New Mexico – 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

Narrowleaf Puccoon – Page 10 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

May 25, 2026

Narrowleaf Puccoon (Lithospermum incisum)

Etymology

Lithospermum, the genus named by Linnaeus in 1753, is Greek for stone (“Lithos”) and seed (“sperma”), referring to the hard nutlets. And “incisum,” the Latin species name referring to the incised, fringed edges of the trumpet flowers, was named by Lehman (a German botanist) in 1818 from a specimen collected “near the rapids of the Ohio” by Andre Michaux (a French botanist and explorer) in 1802.

Puccoon evolved from “poughkone,” a word the Virginia Algonquian language used for plants whose roots yield a red or yellow pigment. The roots of Narrowleaf Puccoon were historically used as dyes ranging from purple to red to yellow.

A Two-Flower Strategy

Very showy and quite lovely, the sunshine yellow trumpet-shaped flowers of Narrowleaf Puccoon are hard to miss. They often cluster at the ends of 12-20” long stems where the floral tube is ringed by five frilly petal lobes. The flowers depend on pollinators like butterflies for cross-pollination which adds genetic diversity to the few seeds they produce. Botanically speaking, these traditional, open flowers with exposed reproductive parts are referred to as Chasmogamous.

Then later in the season, the Narrowleaf Puccoon produces small, petal-less flowers that remain tightly closed. These highly fertile, self-pollinating flowers account for almost all of the plant’s seed production. Botanists refer to this type of closed, often inconspicuous flower as Cleistogamous.

The“Stone Seed” Fruit

Because Narrowleaf Puccoon only produces the occasional fruit from its showy flowers, it takes a bit of searching around the plant’s lower leaf axils to locate a tiny group of up to four hard “stone seed” nutlets. Beginning growth inside the self-fertile, closed (Cleistogamous) flowers that are present late in the season, each egg-shaped nutlet, pitted across the surface, ripens to a shiny white.

Plant Propagation

Seed Germination – To grow Narrowleaf Puccoon from seed, nutlets should be collected in late summer. Soak them overnight in hot water then plant immediately. Because seed germination is sporadic and often disappointing, selecting a desirable location for planting is important. The plant grows best in very sandy, well drained soils found in the dry/open areas within our pinyon/juniper woodlands (though they do grow in soils with some loam or clay).

Shiny white nutlets with Penny for size
Photo edited from a post by
A Wandering Botanist

Root Cutting – A more successful method may be to take a 2-inch cutting of the taproot in the fall. Dip the cutting in a root stimulant and plant in a desirable location.

Suggestions for root stimulants

Powdered Hormones: Highly cost-effective, have a long shelf life and easy to use. After you moisten the root cutting, just dip it directly into the powder (e.g., Garden Safe TakeRoot) and plant.
Natural/DIY Options: Raw aloe vera gel and crushed, uncoated aspirin both contain natural growth-promoting enzymes. You can also use diluted willow bark extract, which is naturally rich in rooting hormones.

Plant Care – Narrowleaf Puccoon requires full sun and very little water, making it a good plant for xeric gardens or included with other native plants to establish a wildflower meadow.

Photo taken early May 2026 along the Entranosa access road

Medicinal Properties and a Cautionary Note

The Navajo chewed the root of Narrowleaf Puccoon for coughs and colds. They, and the Zuni rubbed the plant’s finely powdered leaves, root and stem on the body to treat paralyzed limbs. An infusion of the root was used for stomach aches and kidney problems. The plant was eaten as an oral contraceptive, and a cold infusion of the pulverized root and seed was used as an eyewash.

Although Narrowleaf Puccoon does have medicinal properties, it contains potentially toxic alkaloids. Self-treatment involving this plant is strongly discouraged.

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If you’ve seen Narrowleaf Puccoon, did you find their highly fertile, tightly closed flowers and/or the shiny white nutlets? Have you tried growing the plant from seed or root cuttings, and were you successful?

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Happy Memorial Day!

References

backyardnature.net

iNaturalist.org

minnesotawildflowers.info

openprairie.sdstate.edu

swcoloradowildflowers.com

visitsfbg.org

wildflower.org

Rose Heath – Page 9 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

May 9, 2026

Rose Heath (Chaetopappa ericoides)

When the last Spring snow melts and the runoff soaks into the nooks and crannies of dehydrated soils, there’s a thirsty little shrub that eagerly drinks its fill. The leafy stems of this tiny shrub, so easily overlooked in the winter, rapidly grows on bare ground, around the drip line of pinyon and juniper trees, in the negative spaces between rocks and broken branches, and through beds of dried grasses. Then in a day or two a very small flower bud forms on the top of each stem, and in half a week the buds open simultaneously. What a spectacular display of brilliant white daisies ….. bouquets of light!

