Desert SW – a curious nature

House Finch – Page 14 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

July 14, 2026

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus ssp. frontalis)

aka Common House Finch

More than likely you’ve seen the sparrow-sized House Finch if you live almost anywhere in the U.S., southern Canada, or Mexico. The males are particularly showy with their bright red heads, throats and breasts, and their bouncy flight is sure to catch your attention. Just filling a backyard bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds can bring a flock of 50 House Finches in to feast. They tend to dominate their favorite feeders, often chasing off competitors, after which you’ll have plenty of time to observe these finches as they sit still while shelling seeds by rapidly biting and crushing them with their large beaks.

If you aren’t familiar with House Finches, you’ve probably heard their long, twittering song, which they belt out in most neighborhoods from coast to coast. Their song, so full of excitement and energy, is usually sung from the top branch of a tall juniper or pinyon pine tree. House Finches seem to be pleading urgently for attention by clearly singing, “Talk to me PLEASE, isn’t anybody THERE!!” (At least that’s what I hear over and over again first thing every morning throughout the Spring and Summer!)

Not knowing how many broods have been reared this year, to date, it seems like we’ve enjoyed a large number of family groups around the house. Fledglings are fun to watch in flight as they constantly chase adults to beg for food. These futile attempts for free handouts strengthens their wing muscles and hones their acrobatic skills. Usually defeated, these novice students soon land in a tree and begin a long, hard practice session to learn their parents’ complex song.

Completely exhausted, they will return to a certain cholla and the nest where the adult female fed and defended them as nestlings during the first 12-20 days of their lives. Finding even one of their well-hidden nests in any of those 4 to 7 foot tall cactus “trees” is quite the prickly endeavor! Even knowing how to recognize a House Finch nest hasn’t prevented me from experiencing plentiful and painful spiny jabs. What an excellent defensive location our local birds choose for nesting.

The Nest and Nesting Habits

In as little as two days, the female builds a cup-shaped nest made of fine stems, leaves, rootlets, thin twigs, string, wool, and feathers, with similar, but finer materials for the lining. This sturdy nest, durable enough to raise up to six broods a season, measures 3-7 inches wide; the inside cup is 1-3 inches across and up to 2 inches deep.

House Finches usually build their nests in cavities in deciduous and coniferous trees, on cactus and rocky ledges, and in or on buildings using sites like vents, ledges, street lamps, ivy, and hanging planters. They will also claim nests abandoned by other birds.

A western House Finch is likely to build its nest within 60 feet of where it was the previous breeding season; eastern birds choose sites more than half a mile away from prior nests. Despite these differing habits, all nest sites have a few things in common: a sturdy base and a roof-like overhang to shelter against sun and rain.

House Finch Facts

With over 40 million House Finches across North America, they are currently one of the most widespread and common bird species across the United States, second only to the American goldfinch.
Native to the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, in 1939 a few House Finches captured in Santa Barbara, California, were sold to a New York City pet store owner as “Hollywood Birds.” Even back then, the sale of these birds was recognized as illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. To avoid prosecution under the Act, the pet store owner released the finches …. they were set free on New York’s Long Island. By the early 1940s wild nests were discovered on Long Island, and from there the spread continued.
Sometime before 1870, House Finches were introduced to Oahu from San Francisco. By 1901, they had become abundant on all the major Hawaiian Islands.
Where House Finches are an introduced species, they are considered naturalized ¹. They’re also considered an invasive species in some places, largely in unforested lands across the eastern U.S. where they’ve displaced the native purple finch (and even the non-native house sparrow!).
In their native range in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, House Finches live in desert, grassland, shrubland, and open woodland environments, as well as near human dwellings and cities. The biggest House Finch flocks in the East are found in cities, and it’s much more common to find the eastern birds in habitats developed by people than anywhere else.
Depending on where they live, House Finches can appear very different. Within the 11 officially recognized subspecies, body size, beak size and shape, wing length, tail length, and coloring can all vary regionally. For example, the northeastern migratory populations have longer and more pointed wings better suited for longer flights than the western finches which tend to be permanent, year-round residents. Also, House Finches on Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, have heftier beaks than mainland birds.
The bright red (and sometimes orange or yellow) plumage on the head, throat and chest of mature House Finch males comes from compounds in their food (bird species are unable to produce red or yellow other than by diet). These pigments, called carotenoids (the same ones found in carrots and tomatoes), come from the berries and other fruits they eat. Females prefer mates with the biggest and brightest red-colored patches — a sign of a well-fed male.
House Finches are among the strictest avian vegetarians: seeds, buds, fruit, and foliage comprise 97% of their year-round diet. Most seed-eating birds not only eat insects in the spring and summer when they are abundant, but will feed bugs to their nestlings to add protein for growth. Except for the occasional fly larva, House Finches stick to a vegetarian diet.
Dealing with a pandemic for decades, these birds suffer from “House Finch Eye Disease,” a form of conjunctivitis that was first detected in Washington D.C. in the winter of 1994. Since then, the bacterial illness has expanded continent-wide causing big declines in House Finch numbers. Infected birds often have swollen or reddened eyes and may appear inactive or confused. Over time, it leads to birds becoming blind, disoriented, and vulnerable to predators. Other finch species, such as the American Goldfinch, are also affected. Because the disease is spread through social contact, it’s very important to keep bird feeders and baths clean.
The mite, Pellonyssus reedi, is often found on House Finch nestlings, particularly later in the season. However, the adult female has a clever strategy in response to these often fatal attacks. Since male chicks are more vulnerable to a mite outbreak, she will lay eggs containing females first to reduce the length of time male chicks are exposed to mites. This strategy increases the likelihood that representative numbers of both sexes will survive.

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Share stories of your local House Finches!

Hope you found this interesting!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

¹ A species is considered “naturalized” if it didn’t originally evolve in an area but has successfully adapted, established a permanent population, and is reproducing independently in the wild. These species are non-native, surviving without human help. Note: not all naturalized species are considered invasive.

