Natural Hamilton in Pictures: Wildflowers, Fungi, and Insects

Part Two of a series of photographic explorations of natural Hamilton, Ontario, Canada throughout 2013.

The Small Things

For many years I made heavy use of a 2006 Canon Powershot camera to take close up photos of berries, insects, flowers, and amphibians. Around the time I got my iPhone in 2010 however, I slowly got out of this habit, as I felt the camera on an iPhone 4 was “good enough” and saved me a lot of hastle carrying around an extra camera.

As I began hiking daily in late 2012 it occurred to me I might want to have a better camera to do zoom photography, so could also capture birds and other distant or fast species decently. So, I invested in a new Canon Powershot (SX 260) and began taking photos with an actual real camera again.

Once plant growth began again in 2013, I was once again taking plenty of photos of flowers, butterflies, and much more. Having the extra zoom power also helped greatly as I could now “reach” small things much further away. The camera was no longer an “extra camera”, as it could do far more than a smartphone ever could.

In part two of Natural Hamilton in Pictures, my photos capture the wildflowers, fungi, and insects — the small things— found along trails and natural spaces in Hamilton. It is a collection of almost 200 photos and a handful of Vine videos, presented in chronological order without segmentation.

Note that some species are labelled as unidentified. If you can identify a species (or find something misidentified) please leave a comment or connect with me on Twitter.

One of the first wildflowers of the year: the not-so-pretty Skunk Cabbage.

The only butterfly that hibernates in butterfly-form (rather than in a cocoon or other life stage) is the Mourning Cloak. They can be found fluttering about as early as late March.

Blossoms on an unidentified tree.

The first ferns of the year, growing along the Bruce Trail near Sherman’s Falls.

The first “pretty” wildflowers of the year are usually Coltsfoot flowers.

A canker species of fungus, which grows only on deadwood.

Cabbage Fungus, also a deadwood species of fungus.

An invasive Siberian Squill colony, also an early bloomer.

Fully-flowering Coltsfoot.

Bloodroot alongside the Siberian Squill.

Trout Lillies, a tiny early spring wildflower.

Unknown flowering tree, seen along the Armstrong Trail at the RBG Rock Chapel.

Round-lobed Hepatica, seen at the RBG Rock Chapel.

Unknown pipe-like fungus, seen along the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail near Trinity Road.

Large fronds emerging before the summer canopy takes over the light of the sun.

A familiar sight annually in Hamilton: the flowering of the magnolia trees.

Unknown species of wildflower.

The White Trillium, known of course as the official flower on Ontario.

A fuzzy caterpillar.

An unknown flowering tree.

Crabapple blossoms found at Christie Lake Conservation Area.

An invasive weed that has displaced many native species, the Garlic Mustard is loathed by local naturalists. Every year, groups organize to go to nature sanctuaries and pull out any of these flowering plants before they go to seed.

Forget-me-nots, a common wildflower found in many places in Hamilton.

Wild Strawberry, often found along the many rail trails of Hamilton.

Yellow Rocket, part of the mustards family.

Unidentified flowering bush.

A Canada Violet, found along the Bruce Trail east of Highway 6.

An unidentified flower, found at the base of a large old-growth tree along the Main Loop trail in Dundas Valley Conservation Area.

Unidentified wildflower, possibly a mustard.

A blurry photo of morels, an edible mushroom. These were found at the Amolo Nature Sanctuary, managed by the Hamilton Naturalists.

A Herb-Robert flower, a common wildflower found in shady spots.

The first non-Mourning Cloak butterfly of the year — a Northern Crescent, found at the RBG’s Berry Tract.

Unidentified flowering bush — possibly a chokecherry.

A Juvenal’s Duskywing, on an unidentified wildflower.

Closeup of Dame’s Rocket, a very common wildflower throughout Hamilton, typically either magenta or white.

Philidephia Fleabane, sometimes known as Common Fleabane.

A buttercup with a tiny fly inside.

Columbine, found along the Bruce Trail along the escarpment above the RBG’s Berry Tract.

A Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, feeding on nectar from an unidentified tree.

An Evening Lychnis seen at Joe Sams Leisure Park, north of Waterdown.

When a Question Mark butterfly folds its wings, it can look like a dead leaf.

Yellow Hawkweed, which is also known as the King-Devil plant.

An unknown droopy plant with tiny dark flowers, found at the Nicholson Resource Management Area north of Dundas.

Hobomok Skipper, a small butterfly.

Climbing Nightshade, also known as Deadly Nightshade is a distant ancestor of potatoes, tomatoes, and tobacco plants. It is common all throughout Hamilton’s natural spaces, but as the name suggests, it can be quite poisonous to eat.

A Yellow Lady Slipper orchid, found along one of the service roads in Christie Lake Conservation Area.

Hairy Beardtongue, seen along the trails at Beverly Swamp Conservation Area.

A rare variegated colouration that combines both the magenta and white forms of the common Dame’s Rocket, found along Spencer Creek on the Optimists Trail in Greensville.

Goat’s Beard, a common wildflower often considered a weed.