Barely ankle high, each flowerhead can have up to 24 white ray florets surrounding a rich buttery yellow center of 12-25 disc florets. And don’t fret if you notice the ray florets have curled downward in the evening. They magically unfurl to their full length by mid-morning the following day.

This annual Spring show, which takes place all across the U.S. west and western Great Plains, is brought to you by the “petite” perennial called Rose Heath (Chaetopappa eriocoides). (Widespread and common in New Mexico, Rose Heath is adaptable to a variety of soils, elevation, and drought.)

The show typically begins in late March and continues into early May. And for those craving more, flowering resumes in August and can run until November; no charge. You just have to get out there and see for yourself!

Origin and Etymology – What’s in a Name?

Origin of the Scientific Name, Chaetopappa ericoides

Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, a Swiss botanist, named this genus Inula in the early 1800s. But in 1827, it was the American botanist John Torrey, who named the species Inula ericoides, from a specimen collected by botanist Edwin James along the Canadian River during Major Stephen Long’s Expedition of 1819-1820. Since that time, the species has undergone more than a dozen name changes including Leucelene ericoides (Edward Greene in 1896) and finally Chaetopappa ericoides (Guy Nesom in 1988).

Etymology of the Scientific Name, Chaetopappa ericoides

The genus “Chaetopappa” is Greek for ‘bristly pappus’ (pappus refers to the score of tiny white bristles surrounding the disc florets; the same bristles, one per seed, that helps carry Rose Heath’s mature seeds up, up and away. The species “Ericoides,” also Greek, means ‘similar (“oides“) to Heath’ (“eric”); i.e., the plant’s tiny, overlapping leaves are similar to those of some Heaths (Ericaceae is the scientific name of the Heath Family.)

Common Name, Rose Heath

From the previous paragraph, it’s obvious where the name ‘Heath’ comes from, as Rose Heath does have stems and leaves very similar to a heath plant. But why ‘Rose?’ What I found is ‘Rose’ is Latin in origin, derived from “rosa,” referring to the flower. Because the daisy-like flowers of Rose Heath don’t resemble a rose flower, deeper diving was needed. I discovered that throughout history ‘Rosa’ and ‘Rose’ have represented love, passion, innocence, and beauty. So perhaps ……. ? If you’re familiar with Rose Heath or have seen photos of the plant in bloom, do you love or could you love its beautiful floral bouquets? I think whoever thought to call this plant by the common name ‘Rose Heath,’ must’ve loved its stunning display!

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Have you seen this beautiful plant, Rose Heath?

As always, thanks for stopping by!

References

inaturalist.org

npsnm.org/wildflowersnm

Stevenson, M., 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30, p.55 (as referenced by iNaturalist)

swbiodiversity.org

swcoloradowildflowers.com

Western Meadowlark – Page 8 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

May 4, 2026

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

When male meadowlarks return to the grassy meadow north of the old rusty water tank and begin singing, you know it’s Spring!

There’s something wonderful about his song ……. At first he stutters a few practice notes; rough and rusty like the old water tank. But as daylight lengthens and temperatures warm, his song grows long, strong and melodic. Having perfected that signature song, he sings intently from sunrise to sunset, defending his territorial boundaries against all invaders. And he sings lovingly to announce his breeding readiness, enticing not just one, but two female meadowlarks to mate with him.

While walking the perimeter of the meadow in mid-April, it was easy to hear a male singing at the top of his lungs about 1/4 mile away. After a few moments scanning the tops of the widely scattered juniper trees with binoculars, I spotted him. (Males seem to favor these trees as perches, perhaps because they get a great view of their territory, and their voices really carry!) Able to get only 50 yards closer, I managed to take a few telephoto pics before he flew to the top of another juniper. Western meadowlarks are very skittish around people, so I held my ground and just watched and listened. It was a wonderful encounter.

Below are a few more fun facts about Western Meadowlarks, in addition to those on my illustrated page ….

