Muskrat

Prior to taking these pictures I did not know that this animal resided at the lake. Originally, I thought I was seeing young beaver (they were within a couple feet of an actively used beaver house). However, the absence of the obvious beaver tail led me to discovering their actual identity.

Little Black Ant

No, I did not make up that name. Not too often is an animal’s given name so simple. I think I will be able to remember this one.

Toxomerus Hover Fly

or “Flower Fly”

Hop Clover

Alby

The family cat, Alabastar (Alby for short), is just over a year old and I do believe he considers the lake his home.

Marsh St. John’s Wort

Indian Pipe

Wild Basil

 

Teasel

 

Red Clover

Purple-flowering Raspberry

Bull Thistle

This 6 foot tall plant is not one to mess with, at least not with any skin exposed.

Virgin’s Bower

Steeplebush

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed

named after a Native American

who reportedly used the plant to cure fevers

Monarch caterpillar

 

Pennsylvania Leather-wing beetle

 

Widow dragonfly

I thought this guy looked like the Widow pictured in my field guide, except the one in the book did not have the white areas on the wing. Thanks to Valerie’s Austin Blog Collection I figured out that what I had pictured was in fact a young, male Widow dragonfly and that, except for the white on the wings, young males are colored identical to female Widows.