My first Orchid of the season

[Lost Town Hunter]

Tom,

That's early for Grass Pink, but almost everything else has bloomed remarkably early this season. The current scientific name for this orchid is Calopogon tuberosus.

 

[oji]

8th Liparis liliifolia, Turtle may have some nice pictures of this one.

 

[Lost Town Hunter]

Tom,

I enjoyed the outing today. Lily-leaved Twayblade (Liparis lilifolia) is an orchid that occurs rather infrequently in southern New Jersey. It's rarely found in the true Pine Barrens, although I have seen it there on a few occasions. The fringe of the Barrens with slightly richer soil offers more suitable habitat. Abandoned iron furnace sites are spots that may harbor a few plants. On a couple of occasions I've seen it grow with Liparis loeselii. As habitat becomes more and more shaded both of these orchids tend to disappear.

Lost Town Hunter

 

[turtle]

View attachment 2090 8th Liparis liliifolia, Turtle may have some nice pictures of this one.

Not quite....those of you who chose to lie with ticks captured better pics. There was a lot of leaf litter that got in the way of my image of the flower. I regret not bringing by Canon. I included mine for you as well as the ophioglossum (vulgatum, I believe), the skink, the red dragon fly and the iris that Ann Marie and I trekked out onto the marsh to see. BTW, thanks for a great day. I have an interesting bouquet of grasses in flower and another of carex on my windowsill to keep me smiling for awhile!

Cheers, Terry

hile

 

[oji]

I like that view looking down on the orchid. Like LTH said it was an enjoyable day. We really lucked out bug and weather wise.

 

[oji]

9th- Pogonia ophioglossoides. Gibby, this is blooming in an area where you will hear many gunshots.

 

[manumuskin]

Awesome pics Terry! That is a five lined skink,one of three lizard species native to south jersey.the last pic I call blue flag or wild iris,not certain thats right but I think so.

 

[ecampbell]

Awesome pics Terry! That is a five lined skink,one of three lizard species native to south jersey.the last pic I call blue flag or wild iris,not certain thats right but I think so.

Al, what are the 3 species? I only knew of the American Fence Lizard.

 

[Gibby]

View attachment 2106 9th- Pogonia ophioglossoides. Gibby, this is blooming in an area where you will hear many gunshots.

Thanks again Oji! I had to be careful yesterday morning because of the amount of foot traffic by the hole you pointed out to me. All I saw was small tight buds, nothing was in bloom. One hot day makes that much of a difference. I laughed out loud when I saw the "other" location. I was looking to hard! The hole is the same location where things go bang?

 

[manumuskin]

Eastern fence Lizard a.k.a. Pine Swift
Five Lined Skink
Ground Skink
Thats all we have
skinks tend to stay under boards and such during the day,rare to catch em in the open like that.Fence lizards of course are everywhere in day time.

 

[oji]

Yes Gibby,that's the hole. If the fellas making all the racket do a 180 you may end up full of holes.

 

[oji]

Eastern fence Lizard a.k.a. Pine Swift
Five Lined Skink
Ground Skink
Thats all we have
skinks tend to stay under boards and such during the day,rare to catch em in the open like that.Fence lizards of course are everywhere in day time.

Al, Not far from here we have a fourth (introduced) lizard. By the way I like Ground Skink 85% meat and 15%fat for burgers.

 

[manumuskin]

what is the fourth?
I never ate skink,is it like sushi?

 

[Lost Town Hunter]

Blue Flag is correct, Manumuskin. The Latin name is Iris prismatica. Good shot of the iris, Turtle, and also of the five-lined skink.

Lost Town Hunter

 

[oji]

what is the fourth?

The Italian Wall Lizard- Podarcis sicula, In 1984 a college student released 120 in his parents yard in Mt. Laurel in an attempt to control insects. They are doing well in their new environs and have been spotted as far away as Southampton.

 

[oji]

I never ate skink,is it like sushi?

More like Hog Maws.

 

[manumuskin]

The Italian Wall Lizard- Podarcis sicula, In 1984 a college student released 120 in his parents yard in Mt. Laurel in an attempt to control insects. They are doing well in their new environs and have been spotted as far away as Southampton.

was this fellow castrated and beheaded by the invasive critter people?Italian lizards huh? Wonder if they tatste like garlic?

 

[manumuskin]

I just checked out the Italians.They are quite attractive little guitos.I wonder if they enjoy the same protections as native species or if I can go to Mount Laurel and capture a few for the house.I promise I won't feed em to the Cal Kingsnake.I now have to revise my NJ herp list.

http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/about/administration/provost/hofhrz/hofhrz_f05_burke.pdf

 

[Gibby]

Oji, did you happen to notice the color variation of the Grass Pink? Two plants are white with just the slightest hint of pink in the highlights. The flowers on the pair take on a different appearance with that color combination. What a beaut!

 

[oji]

Yes, The difference in color makes for more photos. The nicest colors I have seen are probably the ones in Hewey's avatar.