UP Nature Notes (Blog)
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White Spruce Cone Study - UP Nature Notes, No. 18
May 27, 2024
The preceding post focused on wind pollinated woody plants, including a young white spruce seed cone. Here’s a further photographic study of white spruce reproduction showing receptive and fertilized female (seed) cones and a male cone releasing pollen. White spruce can produce cones as early as four years of age. …
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UP Nature Note No. 17: Pollination Life Styles & Terminology
May 15, 2024
Native trees and shrubs of the UP generally flower early in the growing season, especially the species that are wind pollinated (anemophily), such as birch, willow, and spruce. Fewer species, like black cherry and mountain maple are pollinated by animals (zoophily), mostly insects (entomophily). And some species are primarily insect…
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Early Butterflies Catch the Photographer - UP Nature Notes, No. 16
May 9, 2024
Earth Day - 22 April 2024. These two early emerging butterflies will be flying today with the warm temperatures we’re having in the Upper Peninsula. Mourning Cloaks and Milbert’s Tortoiseshells both overwinter as adults, so they can appear in spring as soon as the weather allows. Both species have cryptic…