Unidentified fungus, found at Montsberg Conservation Area.

Birdsfoot Trefoil, a very common flower found alongside roads and trails everywhere.

A Spicebush Swallowtail, found along the Dafasco 2000 Trail in Saltfleet near the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall.

A Pasture Rose seen along the Dafasco 2000 Trail.

Tiny flowers found on an unidentified plant.

A very well blended-n Hemlock Looper Moth.

An unidentified flowering bush.

A Common Ringlet feeding on a flowering buttercup.

A Goat’s Beard flower gone to seed.

A Pearl Crescent butterfly, seen along the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail.

Shreve’s Iris, found at the end of a trail in the Beverly Swamp Conservation Area.

A Silvery Blue butterfly, seen at Beverly Swamp Conservation Area.

A Viper’s Bugloss, also known as Blueweed, seen along the trails at Beverly Swamp Conservation Area, though these could be found along roadsides and trails anywhere in Hamilton.

Closeup of a Crown-vetch flower, found at Beverly Swamp Conservation Area.

An unidentified fungus growing out of the ground at Hendrie Valley.

A Common Fleabane, fully open, found along the Spencer Creek Trail in Dundas.

An Appalachian Brown butterfly, seen along the Headwaters Trail in Dundas Valley.

A pair of Northern Bluet damselflies, found at Mountsberg Conservation Area. Also well-hidden in the photo is a pair of unidentified green fuzzy caterpillars.

An unknown dragonfly, seen at Mountsberg Conservation Area.

A field of Pineappleweed flowers, a tiny wildflower common on roadsides. This area of this photo is likely about one square foot in size.

Common Mullein, flowering. These plants can grow quite tall, and flower as late as October.

An unidentified flower, found along the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail.

St. John’s Wort, a common local wildflower that can also be used as an herbal remedy when prepared correctly.

Deadly Nightshade, with a White Crab Spider hiding quietly behind the flower. Taken along the Bruce Trail north of Burlington.

Forget-me-not, which can flower throughout the summer.

A Neighbour Moth or LeConte’s Moth — identification can be tricky for some species that look alike. Taken along the Bruce Trail near Waterdown.

An American Tiger Lily, seen along the Bruce Trail north of Burlington.

An Ebony Jewelwing, seen along the Spring Creek Trail in Dundas.

An unidentified domestic tree/bush seen near the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail in someone’s back yard. Colourful!

A female Ruby Meadowhawk, a common dragonfly in Hamilton. Taken along the White-tailed Deer Trail at Christie Wildlife Area.

A Blue Dasher dragonfly, seen along the Headwaters Trail in Dundas Valley.

A Red Admiral, seen along the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail.

The Hallowe’en Pennant is a very colourful dragonfly. Picture taken at Mountsberg Reservoir.

A Red-spotted Purple, seen on crown land along Safari Road in Flamborough.

A male Ruby Meadowhawk.

Elecampane flowers, a type of wild sunflower, seen at Bumble Bee Hill Park.

A cicada, seen along an unnamed trail in the Dundas Valley.

Another Hemlock Looper Moth, this time not blending in so well.

The Common Green Darner is one of the most alien-looking dragonflies around. They are also very large! Picture taken on unnamed trail between Sulphur Creek Trail and the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail.

The topside view of a Question Mark butterfly, found at Eramosa Karst Conservation Area.

A Clouded Sulphur, a common late butterfly found throughout the region. Picture taken in the open fields at Eramosa Karst Conservation Area.

An Everlast Pea, found in the Dundas Valley.

A Cabbage White butterfly on an unidentified fuzzy flower at the Paddy Greene Road trails in Dundas Valley.

A Bumble Bee on an Elecampane flower, along the Monarch Trail in Dundas Valley.

A pair of Giant Swallowtails, seen at Westfield Heritage Village trails near Rockton.

A single Giant Swallowtail butterfly. These are the largest butterflies in Canada.

A Spotted Touch-me-not flower, a common wildflower in the later months of summer.

A Summer Azure, seen at Westfield Heritage Village trails.

An Yellow Bear caterpillar.

A male Common Whitetail dragonfly, seen along the Spencer Creek Trail.

A female Common Whitetail, seen along the Merrick Lane trail in Dundas Valley.

A Vine of August Wildflowers in Dundas Valley.

A very tall Bull Thistle found along Meadow Lane in Dundas.

An unidentified wildflower, found along the South Quay trail in Dundas.

The underside of the wings of a Red-spotted Purple, seen at Olympic Sports Park in Dundas.

An Azure Aster, found near Lake Jojo in Dundas.

Common Tansy is sometimes grown in flower gardens, but also grows wild. Picture was taken along an abandoned section of Westover Road that is now a short trail.

A cicada shedding its exoskeleton, seen along the Bruce Trail at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area.

Closeup of the common Butter-and-eggs plant, also known as Yellow Toadflax. Picture taken along the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail. This plant can be found along most trails in open spaces.

A large patch of Purple Loosetrife, taken along Foxden Road Trail in Troy. This plant is considered an invasive species.