If you’re lucky to see a Western Meadowlark, you’ll notice they’re a robin-sized bird but chunkier and with a shorter tail. Their flat head and long, slender bill are visible above a round-shouldered posture that nearly conceals its neck. They have short rounded wings, and a short, stiff, and spiky tail.

When flushed, Western Meadowlarks fly low, wings below the horizontal, gliding and flapping with short, stiff, quail-like wingbeats.

Other than perching on tall trees, don’t be surprised to find males singing from atop fence posts, bushes, power lines, and anything higher than their surrounding habitat.

John James Audubon gave the Western Meadowlark its scientific name, Sturnella neglecta; Sturnella meaning “starling-like,” and neglecta because he felt most explorers (after Lewis and Clark) and settlers who traveled west of the Mississippi overlooked this common bird.

The oldest recorded Western Meadowlark was at least 6 years, 6 months old when it was found in Colorado in 1965.

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When was the last time you went Birding? Meadowlarks are calling!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

References: allaboutbirds.org and inaturalist.org

Perky Sue – Page 7 .. The 100 Day Project (2026)

April 29, 2026

Perky Sue (Tetraneuris argentea)

Perky Sue has to be the happiest little sunflower on planet Earth!

“Is it because Perky Sue is an early spring bloomer, it’s smiling face opening in mid- to late March? Maybe it’s how those brilliant yellow flowers climb above fields of drab, dry grasses to brighten the landscape? Perhaps it’s those tall, soft and silky flower stems that dance with wild abandon to the music of our spring breezes?”

No matter why Perky Sue always brings smiles, you can’t deny that encountering a blooming bunch makes you instantly happy!

Look for these stunning sunflowers in the open areas scattered throughout and adjacent to the subdivision. Separate the dried grass and discover the soft sage-colored, spatula-shaped leaves densely clustered at ground level. Remember this spot and return every Spring to watch our grassy meadows awaken with dazzling yellow sunshine.

Did You Know ………………. ?

When you encounter Perky Sue (or most any other sunflower) take a close-up look at one of it’s flowers. What you’re actually seeing is a collection of tiny flowers (florets). The most numerous type of floret lies within the face or center of the flower head (these are the disc florets). But you may be surprised to learn there’s a second type of floret often thought of as the sunflower’s petals (called the ray florets).

The Sunflower Face

The face or central part of the flower head is called a disc; the individual flowers, the disc florets, are arranged in clockwise and counterclockwise spirals. Look close and notice each floret has five distinctly flared petal lobes attached to a fused floral tube (which together form the corolla). Each floret is fertile, having both male (staminate) and female (pistillate) organs, able to produce pollen and seeds.

The Sunflower “Petals”

Radiating out from the disc like the rays of the Sun is a showy ring (or multiple rings) of what looks like flower “petals.” However, each “petal” is a single ray floret ‎consisting of a single strap-shaped flower (ligule) of five fused petals (corolla) that form a tube at the base. In Perky Sue and some other sunflowers, the ray florets are pistillate. But in the majority of species the ray florets are sterile.

The Sunflower “Landing Pad”

Sunflowers have one of the most highly evolved “flowers” in the plant kingdom. To maximize their visual attraction to pollinators, the ray florets became large showy structures that act as a “landing pad” for bees and other pollinators. When they “touch down” they are immediately drawn along the ligule to the bountiful pollen supply of the disc florets. Large pollinators also use the ligules of ray florets as a supporting platform to balance and feed from the disc florets’ floral tubes. So, ray florets evolved to increase the pollination success of the fertile disc florets at the center of the sunflower. And in the case of Perky Sue, insects carrying pollen as they fl to other “landing pads” increase the pollination of the pistillate ray florets.

Want to Learn More?

The biology of sunflowers is a fascinating subject, and I’ve spent many hours researching and illustrating their intricate parts and pieces, and how they work. If you’d like to learn more, check out these detailed posts I put together in the summer of 2023:

Geeking Out …… Total Bliss ….. Sunflowers!

Cypsela! The Sunflower Seed

…. and for a bit more about Perky Sue, get more here from my summer 2024 post

Perky Sue!

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Does Perky Sue bloom in your neighborhood?

Have you ever taken a close look at its flower head or inspected the florets of another sunflower species?

What did you see?

Hope you enjoyed this page of my field guide. I’d love to know if you found the information new and/or inspired you to check out the details of your local sunflowers.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

References

inaturalist.org

swbiodiversity.org

deercanyonfolks.org