References

allaboutbirds.org

audubon.org

iNaturalist.org

Lanceolated Chafer- Page 13 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

July 9, 2026

Lanceolated Chafer (Phyllophaga lanceolata)

(syn Melolontha lanceolata)

aka Brown Scarab Beetle, May (June) Beetle

The Lanceolated Chafer (Phyllophaga lanceolata) is a scarab beetle native to North America. In New Mexico (along with Colorado and Kansas) these chafers thrive in open, grassy ecosystems, including native shortgrass prairies, pastures, rangelands, and agricultural fields dominated by grasses like blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and others. It’s in these arid habitats that the larvae (grubs) are rarely considered major pests¹. Unlike most Phyllophaga species, adults are diurnal (active during the day); females are flightless.

Adults – This small to medium-sized chunky beetle, is about 0.5 to 0.7 inches (13 to 17 mm) long; females are larger than males. Their hard wing/body cover (elytra) is brown with several darker brown/grayish longitudinal marks under a coat of white bristly hairs. Their segmented abdomens are mostly a smooth grayish/white; their thorax (pronotum) is heavily covered with long brown hairs. Because of their noticeably long, magenta-colored legs, they stand tall above the ground while walking. If picked up, their legs feel clingy and prickly. Adults live only 1 – 2 months, just long enough to grab a quick bite to eat, mate, and lay eggs.

Calling All Males!

The female Lanceolated Chafer produces and uses a unique sex pheromone, l-leucine methyl ester, to attract males! Because this pheromone acts as a highly-targeted sex attractant in the wild, she is able to communicate her readiness to mate and get a rapid response. As has been demonstrated in field trials, male chafers catching a whiff of her urgent communication can’t resist the call and come flying (read the true story of my eye-witness account in my post titled The Life and Times of the Lanceolated Chafer ). Research scientists (and I) whole-heartedly believe this pheromone contributes to the species’ reproductive success in its native range.

This was a unique discovery because the Lanceolated Chafer is the first scarab beetle ever identified to produce an amino acid-derived pheromone. (And there are over 35,000 species of scarab beetles in the world, making up one of the largest and most diverse insect families on Earth!) The pheromone is so effective at targeting male chafers that entomologists use it to monitor and manage populations of these beetles in agricultural crops and turfgrass.

Probably a male chafer, walking along the 2-track trail

And now a note about topic organization …..

As in all beetle species, it’s usually the adults that are encountered. And it was the adult stage of the Lanceolated Chafer that’s most obvious along the subdivision’s 2-track rockpile trail. That’s why information about the adults was placed first, even though it’s actually the final stage in the life cycle of the chafer. But it’s interesting to understand how all those adults came to be. So the following few sections tackle the highlights of the 1 – 3 year long larval stage, and pupal stage of their life cycle, which take place after egg laying and hatching. Afterall, the Lanceolated Chafer spends the longest parts of their lives underground. And then, for no particular reason, I’ll end with a section on entomology.

Larval Stage – Larvae (grubs) have a translucent white to cream-colored body and a light tan to brown hard and stiff (sclerotized) head capsule. Larvae have three pairs of well-developed legs. When at rest they do so in a C-shaped curve.

By the 3rd instar, internal organs are more visible and jaws are larger! Grubs have a voracious appetite.

Larvae live for 1 – 3 years, primarily in the upper layers of the soil profile. To protect themselves from extremes in soil temperatures, both in summer and winter, they will burrow to depths ranging from 3 to 20 inches (7.6 to 50.8 cm), averaging 10.3 inches (26.2 cm). Larvae actually hibernate in the winter.

The three instar stages of larvae development, serves to progressively increase body size, head capsule width, and degree of sclerotization. At the end of each instar, larva take up excess air and/or water to swell their bodies. This extra pressure causes its old exoskeleton to split, allowing it to be shed (a process called ecdysis). Mature (third instar) larvae are 1.75 inches (45 mm) long with a nearly uniform body width.

Pupal Stage and Metamorphosis – When larvae are ready to move beyond the third instar, each individual builds a protective, earthen cell in the soil 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) deep where they will remain for the next 2 – 4 weeks while they undergo metamorphosis and and finally emerge as adult beetles.

Etymology

The genus, Phyllophaga, is a generic name that comes from two Greek words ….. phyllon which means “leaf,” and phagos which means “eater.” The specific epithet lanceolata comes from the Latin word lanceolatus, meaning lance-shaped, probably referring to the fine, lanceolate hair-like scales covering parts of the beetle’s body, such as the head (frons) and thorax (pronotum). The etymology of the word “chafer” comes from an Old English word meaning “gnawer,” referring to the beetle’s strong jaws.

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Hope you found this interesting!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

¹ Larvae of Lanceolated chafers are considered serious pests in the humid central and eastern U.S. they cause extensive damage to agricultural crops like corn, timothy, potatoes, and various other plants in the grass (Gramineae), pea (Fabaceae), and sunflower (Asteraceae) families.

References

ageconsearch.unm.edu

bugguide.net

grokipedia.com

iNaturalist.org

insectIdentification.org

invasive.org

npsnm.org

Lunginbill Sr., P and Printer, H.R., 1953, May Beetles of the US

The Life and Times of the Lanceolated Chafer

The Case of a Mysterious Wormy Thing

July 9, 2026

This is the third year in a row that I’ve noticed these seemingly unremarkable-looking brown beetles “hiking” along the rock pile 2-track road. They appear all at once, about mid-June, then vanish after several weeks. This year (2026) these scruffy/fuzzy beetles, know as Lanceolated Chafers (Phyllophaga lanceolata), really caught my attention, especially after finding myself at ground zero of a mass male Flash Mob¹ !!! From all directions, determined (and awkwardly) flying male chafers were dodging my legs to land on top of a lone female beetle frantically struggling against an earlier arriving male. His prickly lance-like legs had pinned her to the ground so she was lying on her side unable to use her legs. While she squirmed at my feet, newly landed beetles tried to fling off the original male to claim their rights to the female. Males continued to land until there must’ve been 30 or more, with fights breaking out everywhere, on top of the female and all around my feet. Each male was jousting to be victor.

