Field Guide

These butterflies with elongated mouthparts appear in May. Their drab underwings look like dead leaves; the “snout” resembles a leaf stem.

Smooth spiderwort has smooth stems that can reach three feet tall. Each showy purple flower opens for only a day, and usually only in the morning.

Tiny, brownish birds with oversized voices, house wrens are arriving in woodlands and yards. They hunt insects and sing an elaborate jumble of twittering notes.

When you see a green dragon in the wild, leave it alone, since this species is somewhat uncommon. It’s related to Jack-in-the-pulpit; both live in rich, moist woods.