A Northwoods Almanac for August 15 – 28, 2025
Aquatic Flowers Rein!
In August, wetland flowers festoon the shorelands and shallows of our lakes, rivers, and wetlands in an artist’s palette of color, from purple bladderworts, pickerelweeds, and marsh skullcaps, to the yellow of pond lilies, water marigolds and horned bladderworts, to the white of white water lilies, arrowheads and pipeworts, to the reds of swamp milkweeds, smartweeds, and pitcher plants, and to the blues of blue flag irises, blue vervains, and monkey flowers. Every one of them has a story for those who take the time to learn it.
Some of my favorite flowers are those of arrowheads, though arrowheads display a less showy flower than many of our more vain species. Arrowhead flowers grace river edges and lakeshores from late July through mid-August, the male flower displaying three silky-white petals arranged in whorls of three high-up on a separate stem, while the female flowers also bloom in whorls of three, but lower on the stem and clustered inconspicuously in a head.
The Northwoods hosts numerous species of arrowheads, the leaves varying dramatically from grass-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea) with its narrow to broad spoon-shaped leaves, to the broad-leaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) with leaves true to its name – shaped like perfect arrowheads.
 |
| arrowhead, photo by John Bates |
Arrowhead can grow completely submersed in several feet of water or up on muddy banks – the leaves appear to adapt themselves to the water levels. Ribbony leaves offer the least resistance to a water current, while broad leaves well above the water offer the most photosynthetic surface area.
Sagittarius is, of course, the archer, and the image of his sharp arrows gave rise to the genus name Sagittaria.
European settlers gave arrowhead the name of duck potato, because of the small 1- to 2-inch potato-like tubers that form at the end of long subterranean runners. “Duck” potato refers to arrowhead's delectability as a waterfowl food. Trumpeter swans, black ducks, gadwalls, mallards, pintails, wigeons, wood ducks, canvasbacks, and an array of other waterfowl help themselves at the arrowhead table. Muskrats and beavers also relish the tubers, and even porcupines venture into the water to eat the leaves and stems.
The Ojibwe called the arrowhead tubers “wapato.” Gathered in the fall, then strung and hung to dry in the wigwam, the tubers were later boiled like potatoes.
Their use is nothing new. According to studies in the western U.S., people were eating arrowhead tubers 3,000 years ago.
Sightings – Merlins
Our most exciting local sighting (first seen on 7/30) was of a pair of merlins careening over the wetlands below our house and later that day right over our driveway while we were talking with a friend. Earlier, I had heard a loud “ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki” out my office window, but it took numerous cries until my brain finally registered what I was hearing as a merlin. I raced outside with my phone and binocs, and the “Merlin” bird App (aptly named in this case) immediately confirmed the call as a merlin. A minute later, Mary spotted one perched at the top of a dead silver maple below our house undoubtedly watching our bird feeders for its next meal.
 |
| merlin, photo by Tim Lenz |
I had always wished that the name “merlin” somehow was connected to King Arthur legends, but no, “merlin” derives from esmerillon, the Old French name for this species.
Most of their songbird prey are captured in mid-air, with their hunting flights originating typically from perches where large areas can be scanned for prey. They’re even known to hunt cooperatively. One merlin flies down a tree corridor beneath the canopy and climbs to flush the birds, while the other flies behind and swoops in for the catch.
 |
| merlin range map |
Deer Fly Mania
Mosquitoes have been surprisingly less numerous this summer, for reasons that I can’t explain but am very grateful for. Deer flies, however, are another story. I’ve no idea if their numbers are up or down, but as far as I’m concerned, there are always too many of them.
Deer flies mimic some of the life cycle of mosquitoes. Both begin life as larva in or near water. The adults of both families emerge from the water or mud with the males seeking out pollen and nectar while the females search for blood to nourish their eggs.
They diverge in their ways after that. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (and heat and dark clothing), and bug sprays like DEET are effective because they create a chemical barrier on our skin.
But deer flies are mainly lured by movement, and less so by dark clothing, heat and CO2, which is why they have such big eyes – the better to see you, my pretty. So, they rely on sight, which means DEET or any other chemical spray does little to deter them.