But a victor of what? Was this some sort of mating ritual? Had the female released highly potent pheromones to attract a mate? If so, how far did her “call” drift on the wind to bring together so many males at one time? Did she intend to call only one male, or was her purpose to entice a stampede? If she anticipated a herd, was her intent to mate with the first one (the fastest?) to arrive? Maybe she hoped for battles and skirmishes to ensue, where the strongest of all males would win her favor(s)? This still remains a mystery, as I couldn’t find anything in the literature to explain this behavior?

While pondering these questions (and daring not to move my feet for fear of squishing one of the many male pile-ups), I bent over for a better look. It was then I noticed an opaque white, worm-like thing slowly emerging from the female’s abdomen! “What could this be?” …..

Was it a larva? Probably not ….. Female chafers don’t give live birth; they lay eggs in the soil beneath their favorite host plants (such as mallows), where they hatch into grubs that remain underground for up to two years before emerging as adult beetles.

Five males fighting for the female (notice how much larger she is than a male). Bit of a skirmish, left side.

Was it part of or the actual female genitalia? Maybe? I’m still searching for information about that notion.

Was it part of the male genitalia that had somehow broken off inside the female during insemination? Is that even possible? Again, still searching for answers about chafer sex.

Three males with the female (notice the “wormy” thing). One male, lower left, apparently confused?

For another 5 minutes I closely observed the squirming female laying helpless on the ground fighting off numerous suitors while still displaying the wormy “thing.” As more males continued to arrive, crash-landing on other grounded males and adding to the chaos, something changed. Can’t explain what happened, but in a matter of 15 seconds all the males stopped their aggressive fighting and took flight; the female uprighted herself (regaining her dignity?), quickly walking away like the nothing unusual had just happened. I watched her go, noticing she was no longer in possession of the wormy “thing,” and couldn’t find it anywhere at or near the scene!

The party is over. A male walking away, looking for a mallow to snack on.

After-math

Over the next several days, nary a chafer was found! Had all the males satisfied their natural desires? Had all the females become pregnant, laid their eggs and vanished? “After” doing the “math” on the days following the event, I counted only two beetles walking the 2-track road, one headed north — one headed south. Scouts? ….. Because Lanceolated Chafer adults only live 1-2 months, and because none have been seen since the last two, that may be the end of sightings for this year. While there’s still the occasional pack of ants dragging away a dead beetle to share with their colony, the legacy of adult chafers lives on. Recently-laid eggs will hatch after only 18 days into white or cream colored, C-shaped larvae. Those grubs will munch away on mallow and grass roots for the next 1-3 years until a perfectly warm mid-June day, sometime in the future, the adults emerge from the soil to complete their life cycle.

Epilogue

Since most chafer beetles are nocturnal (active at night), if you’ve seen an adult during the day, it may have been the Lanceolated species which are diurnal (active during the day). And you may have unwittingly encountered any of the chafer species found in North America…….

An exhausted male, a bit off balance, as he feeds on mallow leaves.

…….. If you’ve ever seen one or more of your carefully-tended, vigorously-growing garden plants up and die overnight, it may have been victimized by root-living chafer grubs.

…….. If you live in the central or eastern U.S., grubs may be feasting on the roots of agricultural crops, like corn, soy, or sunflowers. Headline news is sure to cover the story of devastation and financial ruin brought on by the voracious chafer beetle larvae, complete with video of farmers holding a handful of grubs dug from below the soil surface.

Have you experienced one of these close encounters?

Hope you’ve found the “Life and Times of the Lanceolated Chafer” interesting (or maybe educational, peculiar, or maybe even fascinating!?!). Let me know what you thought.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

¹ A flash mob is defined as a large group of people who suddenly assemble in a public place, perform a brief, pre-arranged action (like a synchronized dance), and then quickly disperse. Flash mobs are typically organized online via social media or viral messaging for entertainment or artistic expression. I think this definition nearly perfectly fits the chafer beetle dance I was witness to on that fine mid-June morning somewhere along the 2-track rock pile trail.

Plains Beebalm – Page 12 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

June 18, 2026

Plains Beebalm (Monarda pectinata Nutt. 1848)

aka Pony Beebalm

Etymology

Linnaeus named the genus Monarda to honor 16th century Spanish physician and botanist, Nicolás Bautista Monardes (1493-1588). Monardes never went to the Americas but was able to study medicinal plants in Spain, publishing the first systematic, in-depth book on medicinal plants and remedies brought to Europe from the Americas.

The species pectinata is derived from the Latin word pecten, meaning “comb.” The suffix -ata denotes possession or resemblance — so it translates loosely to “comb-like” or “having the form of a comb,” referring to the bristle-tipped bracts that sit below flower whorls.

Monarda pectinata is commonly called Plains Beebalm (or Pony Beebalm) because of its historically recorded uses by Indigenous peoples as an analgesic and antiseptic qualities.

Ethnobotanical and Culinary Uses

Indigenous peoples used a plant infusion to treat coughs, colds, fevers, and stomach complaints related to digestion. A flower infusion was used as a wash on insect bites and stings. The plant was rubbed on the head to bring relief from headache. In addition, historic records document that groups, such as the Kiowa, used Monarda pectinata leaves as a perfume due to its strong scent, and were chewed while traveling.

The strongly aromatic smell of crushed Plains Beebalm leaves smell both savory and citrusy, similar to oregano or lemon. Sometimes called “wild oregano,” they can be eaten fresh, dried or cooked to season in salads or other foods. In spring the leaves may be boiled to make herbal tea.

Plains Beebalm blooming in our yard, in bright sunshine and rocky soils.

Pollinators

According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, all Monarda species attract a number of native pollinators such as specialist bees, bumble bees, predatory wasps, hummingbirds, and hawk moths.

