of everything I love from butterflies to wild flowers.....and what a sea of them......
ReplyDeletelovely lovely lovely......
Dear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteSuch a delightful post!
I am looking in my Wildflowers of Missouri field guide and was wondering if your wild flower is Slender Mountain Mint? They do grow tall like that and have a sagey or minty smell the Butterflies seem to enjoy them too.
Nice to learn a bit about the birds too. I shall pop over to Nina's and see what she found.
Sherry
Wish I could identify the wildflowers for you, Lisa, but I really don't know. Thanks for showing the butterflies--I took a photo of a red Admiral, too, but couldn't remember its name:)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a Ruddy Turnstone before--you see such interesting birds! How lucky you are that DB shares your interests!
nice day out it looks like. great shots db! what a fun day. love all the stuff you shared with us on your little adventure.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the white flowers are, but a sea of them must have been beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat butterfly shots! We don't have buckeyes here so I have to enjoy them on other sites.
Marnie
Great butterfly shot Lisa and the wader is a cracker, great post.
ReplyDeleteAh, I love a good road trip! I've seen similar large, white fluffy wildflowers in a nearby meadow. There are white ones, purple wildflowers and yellow wildflowers and it's just breathtaking. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, I love going on field trips with you, they always involve wonderful interesting wildlife. I think your caterpillars are types of tiger moths, they are furry like that. The white flower is lovely but there so many similar ones it is hard to tell without book in hand while you are looking at them, for me anyway. A waist high field of wildflowers sounds heaven sent. Great bird shot and info too, learned something new today from you, thanks.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I want to guess! Is it possibly a member of the aster family and maybe a eupatorium? There are several it could be!
ReplyDeleteNow that is a fascinating bird! Good looking, too! And you say they is an annual event of rock turning!
Doesn't that sound like a great idea for clay and limestone to visit! I shall hop over to see what's under that rock!
Tell your DB, he did a great job on the photos!
Gail
Lisa, you take the best field trips! The buckeyes are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I too love your butterfly pics(or DB's). the field of flowers look like something from a movie. I just imagine the butterflies thought they'd found heaven.
ReplyDeleteI just read on Beth's site about international rock turning day-had never heard of it. Sounds like fun though. Your birds were perfect for the day.
A Ruddy Turnstone... what a perfect name. I've never seen one. Thanks for taking us along Lisa!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful this sea of white flowers you showed on your pictures!It looks like it had snowed!Is it a wildflower that only grows in your aerea?
ReplyDeleteLisa! Fabulous post.
ReplyDeleteWildflowers puzzle me - at first I thought they were Queen Anne's Lace! LOL! But I think Sherry knows best.
Buckeye's are my favorite butterflies. Yes, swallowtails are beautiful, too.
Lovely photos and I thank you for the trip. I could use a trip!
:o)
Mary
Your wildflower looks like: One we have blooming here that I haven't IDed yet (i.e. haven't gotten Jo to ID yet). Our slender mountain mint blooms earlier in the summer and is bloomed out now, but that may not be the case in your area.
ReplyDeleteGreat field trip. Buckeyes are one of my favorite butterflies, too.
Beautiful nature photos!!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Gail, I think the white flowered plant is a Eupatorium, specifically I believe it is Eupatorium rugosum, but don't quote me on it, as that plant is usually seen growing in shaded areas.
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos!! I can't remember ever seeing a buckeye! What a fun enjoyable post!
ReplyDeleteHi there Lisa - sorry can't help with the wild flower ID :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos - I especially liked the butterflies and caterpillars. Sounds like you had a good day :-D
Looks like a fun trip to the shore. I would vote for a Eupatorium also. E. perfoliatum is listed as native to wet shores.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great field trip! Thanks for taking me birding. I haven't done that in a long while. We used to live close to Brigantine (NJ) and could shoot over there to see the shore birds...lovely.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gail...those wildflowers seem to be in the Aster family.
Thank you for all the suggestions about the white flowers. I am going to collect some this weekend and compare to books etc. At least now I will know where to look in a book.
ReplyDeleteWe have Buckeyes here, but I've never seen one! I'm so jealous! That same wildflower here, and I've not looked it up, but in my Ohio Wildflowers book, it looks like it might be one of the Eupatoriums (Boneset, Tall Thoroughwort, or even Snakeroot). I can't tell from your photos exactly how the foliage looks.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I just posted a photo of Indian Plaintain. That might be your mystery wildflower. Then again it might not. I hope you can ID this thing.
ReplyDelete