25 September, 2016            Even slugs take naps!

Neural Activity Pause – that’s what my dad used to call naps. I am currently unaware of just how much neural activity goes on in a slug’s mind, but it sure looks like this one is taking a NAP:

Slug curled up taking a cozy nap

I think that’s a Leopard slug, a.k.a. Great gray slug, (Limax maximus). If you know better, as always, I encourage you to educate me.

I haven’t been out a great deal this week – still recovering from my travel and triathlons last weekend – so it was thoughtful of this Pileated Woodpecker to stop in a Loblolly Pine directly across the street from my house. I leaned against the porch to stabilize the camera – frontyard birding!: 

Pileated woodpecker without setting foot off my front porch!!

And when you lean against that side of the front porch, this is what you get to smell. This was taken on a different day; it had rained overnight. As long as there are gardenias in our yard, I’ll post a picture. The intersection of pleasing-to-the-eye and pleasing-to-the-nose. Too bad there’s no Smell-o-vision:

Second half of September – the gardenias continue.

This morning was the only day I made it to the river this week – and I was rewarded with a flower I don’t recall seeing before. Plant identifiers, please educate me about this beauty:

A new flower on September 25 – wonderful!

A few steps later I saw this orange flower; it’s Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and it’s purported to have skin healing properties. I’ve never tried, but what I’ve read sounds credible:  

The glow of an orange jewelweed contrasts warmly with the new purple flower

And this already short blog post would be even shorter if I left Mackey and Turner and Yuki off; not to worry:

Three handsome guys relaxing in the woods

And have a great week!

All best,

Jay