A Few Fun Facts

Desert Survivor: Although many Monarda species are moisture-loving, such as Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) found the along cool trails of Sandia Mountain, Plains Beebalm prefers hot, harsh, dry environments like desert washes, rocky slopes, and sandy pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Wild Bergamot and a little skipper pollinator. Tecolote Trail, Sandia Mountain, NM. This Monarda species prefers living in moist soils under the shady canopy of white fir and ponderosa pine.

Mammal Resistant: While pollinators adore Plains Beebalm, its strong, minty-citrusy-oregano essential oils act as a natural deterrent, making the plant resistant to browsing deer and rabbits.

Pollinator Magnet: The tubular pale pink flowers of Plains Beebalm are an excellent nectar source for long-tongued native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, especially during the hot summer months.

Soothing Relief: Plants in the Monarda genus are commonly called “Beebalm” due to the soothing nature a wash application of the plant, especially the flowers, has on insect bites and stings — particularly bee stings. Turns out plants in the genus contain the active ingredient thymol, a natural antiseptic found in modern mouthwashes.

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Hope you found this interesting!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

References

commons.wikimedia.org

yavapaiplants.extension.arizona.edu

Yanovsky, E., Food Plants of the North American Indians U.S. Department of Agriculture, Publication no. 237.

Happy (Belated)National New Mexico Day; Honoring Indigenous Peoples Everywhere

The Tale of the Tangled Pot: Recognizing our Deeply Rooted and Inseparable Connection with the Natural World Through the Practice of Nature Journaling

June 14, 2026

Zentangle patterns: Mogo, Sage, Roadrunner, Agave, Lazy Leaf, Monsoon, Zona, Voyage, Hokam (patterns created by Angie Gittles). Also added Hahna and Tentoculus. All patterns found on tanglepatterns.com

Living in the desert Southwest, inspiration for many of my Zentangle work comes from the representative art created by the indigenous peoples of New Mexico and the Four Corners region. Their deep connection with nature was often expressed in ancient rock art and on handcrafted pottery in ways that amaze. It takes me back to a different time and place; where their way of life was deeply rooted and inseparable from the natural world; where survival required an understanding and appreciation of the countless interdependent components required for the productive function and evolution of complex ecosystems.

Fast forward to today. Our fast-paced, stress-filled, consumer-centric lifestyles, full of techno-gadgets (demanding so much of our attention), and instant gratification, offers people a cushy arm-chair view of the world. Why put down those phones or turn off the TV, when we can safely and comfortably “witness” nature from our homes? Better yet, why not?

While pondering that question, many compelling reasons came so easily. Just being present in nature can be calming; relaxing; stress-reducing — we slow down, taking time to observe our natural surroundings. By really “seeing” local ecosystem(s) with all of our senses, we experience awe and wonder and make meaningful memories. Our once dormant skills in curiosity and critical thinking come alive as we learn about the integral connectedness of nature’s many and diverse components. By understanding and valuing how our connectedness to nature always has been and always will be critical not only to our very survival, but to the survival of all species, we realize the ability of all living things to thrive benefits from natural ecosystem services that provide things like clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, food to eat, and a habitable climate. These vital services are priceless. All nature asks is that we keep it healthy. First-hand personal exposure to the natural world fosters appreciation, love, and a desire to nurture and protect nature; an investment in the future of all life on Earth.

Observing the Natural World through the Practice of Nature Journaling

People have been observing, learning, and recording nature around the world for millennia. The oldest known cave art (pictographs) with paintings of wildlife, primitive humans, and human-bird hybrids hunting pigs, was discovered on an Indonesian island, and dates back almost 70,000 years. The oldest known rock carvings (petroglyphs), created by the Aborigines of Western Australia 40,000 – 50,000 years ago, depict wildlife and hunting parties. The oldest known petroglyphs found in North America were carved into boulders by still-unidentified humans that lived in the Winnemucca, NV area (east of Reno) between 10,000 and 14,800 years ago; their rock art represents leaves and trees. The oldest pictographs and petroglyphs found in New Mexico were made by Ancestral Puebloans and other Indigenous groups between 3,000 to 4,000 years ago in the Guadalupe Mountains/Carlsbad Region (southern NM) and depict hunting parties, wildlife and other natural elements.

The travelers, explorers and settlers that arrived in North America significantly influenced nature recording. They kept journals, field notes, and artistic renderings tracing a rich history of scientific inquiry and ecological changes spanning early colonial times to the formal natural history expeditions of the American West. For example, John Lawson (1709) and Mark Catesby (1731-1743), each published a book with their observations of the flora and fauna of the eastern colonial colonies (Catesby) and the southeast (Lawson). Extensive and diverse nature observations were recorded by all members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806), and by John James Audubon (1827-1838) with a focus on birds in their natural habitats. These and many more examples of “journaling nature” provided an understanding of the complex ecosystems that existed between two oceans, and was indispensable to the successful settling of North America.

Today’s Practice of Nature Journaling — paying attention, recording observations, asking questions, noticing changes, and reflecting on the natural world — is nearly identical to historical journaling practices, with some healthy advantages for mind and body. For example, Nature Journaling offers much needed mental, cognitive, and emotional relief, particularly important in today’s world. It also provides a screen-free way to reduce stress, encourage mindfulness, and sharpen observational and critical thinking skills. By intentionally immersing ourselves in nature — by being fully present — we can experience these benefits, and more. We find our place in nature by making connections and understanding how we are an integral and inseparable part of the environment around us.

“Walking” thoughtfully and gently in nature inspires us to nurture and protect what we are all part of, instilling in us a deep appreciation for the natural resources essential for the survival of our ancestors, as well as for our survival today and for future generations.

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Many thanks to Angie Gittles, a Certified Zentangle Teacher, for developing the step-outs to an abundance of patterns inspired by Indigenous Peoples of the Southwest. Her inspiration inspired me to weave 10 of her different designs into a stylized pot to honor and encourage such an important way of life. In doing so, I took my time, taking many deep breaths during the process, and thought about the days when appreciating and expressing nature was a natural way of living.

