Magnolia grandiflora

 

 

           

           It is June and the magnolias are in bloom.  There is something so very southern about a magnolia.   It has been called  “an aristocratic tree.”  Historically, magnolias were often selected to line the entrance to antebellum plantations.  But, the magnolia’s history predates the antebellum landscape by millions of years.  In fact, fossil records indicate magnolias existed on earth before winged insects evolved.  As a primitive plant, magnolias were pollinated by beetles back then, and still are today. 

          There are many varieties of magnolias.  Some are diciduous, such as the saucer magnolia and star magnolia.  Others are evergreen but tend to shed yellow leaves throughout the year, which some homeowner find to be rather messy.   With various species, flowers may be white, yellow, pink or purple.  Most  magnolias can grow to be quite large, so careful consideration should be given when choosing a magnolia. 

Polyphemus Moth

          Anthera polyphemus is a very large moth.  The female, seen here, releases pheromones to attract a male so that she can mate and lay eggs.  The adults only live for a few days -- they have no mouth and cannot eat.  When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars feed on leaves from a variety of trees -- cherry, walnut, beech, willow, hickory and more.  The caterpillars eat all summer long.  In late summer or early fall, they spin a cocoon to overwinter until spring, when the adult moth will emerge and the life cycle begins anew. 

Blue Ridge Mountains

Sunrise in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains

Dusk in the aptly named Blue Ridge