At the solstice

TRR photo by Ed Wesely The fresh green wings of this luna moth suggest that it is near the start of its brief life. My last two columns have featured giant silk moths: first, the cecropia, and then the polyphemus moth. Lunas are slightly smaller family members whose wingspans vary from 3.0 to 4.5 inches.

Orchids such as the one in my photo are increasingly rare in this area. Many colonies are nibbled and eaten by our runaway population of deer. Although a colony I visit gets nibbled at the fringes, many plants are safeguarded by a network of tree branches.

Among the common names for this orchid are “squirrel’s shoes,” “whippoowill’s shoes” and “Indian slipper” (in New England), “Venus’ slipper” (in the South) and “moccasin flower,” which originated with Native Americans.

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‘Ah yes, I remember it well...’

Some will recognize the title of this column, a ditty sung by Maurice Chevalier in the film, “Gigi.” Hermione Gingold played the part of Chevalier’s old flame, who had to gently remind him his memory was a day late and a dollar short.

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Audubon releases book on important bird areas

Project targets over two million acres for conservation in New York

REGION—Audubon New York, the state program of the National Audubon Society, has updated and released the second edition of “Important Bird Areas of New York” to provide the most current information about critical habitat for bird populations that live in or migrate through the state.

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Also in this issue:

• Peony garden walking tour
• Campfield kids build hunting cabin

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S