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Resources and a Few Important Tips

Whether you consider yourself a “Nature Journaler” and would like to learn more, or are interested in how to begin, there are countless resources and examples to refresh your skills or to get you started. Borrow a library book, such as Nature Drawing by Claire Walker Leslie, Keeping a Nature Journal by Leslie Roth, or Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws.

To get started in journal sketching or to improve your skills, check out the following: Discovering the Art of Field Sketching by Kristin Link, Botanical Drawing using Graphite and Colored Pencil by Sue Vize, or The Artist’s Guide to Sketching by James Gurney and Thomas Kinkade.

Of course there hundreds of thousands of on-line resources and social media sites about Nature Journaling and related topics. But beware the pit trap ….. lest you get caught up in doom of perpetual scrolling, never to get a breath of fresh air in the light of day!

If you’re unsure about becoming a “Nature Journaler,” know that anyone can head to the woods, the backyard, or sit by a window. You don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to visit a National Park ….. nature is everywhere! All you need is a pencil and piece of paper, the curiosity to see what’s around you, and the desire to slow down and observe with all your senses. There’s no right or wrong way to journal in nature, but when you do, be fully present; take the time to really “see” your surroundings. Just committing to turning off your screens to nature journal for 5 minutes a day will be perfect for you!

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Hope you enjoyed my Tangled Pot. As I always do while nature journaling, when creating these kinds of Zentangle-inspired works, my automatic slow-down mode becomes engaged, allowing me to think about possible directions I can take to complete a page. Sometimes the path is direct, but more often a world of rabbit trails leading to deep holes opens up before me, and I gotta take the plunge. That’s exactly what happened while tangling the Pot. And that’s what got me thinking about— how our ancestors used to live in nature, how art represents nature— how nature is endlessly tangled up in life— how today’s values take a back seat to our crucial connections with nature—how nature journaling can be used as a tool to restore gratitude and appreciation for nature—how, without nature, life as we know it would not exist.

I’m going to turn off my computer now and go enjoy a walk in nature with my journal. Are you inspired to do the same?

White Milkwort – Page 11 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

June 1, 2026

White Milkwort (Senega alba (Nutt.) J.F.B. Pastore & J.R. Abbott)

(synonymous with Polygala alba Nutt.)

A Light Touch

It was a beautiful morning for a walk along one of the neighborhood’s 2-track dirt roads. I was searching for late blooming Spring wildflowers when something lightly brushed against my leg, bringing me to a full stop. There, at my feet, gently swaying in the quiet breeze were a dozen+ foot tall, nearly naked, skinny green stems topped with lavender and white cones. Not wishing to crush these delicate stalks, I noticed there were five other groupings nearby, all growing in the road’s old tire depressions. Upon closer inspection, I recalled having seen this plant before in the yard of our previous home, but they had fewer and shorter stems, and larger (?) flower cones. Still, this was the white milkwort species (back then known as Polygala alba; today called Senega alba) I identified four years ago. It was the larger size and delicate nature of these plants at my feet – that puzzled me.

Here’s what I learned:

The stems, which are ridged, can grow to 18” tall. They branch from a basal caudex (a root-like thickened stem, often found underground, from which branching/stems grow …… and the more extensive the caudex, the more above ground stems form.
You can roughly age this perennial milkwort by counting the number of vertical stems. Typically there’s one stem on seedlings and one-year old plants; as many as 30 stems have been counted on much older (many, many years old) plants.
Even though the official flowering period ends late summer, if mid-summer/early fall rains (our monsoon season) are plentiful, another bloom period peaks and can continue into November. It’s been reported that when old flowers are removed from these milkworts (deadheaded), the plants will bloom continuously for up to four years! Obviously, those plants are not impacted by winter frosts.
The 90% of the pollinators visiting white milkwort are small to medium solitary or semi-solitary bees. Where we live (desert southwest), many of these ground-nesting bees are floral specialists, and based on research dating back to the early 70s, green metallic bees highly favor this native plant’s flowers for nectar and pollen. And with extended bloom times prompted by monsoons, this helps benefit these and other bee species. Unfortunately, the timing and intensity of our monsoons is no longer predictable and is likely causing unfavorable conditions for extended flower bloom and the bees.
Always be prepared to encounter a plant that tickles!

Classification and an Etymological Quandary

To learn the story about the old and new scientific names for white milkwort, and why being a botanist way back when and today is so challenging, read the next section on Etymology. It really is quite fascinating!

Etymology

Way back in the day (say, the early 1800s), when Thomas Nuttall, a English botanist, ornithologist, geologist and explorer, needed an unforgettably descriptive binomial name for a new species he’d discovered, “Polygala alba Nutt.” was his choice. The genus “Polygala,” which was originally assigned by Linnaeus to a group of plants with similar-looking flowers, is Greek for milkwort — meaning “much milk; ” the species name “alba” is Latin for “white, bright or clear.”

Thomas, logically picked “alba” as the species name for his new discovery, because the plant had white flowers. However, he apparently chose the “Polygala” genus based on an ancient belief that nursing mothers (and cows) that ate the milkwort plant experienced increased lactation. However, Polygala alba doesn’t have either milky sap or any plant parts with milk! After diving deeper into the Polygala genus as a whole, I couldn’t find any that ooze a milky substance.

The changing nature of botanical classification: It wasn’t until recently (2023 to be exact) that the official report announcing the transfer of 18 Polygala species to Senega, including Polygala alba to Senega alba, was published by botanists J.F.B. Pastore & J.R. Abbott. This change was based on a number of scientifically-researched plant characteristics, which addressed deviations in seed, fruit, and floral anatomy between Senega and true Polygala species. Now I know I need a bigger microscope!

In case you’re curious (I certainly was) there are no Senega milkworts (today referred to as American milkworts, formerly classified under Polygala) with a milky sap. So, despite their family (Polygalaceae) and originally assigned genus name (Polygala), these plants exude a clear, watery sap when their stems are broken.

