|Seaside Goldenrod, Solidago sempervirens|
Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium
Fireweed is a disturbance species, found growing in a weedy manner along the ditches. It is worth stopping to get a better look. On close inspection the inflorescence is quite lovely.
|Fireweed along the road.|
The most common butterfly was the Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui. Once called the Cosmopolitan, indeed, it is found on more continents than any other butterfly species. It cannot winter over in these northern regions, but is it is famous for its mass migrations. Butterflies East of the Great Plains, (Opler and Krizek) says it can even use the thistle as a host plant. Perhaps that is what this "lady" is up to.
|American Copper, the smallest of all copper butterflies.|
|Sheep Sorrel, Rumex acetosella|
American Copper butterflies were found in several locations. This was not too surprising as their host plant, sheep-sorrel is found in many locations. It is a low to the ground, weedy plant which thrives in damp places- especially damp places with sheep. That pretty much describes Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia is well-known for sheep. Since much of the rocky shores are impossible to till, many of the islands have sheep free-ranging during the summer months. This ewe and lamb were photographed at the base of the Cape Sable Lighthouse. The sheep keep paths open on the island as they feed on many of the native grasses, but the thistles must not have been to their taste.
In some cases is it believed sheep contribute to the erosion of sand dunes, shores and can be disruptive to shorebird colonies- such as Roseate Tern and Piping Plovers. Those beaches and islands receive more protection under current management practices.