Thursday, July 26, 2007

What's This Stuff?

I thought this looked like a Tiger Lily when I fist saw it. Upon closer examination, I would call this a freckle Lily. Can you tell me the name of this flower?
I found these wasps buzzing around in a sandy area. I wasn't sure whether to take a picture of them, or run for my life.These are the biggest hornets that I have ever seen! They're almost two inches long! It was actually easy to identify them. I just googled large ground hornets, and these were the first to come up. I found out that they are not very aggressive. Only the female has a stinger, and they are actually considered to be a beneficial insect. Do you know the name of these wasps?
Here are two sets of prints. Do you know which animals these belong to?
There were several hundred of these mushrooms in one area. What kind are they? Are they poisonous?

THESE ARE STUBBORN WEEDS THAT SHOW UP IN MY YARD EVERY YEAR!



The first three weeds are very aggressive, and really get on my nerves. I try to tell them they're not welcome in my yard, but they don't listen. Do you know what they are, and the best way to get rid of them? Do any of them have any provide any benefit?

The last one likes to get in my trees and hedges. They're not much of a problem, and I like the bright colored berries. I'm guessing birds would probably eat these too. Can you tell me what they are?

13 comments:

Ruth said...

Your first picture is a Canada Lily or maybe you would rather call it a Wild Yellow Lily. I have been looking all over for one!
ruth

Hanley Family said...

Raccoons! At least I think those tracks are raccoons.

Don't ask me to identify plants, though. I'm having a hard time distinguishing between plant and weed in my bird garden at the moment!

Larry said...

Ruth-No wonder you can't find one-The Canada Lilies must have moved south!
Dana-Thanks-The second prints were a lot smaller than the first ones.

Susannah Anderson said...

It's a bit hard to tell from the photo, but I think your second weed is some variety of what we call "smartweed" here in BC. It's a relative of the nasty Japanese knotweed, and as persistent. Easy enough to pull out, but it always comes back; is that right?

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I think I found your wasp in the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. It's a cicada killer.
Weed 1: creeping charlie
Weed 2: smartweed
Weed 3: don't know what this one is called but it's all over my flower bed.
Weed 4: looks like nightshade to me, keep kids away from it.

I got a new mushroom field guide last month but I can't find it. I'll bet Pam at Nature Woman would know.

Patrick B. said...

Your wasp looks like a Cicada Killer (Sphecius sp.). They are huge, live in holes in the ground, but are generally not interested in stinging you.

First prints are raccoons and second look like squirrel.

Weed 1: I would call this Ground Ivy which I just found out is also known as Creeping Charlie.

Weed 2: Agree on Smartweed.

Weed 3: Purslane I think

Weed 4: Does look like a nightshade.

Patrick B. said...

Woops... just realized that Lynne called out the Cicada Killer first, sorry Lynne.

Larry said...

Wanderin' Weeta-That describes it perfectly-thanks.
Lynne and Patrick-thanks for the i.d.'s -Now I can read about these nasty weeds.-That Cicada Killer is one heck of an impressive hornet!

Anonymous said...

I think there's even another common name for Creeping Charlie: Gill-over-the-ground. It makes really pretty flowers. Just let it live with your grasses!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferschlick/511368213/

RuthieJ said...

Hi Larry,
I thought maybe possum for the first set of tracks and then checked a couple field guides and concur with everyone else on raccoon (also squirrel on track #2).

I have all of the same weeds in my yard. The creeping charlie in only 1 spot and that third pictured weed invades my veggie garden every year (they're easy to pull though).

Cathy said...

Wow. Great post, Larry! I learned a lot.

Cathy said...

oh! I think I can help with the fungus. My best guess is Marasmius Oreades. I'm pretty sure at least that it's Marasmius. Edible according to some accounts.

I'm pretty sure it's not Deadly Gallerina.

Google both - Fungus is fascinating :0)

Mary said...

They look like raccoon tracks! Hey, I'm so late to this party, and all your questions are answered. But I kind of like the fact that you don't know what you are seeing many times. I'm the same way.