Why “Senega” was selected as the genus name for all American milkworts: The genus name “Senega” comes from the Seneca Native American tribe. The first use of the name in the English language was in the 1730s; the Seneca snakeroot plant was given the scientific name Polygala senega, to honor the tribe’s traditional use of the root as a remedy for snakebites and respiratory issues.

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Hope you found this interesting!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

References

swcoloradowildflowers.com

wildflower.org

White-point Vetch – Page 6 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

April 27, 2026

White-point Vetch (Oxytropis sericea var. sericea)

One of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, white-point vetch forms a dense bouquet of brilliant white, pea-shaped flowers that grow on 12 inch tall stalks arising from many basal, soft-hairy compound leaves.

Beautiful to look at ….. POISONOUS if ingested …

….… especially if you’re a cow, horse, sheep, goat, elk or mule deer

All parts of white-point vetch (aka white locoweed) are poisonous at all times, even when dried. The culprit is an alkaloid toxin called Swainsonine, which inhibits enzymes essential for normal carbohydrate and glycoprotein metabolism in cells. This causes carbohydrates to accumulate in the brain and most other organs preventing normal cell function. Depending on how long the locoweed is eaten, the affected cells can be permanently damaged; one to three months of heavy consumption can cause death. Also, Swainsonine is present in the milk of lactating animals affecting their nursing youngsters.

Are locoweeds naturally poisonous? Well, yes, in a way. But the poison isn’t made by the plant itself. Swainsonine is produced by a fungus (Undifilium oxytropis) that acts as an “endophyte,” happily living between the plant’s cells of certain locoweeds in the genus’ Astragalus and Oxytropis. This fungus, thriving at high elevations on Western US rangelands, coexists symbiotically with the host plant, causing little to no harm to the host locoweed. In fact the host may even benefit from the fungus by receiving enhanced drought tolerance, as well as a “don’t eat me” sign to all hungry ungulates. Meanwhile, the fungus goes about its business of keeping the plant well stocked with Swainsonine. Only the species of locoweed without the endophytic fungus are not poisonous. Review the list at the end of my post to learn which Astragalus and Oxytropis species are known to cause “locoism.” (But the real lesson is to be wary of all species in these two genus’ until you seek expert identification.)

Symptoms of locoism in ungulates: Malabsorption of essential minerals and vitamins in the intestinal tract. Decreased appetite and weight loss. Decreased liver function and damage due to elevated liver serum enzymes. Calves, lambs, and foals may be born with deformed legs. Abortions and fetal death are common. Other general symptoms include depression, blindness, loss of coordination, emancipation, tremors, paralysis, constipation and deterioration of the coat.

We have 5 of these plants scattered around our property., and this is one of them. We also have a group of mule deer that walk by this plant almost daily. They must know not to eat the leaves and flowers, moving quickly by in search of something safe to eat.

Abnormal behaviors emerge, such as sudden changes in temperament, aggressiveness, ataxia, falling over unexpectedly, violent reaction to routine management practices such as putting on a halter or refusing to go through a chute. Horses become very depressed and sleepy, and often show more severe neurological effects of locoweed poisoning than cattle and sheep.

Specific to cattle, the major problem encountered with locoweed poisoning is decreased fertility characterized by lower conception and calving rates; semen fertility of affected bulls is also decreased. In addition, cows and bulls consuming locoweed experience reduced libido, behavioral changes, weight loss, and heart failure. Typical findings in calves are decreased growth rates resulting in lower weaning weights. Some calves may be born weak and die shortly after birth.

The flowers of White-point Vetch are bright white and quite lovely. This close-up shows how their form resembles a garden pea flower.

There is no effective treatment for locoweed poisoning! Recovery depends on the duration of ingestion and severity of the lesions. Locoed horses are considered permanently affected.

So why do animals eat poisonous locoweeds when other non-poisonous forage is available? One reason is locoweeds are palatable and have a similar nutrient value to alfalfa. Also, they become habituated to eating them from each other. Once one animal starts to eat locoweed others follow. Removing animals that are locoweed eaters from the herd can reduce the chances of other animals ‘learning’ to eat the plant through social observation.

Is the toxin Swainsonine poisonous to humans? While primarily a risk to livestock, unintentional human exposure, usually through ingestion or smoking, can cause hallucinations, severe liver damage, or even fatal poisoning.

From what I’ve read, people seeking to get “high” from Jimson weed (a Datura species), aka “loco weed,” often mistake a true “locoweed,” (like Oxytropis sericea) for the Datura, even though they look nothing alike. As they begin smoking the leaves or any other part of O. sericea, they can experience severe and rapid hallucinations, delirium, intense paranoia, psychosis, anxiety, agitation and disorientation as their heart races, pupils dilate, vision blurs, and a high fever sets in. Chronic ingestion inhibits cellular enzymes, potentially leading to long-term neurological impairment, reproductive dysfunction, and severe organ damage.

My hand carefully holding a flower stalk. This shows just how large the flowers are. Notice there are quite a lot of buds present at the flower stalk tip. (I did wash my hands after handling the plant)

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Well, that’s a lot of scary stuff! Let me end my post with something light-hearted and laughable from the Wild Wild West — something unbelievably crazy involving the extreme measures that were taken by Colorado ranchers during 1881 to 1885, to prevent their livestock from dining on poisonous locoweed.

Locoweed—The Most Infamous Plant of the Southwest!

As early as the 1800s, livestock growers in the west considered the presence of “weeds” (whether native or non-native) on rangelands an unwelcome nuisance, especially if they outcompeted the growth and availability of “desirable” plants (forage) needed to feed their herds. And if a tasty “weed” or two turned out to be poisonous to their livestock, then its elimination was critical. This was the case with white-point vetch, aka white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea), and its close relative, purple locoweed (O. lambertii), both native perennial species found throughout the intermountain west. Ranchers in the late 1870s were shocked by the skyrocketing deaths of their livestock that were eating locoweed. And in Colorado, ranchers demanded action.

This is a true story of locoweed, the first “weed” for which the 1880s Colorado legislature enacted radical management regulations; the first “weed” where detailed steps were laid out to not only control locoweed, but eliminate all signs of this poisonous plant from Colorado rangelands.