A Vine of Purple Loosestrife, with lots of Bumble Bees and other insects.

A grasshopper, close up. Taken along Foxden Road in Troy.

An unidentified aster, taken in Dundas.

A Bugle, also known as Carpetweed, seen along the Hilltop Trail in Dundas Valley.

A Bumble Bee on a Knapweed flower, taken at Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve.

A Red-stemmed Dogwood bush, whose berries are sometimes known as Dolls-eyes berries. Picture taken at the RBG’s Berry Tract.

Berries from an Wild Grape vine, seen along the Headwaters Trail in Dundas Valley.

Closeup on a New England Aster, the most common aster found in Hamilton.

Another aster, this one likely a Frost Aster, seen in the Delsey Wetlands in Dundas.

An unidentified mushroom.

An unidentified wildflower seen along the storm ponds at the Delsey Wetlands in Dundas.

A False Dragonhead seen along the White-tailed Deer Trail in the Christie Wildlife Area.

A pair of Ruby Meadowhawks mating, seen at Christie Lake.

The fruit of a Wild Cucumber vine, seen along the Smith Road Trail in Ancaster.

A Heath Aster, seen along the Smith Road Trail in Ancaster.

An unidentified beetle, seen along the Headwaters Trail in Dundas Valley.

A Milkweed Tussock, seen along the Headwaters Tail in Dundas Valley.

The underside of a cicada, seen at Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve.

A Monarch Butterfly, seen along the Red Hill Valley Trail.

Wild Peaseblossom, seen near the Desjardins Canal in Dundas.

For western Ontario, this Whorled Aster found at the McMaster Conservation Corridor is a rare find.

A Cabbage White butterfly on an aster. Picture taken at Princess Point Park.

This colourful fungus found at Cartwright Nature Sanctuary is known as “Chicken of the Woods”.

The Indian Touch-me-not is native to India and the Himalayans. This specimen was found in the Hendrie Valley’s Grindstone Marsh.

This unidentified yellow wildflower was found on the trails at Valens Lake Conservation Area.

The Pale Touch-me-not is not as common as the Spotted variety, but is still found in many locations throughout Hamilton. The name comes from the reaction the plant has when its seed-pods are touched: they explode, spilling seeds everywhere.

Chicory is a very common wildflower found along roadsides and trailsides everywhere in Ontario. This late specimen was found along the Tyneside Trail in early October.

Queen Anne’s Lace is a very common wildflower to be seen in fields throughout the region.

A mix of Dandelions and Mustards.

A Vine of wildflowers found at Eramosa Karst Conservation Area.

A late Monarch Butterfly, found at Windemere Basin.

A number of grape-like bunches of fruits of an unknown vine along the Chippewa Rail Trail near Glanford Station.

A late season Common Mullein found along the Chippewa Rail Trail south of Hamilton.

A mid-October wild Raspberry, found at Olympic Sports Park in Dundas.

A late season Herb-Robert, seen along the Tiffany Falls trail.

The colourful Monkshood is a unusual wildflower to come across, and is likely an escaped domestic. This one was found along the Captain Cootes Trail in the RBG’s Arboretum.

A late season New England Aster, seen along the Rock Chapel Trail.

An unidentified wildflower, seen along the Escarpment Trail at the RBG’s Rock Chapel Sanctuary.

A Short-winged Blister Beetle, found along the Thornapple Loop.

A very late Deptford Pink, seen on the first day of November at the RBG’s Berry Tract north of Dundas.

A Black-eyed Susan in its final days in early November, seen along Ancaster Creek in Dundas Valley.

A frosty Queen Anne’s Lace, seen along the Princess Point Trail.

The very last living wildflower I saw in 2013 was this aster, seen next to the parking lot of Princess Point Park on November 11.

Staghorn Sumacs, seen along the Tyneside Trail. They can be harvested as a lemony spice.

A dried out goldenrod seen at the Binbrook Conservation Area.

Ripe Deadly Nightshade berries are relatives to the domestic tomato. But don’t eat them!

A Wooly Bear Caterpillar, which has a strange method of suviving the winter: freezing in the caterpillar form, and thawing out come spring to emerge out of the caterpillar body into a Isabella Tiger Moth.

Dried out Elecampane flower, found along the Monarch Trail in Dundas Valley.

A Winter Moth, seen along the trails at Eramosa Karst Conservation Area.

The burrs of the Common Burdock, found along the Pinetum Trail at the RBG North Shore Trails.

Some Winterberry Holly, found along the Valley Inn Road.

Dried-out Wild Teasel, seen at Fifty Point Conservation Area.

Frozen Buckthorn berries, picture taking in Dundas.

Frozen winterberries, found along the Bruce Trail near King Road, Waterdown, after the ice storm in southern Ontario in late December.

A Vine of an unidentified plant, perhaps a young vine of some sort.

Close-up of a Red Pine flower, seen at Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve.

Please feel free to post comments on photos (click the “+” that appears beside photos) or leave a comment here at the end. You can also follow me on Twitter, where forthcoming parts will be announced.