The bite of a deer fly hurts more and lasts longer than mosquito bites. The females use scissor-like mandibles and maxillae to make a cross-shaped incision into our skin, then insert anti-coagulants from their saliva to prevent our blood from clotting, and finally lap up the blood.
They’re fast fliers, too – you can’t outrun them or even out-bike them. Speed just seems to excite them even more.
The only control I’m aware of is the use of two-sided tape on the top of a ballcap. One side is duct tape, which is attached to your hat. The other side is skin-colored fly paper that ensnares the little beasts and doesn’t let go (see “Tred Not” deer fly patches in your local sport store).
Deer flies aren’t ankle-biters – they like to fly around your head for some reason – thus the reason for placing the tape on your hat. When you’re done hiking, simply roll up the tape and dispose of it in a waste can.
Deer flies always seem to be waiting for you when you get out of your car. What’s with that? Well, remember, they’re attracted to movement and heat. Consider sitting in your car for a couple minutes and letting the car cool before getting out, and the flies should be settled down.
What’s That Sweet Smell in the Woods?
In late July, Mary and I began noticing in a few woodlands a sweet smell that didn’t seem to have any origin via a wildflower. We were perplexed, and then we remembered honeydew.
You may recall back in 2015 when a sticky sweet-smelling liquid seemed to be coating many peoples’ cars and outdoor furniture. I remarked then that it seemed like we were always walking through a Waffle House adrift in hot maple syrup. The cause? “Honeydew.”
Honeydew is the alias for the sticky, misty excretions made by aphids and scale insects that feed on sap in tree leaves. The insects take in much more sap than they can hold, and then exude the excess, the dew falling onto leaves, decks, cars, etc.
The extent this summer of honeydew seems far less than a decade ago, but unless my nose is deceiving me, the aphids and scale insects are present this year, though in smaller numbers, and busily producing honeydew.
Nighthawk and Hummer Migration
It’s nearly time for nighthawks to be migrating through our area – I usually think of August 20 as the time to start looking. They are most commonly seen near dusk over open lands and shorelines, or even right over highways where they’re feeding on insects that are attracted to the radiating heat of the asphalt.
What’s in a name? Nothing in this case. The name “nighthawk” doesn’t fit because nighthawks are most active at dawn and dusk, not night. And, like other members of its family, the common nighthawk is not related to the hawks. However, they are adept at catching insects, dipping and diving and careening around with a very wide, open mouth, effectively trawling the air.
 |
| nighthawk, photo by Bev Engstrom |
Hummers will soon be on the wing, too, the males leaving before the females, and the juveniles lagging behind the females. Peak migration for the males is typically late August, but it depends on the timing of frosts.
 |
| range map for ruby-throated hummingbirds |
Migration of individuals from northern latitudes in North America is nearly synchronous with the peak flowering of jewelweed (aka spotted touch-me-not - Impatiens capensis), suggesting this flower provides an important nectar source during migration and may in fact influence its timing.
Our first jewelweeds on our property came into flower on 7/26, but the plants often continue flowering until frost.
Orb Weavers
If you drive along wetlands on a late August morning with the sun just up, you will often see hundreds of glistening orb spider webs. Many orb spinners create a new web almost every morning, keeping the main foundation lines intact but laying down new radii and spirals.
Orb weavers have very poor vision, experiencing the world mainly as a series of web vibrations. However, they're fine-tuned enough to easily distinguish between a human wiggling a stick in the silken threads and the struggles of an insect that's trapped in the lines.
How do spiders produce such remarkably symmetrical webs? They are thought to make measurements as they probe along the web with their legs. One naturalist suggests testing this hypothesis by removing one front leg (out of a total of eight) with a tweezers, and observing changes in the ensuing web structure. This seems a bit extreme, so I think I'll just take his word for it.
Here's a tip for photographers. Pat some cornstarch through a cloth to produce a powdery cloud that will settle on the sticky web, highlighting the strands.
Celestial Events
The new moon occurs on 8/23. Our days continue to grow shorter by more than three minutes per day. By 8/28, we’ll be down to 13 hours and 29 minutes of sun, or 56% of the day.
Thought for the Week
“I know that I have life only insofar as I have love.” - Wendell Berry, This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems
No comments:
Post a Comment