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Charles Bryant, Huerfano County’s (Colorado) Noxious Weed Manager, and printed in “The Learning Ledger” on June 2, 2025.

A young bouquet of White-point vetch was nearly 10” tall, with more growth expected.

One of Colorado’s Most Loco Laws ………

….. the ‘Loco’ or Poison Weed Act of 1881

“At the time of enactment, Colorado had been a state for less than five years and was the epitome of the “Old West,” with the livestock industry being one of the primary drivers of the newly-formed state’s economy. Because of the impact locoweed was having on the health of livestock by 1881, Colorado legislators became preoccupied with the native Oxytropis species.

“The 1881 “Loco or Poison Weed Act” (Act) allowed citizens to “dig up not less than three inches below the surface of the ground any ‘loco’ or poison weed during the months of May, June or July and shall receive a premium of one-half cents per pound for each pound of such weed dug up, to be paid out of the state treasury as hereinafter provided; provided, that such weed shall not be weighed in a green state, but shall be thoroughly dry when weighed.”

“The Act went on further to describe how locoweed bounty hunters of the state were to deliver their dried loads of locoweed to their county clerk within two months of their digging. Upon delivery to the clerk of the county where the weeds were gathered, the clerk was to weigh the load and require those seeking reimbursement to sign an oath stating: “I do solemnly swear that the weed here produced by me this day is ‘loco’ or poisonous weed of X amount of pounds, dug up by me within two months last past.” Upon the recitation of this somber oath the county clerk was to “forthwith destroy such weed by burning” and issue a certificate for payment that was to be paid by the county, with the county later being reimbursed from the state treasury after their submission of an annual report that detailed the amount of locoweed gathered and to whom bounties were paid.

“By 1885 it became glaringly apparent that the locoweed bounty program was unsustainable, to say the least, and rife with fraud. The February 12, 1885, edition of the Rocky Mountain News lambasted the “loco industry” and pointed to the handsome sum of $8,727.27 that had been paid out in one month alone to El Paso County, equivalent to over $283,333 in today’s dollars. The coverage went on to question how over half a million pounds could be collected in El Paso County in a month, and stated that the monthly locoweed bounty expenditures for El Paso County matched the total monthly operating cost of the Colorado State Penitentiary. Only six days after this scathing review, Colorado legislator Rep. Abraham Bergh of Park County led the repeal effort of the Act, and the state finally did away with perhaps one of the most “loco” laws to ever be enacted in Colorado.”

Are you familiar with your local locoweeds? If so, I’d love to know which species you’ve encountered and if they’re on the list (below) of those known to cause locoism?

After learning more about the poisonous nature of locoweeds, next time you discover one, will you think twice before handling the plant? (And please, if you do, be sure to wash your hands!)

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for stopping by!

Astragalus and Oxytropis species known to cause locoism: Astragalus lentiginosis (spotted loco), A. mollissimus (woolly, purple loco), A. wootonii (Wooton loco), A. thurberi (Thurber’s loco), A. nothoxys (sheep loco), A. dyphysus (blue loco, rattlewood), A. earlei (Earle’s loco), A. argillophilus (half moon loco), Oxytropis sericea (white-point vetch, white loco), O. lambertii (purple point loco), O. bessyi (Bessy point vetch), and O. campestris (field loco).

(I’m thinking that just because these species are known to have the poisonous toxin Swainsonine, it might be best to err on the side of caution and treat Astragalus and Oxytropis species as suspect? Do you think so too?)

References

en.wikipedia.org

wildflower.org

poisonousplants.cvmbs.coloradostate.edu

inaturalist.org

oregonflora.org

coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18850212-01.2.24

Dark Jerusalem Cricket – Page 5 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

April 5, 2026

Dark Jerusalem Cricket (Ammopelmatus fuscus)

Last month (mid-March), while looking everywhere for signs of spring (something green and growing), I dared to peek under a flat rock and gasped with surprise! Instead of uncovering a tiny flower bud was a gigantic “creepy-crawly” bug! Yikes! After quickly dropping the rock back on his head I realized my run-away imagination had gotten the better of me.

So gathering my courage, I took another look. There, hiding under that rock was a “cuddly” Jerusalem cricket trying his best to be invisible (while avoiding the bright sunlight).

This wasn’t my first Jerusalem cricket, but seeing this guy prompted me to learn more about this curious insect……

Firstly, Jerusalem crickets are neither true crickets nor are they native to Jerusalem

Taxonomists agree, “Jerusalem crickets are in a very different family than true crickets. This includes a bunch of flightless varieties, and some with wings, found in Africa. The Jerusalem crickets are wingless and are found in the Americas.”
“The origins of the name, “Jerusalem” cricket isn’t certain, but it’s thought that it comes either as a reference to the skull-shaped head (they’re also known as skull crickets), which is associated with skull hill in Jerusalem; or, comes from a watered-down swear word from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Around this time, in the US, both “Jerusalem” and “Cricket” were expletives, associated with being startled.”

Next, some Jerusalem Cricket Mating Characteristics

Similar to true crickets, each species of “sings” a different song during mating. They actually sing by drumming and they drum by beating their butts on the ground.
Once a larger female has successfully mated with a smaller male, and before she lays eggs, females usually eat the males!
She lays her egg masses in holes in the soil. After hatching, over the next 1-2 years, nymphs undergo several molts (as many as 10) until they reach sexual maturity which lasts for only 2-6 months.
Adults can reach up to 2 to 3 inches in length. Females are often larger in size; males have longer hind legs.

Third, Jerusalem Cricket Habitats and Out-of-Sight Living Quarters

They are “well-adapted to living in sandy soils, but can be found in sand dunes, chaparrals, grasslands, woodlands, and forests.”
Being nocturnal, they spend a majority of their lives underground.
They hide underneath organic matter and other debris like rocks, wood. With their powerful mandibles, spiny legs and specially adapted feet, they also dig underground burrows for comfortable living quarters.

And Almost Lastly …. the Cultural Significance of Jerusalem Crickets

Of great importance to Native Americans as food, many tribes in southwestern U.S. also considered Jerusalem crickets as a powerful cultural symbol. Its striking appearance leads some to think the cricket brings mortality, as depicted in the folklore of the Chumash people of southern California.
The Hopi, who settled in Arizona, portrays this cricket as a spirit being (a Kachina) named Sösööpa who races. As a result, it’s often carved into their Katsina dolls as a yellow humanlike character with black beady eyes, a black-and-white plaid skirt, and antennae made from sand grass, depicting traits of the cricket.
The Navajo associated the Yucca plant with the insect; you had to eat the plant as a cure of the cricket’s painful bite. This myth possibly gave rise to the misconception that their bite is venomous.

It’s Greek to Me! (Entomologically Speaking)

Learning the meaning of a scientific name assigned to a species not only helps me remember uncommon words and how they’re pronounced, but often describes aspects of a species’ characteristics that may help differentiate it from another similar-looking species. Learning about these complex names falls into a study called entomology.

Ammopelmatus fuscus, the scientific name for the Dark Jerusalem Cricket, is quite a mouthful. Curious about the meanings (in plain English) of these two strange words, I learned the name originates from Greek and Latin roots meaning “dark sand-sole” or “dark sand-burrower,” obviously referring to their sandy habitats, dark color, and burrowing behavior. But to learn how the common name with the word “sole” ties to one of the cricket’s characteristics, my dive continued. Here’s the entomology breakdown:

Genus Ammopelmatus
- Ammos (Greek) means “sand,” referring to the cricket’s specialized adaptation to arid, sandy environments.
- pelma (Greek) means “sole of the foot,” highlighting the specialized leg structures the cricket uses for burrowing.
- tus (Greek) is a common word meaning either “them” or “their.” In this case, “tus” ties the first two parts together into “their sand sole.”
Species fuscus (Latin) means “dark,” “dusky,” or “brown,” describing the cricket’s color.

Here’s the underside of my Dark Jerusalem Cricket. The leg spines really show well as does the strong mandible. A scary fascinating view!

After learning more about the Dark Jerusalem Cricket, maybe next time I discover one, I won’t jump so high?! Do you think?

Have you seen a Jerusalem cricket hiding out in your yard? If so, what was your reaction?

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for stopping by!

References

inaturalist.org/taxa

bugguide.net/node/view/154

factanimal.com/jerusalem-cricket/

Eaton, Eric R.; Kenn Kaufman (2007). Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin. p. 84.
Milne, Lorus Milne, Lorus and Milne, Margery (1980) The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, pp. 437.
Stoffolano JG, Wright B (2005). “So so opa —Jerusalem Cricket: An Important Insect in the Hopi Katsina Pantheon.”American Entomologist. 51 (3): 174–179. doi:10.1093/ae/51.3.174

Davis Mountain Mock Vervain – Page 3 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

March 23, 2026

Davis Mountain Mock Vervain (Glandularia wrightii)

This page shows samples from my specimen.. Although the flowers of my specimens are a purple-blue color, I chose to create the flower petals as reddish-pink; this color is also common.

This is a photo of the two flowers I sketched for my final painting.
The specimen on the left shows the upper part of the flower, the “limb” where 5 petals flair out from the throat ringed by fine hairs. The throat leads to the lower part of the flower – the floral tube (5 fused pale green petals). . Both upper and lower petals make up the flower’s corolla. Below the floral tube are 5 red tipped green sepals (collectively called a calyx) all fused into a cup shape. The specimen on the right is a dissected flower; 2 upper petals are removed, and the floral tube has been opened to reveal the reproductive parts. On the left side are 2 of the female parts of the pistil (pale green style supporting the 2-lobed stigma of the pistil; the ovary was not exposed). Two of the four stamens (male) lie in the mid- to upper right side of the opened floral tube; look for the bright yellow anthers, each sitting atop their own filament

Here’s Another Curiosity to Ponder: I wondered why this plant has 5 petals and 5 sepals but doesn’t also have 5 stamens, which is usually the norm in so many other 5-merous plant species??? Here’s what I learned:

Davis Mountain Mock Vervain (Glandularia wrightii) exhibits a common evolutionary trait in the Vervain (Verbenaceae) family where the flower displays a 5-lobed calyx of fused sepals, and 5 5-lobed petals which fuse into a tube (the corolla). This trait, commonly described as 5-merous, curiously has a reduced the number of functional stamens to four.

This reduction is due to an evolutionary transition from a 5-stamen ancestor. According to literature, the four fertile stamens I observed in my specimens are properly arranged in two pairs (didynamous), both neatly hidden in the floral tube beneath a ring of fine hairs. Also properly so, the filaments (the stalks that support the anthers) of the stamens are fused to the inside of the tube, and not easily teased free.

So apparently, many, many, many, many, Many hundreds of years ago, plants in the Vervain family “decided” having a 5th stamen was unnecessary. “We can do just fine without it, thank you.” Thru the process of evolution, that expendable #5 was ever so slowly reduced to a tiny non-functional structure (referred to as a staminode in modern botanical lingo), or was completely and totally lost, becoming only a memory.

Believe me, this species is an energetic producer of leaves, flowers and seeds. In my experience, Davis Mountain Mock Vervain seems to explode in masses of pink and purple flowers throughout spring, summer and fall, and can last thru winters that don’t freeze. It’s easy to understand why the species has no need of a 5th fertile stamen. Once the plant becomes established, it keeps growing and flowering and spreading, often to the detriment of other desirable plants. If it wasn’t so gorgeous at the height of bloom, it might be considered a weed!

But I’m reminded of the definition of a “Weed ….. a plant out of place.” So yes, you’ll find me actively weeding actively growing Davis Mountain Mock Vervain so my other native plants have a chance at life too!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Redstem Stork’s-Bill – Page 2 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

March 20, 2o26

Redstem Stork’s-Bill (Erodium cicutarium)