Rangers visited Erin Aylor's workshop to see the progress of the new totem pole.
The group of scouts and the artist pose for a photo after finishing painting the new totem pole for Camp Greentop.
Japanese Barberry, Berberis thunbergii, is native to Japan, but is found in Catoctin Mountain Park. You can recognize it by its spines and red berries in the fall. It was first introduced in the 1860s/1870s as More
A brown and black glazed jar with a bird on top, North America, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Japanese Stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum. Native of India to East Asia this grass was first recorded in Tennessee in 1909. At that time the grass was commonly used as a packing material for Asian porcelain, a More
Nursery Web Spiders Public domain photograph of a nursery, agriculture, garden, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Hog Rock Overlook in Fall. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Water Ripples. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Accessibility on the Spicebush Trail in the Chestnut Picnic Area. The pathway is natural-looking specially bonded WoodCarpet® that is firm and stable.
Female Spined Micrathena, Micrathena gracilis, and her web. Only females of this species build webs.
Walking Stick Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Pickerel Frog Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
This net-winged beetle, Calopteron sp., is on a milkweed leaf underneath some aphids feeding on honeydew that the aphids are producing. Honeydew is a sugar-rich liquid aphids and some scale insects secrete as More
Northern Saw-whet Owl Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is generally nocturnal and very fast with all of its legs to provide locomotion.
Big Hunting Creek in Summer. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Eastern Gray Squirrel Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Virginia Bluebells. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Cabbage Butterfly feeding on milkweed. Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Hog Rock Overlook. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Big Hunting Creek. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Scarlet Tanager Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Cunningham Falls in Winter. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Big Hunting Creek in Winter. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Brown Thrasher Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Jack-in-the-pulpit Fruit. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Mayapples, Podophyllum peltatum. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Trailing Arbutus. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The black widow, Latrodectus mactans, is a highly venomous spider. The female's abdomen is very shiny and black with red markings (if she has the red hourglass-shaped marking, it will be on the underside). They More
Geranium. Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Rue Anemone. Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The larvae of the Grapevine Epimenis Moth, Psychomorpha epimenis, feed on the leaves of grape, Vitis (Vitaceae).
Spicebush. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Pink Lady's Slippers, Cypripedium acaule. Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Chestnut Picnic Area table and grill
Solomon's Seal. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Scarlet Tanager, male Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Wild Ginger. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Chestnut Picnic Area parking area and table and grill with universal access
The Almond-scented millipede, Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, has beautiful coloration. Many millipedes with bright colors are reported to secrete cyanide compounds as a defense, so picking them up is not adv More
Creeping Bellflower is native to Europe and western Siberia. It was introduced to North America, where it can be an invasive weed.
Bagworm Case of Bagworm Moth Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Pickerel frogs and leopard frogs look similar, with a few differences. Pickerel frogs typically have two linear rows of rectangular "spots", with no spots in between, prominent dorsolateral ridges that are unbr More
Juvenile Eastern Box Turtle Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Woodpecker-made Holes Public domain photograph of timber industry, lumber, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Chestnut Picnic Area table and grill Public domain photograph - park, sign, monument, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Eastern-screech Owl, red morph, is 6-10" tall, and is the second smallest owl in our area after the northern saw-whet owl.
Blue Ridge Summit Overlook in Summer. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Blue Jay Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The Northern Slimy Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus, is a lungless salamander, conducting respiration through its skin and tissues in its mouths. We don't recommend handling, as in this photo, because most sala More
Male Common Whitetail Dragonfly, Plathemis lydia.
Imperial Moths emerge once a year to mate. The female is larger than the male and her wingspan can be over 6" wide! The adults do not feed, so their lifespan is ~1 week.
Spicebush Swallowtail, Papilio troilus. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Chimney Rock. Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Sumac. Public domain scan of drawing, 20th-century botanical illustration, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Wild Ginger. Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Scarlet Tanager, female Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The orchard orb weaver spider, Leucauge venusta, is widespread in the park. They're tiny, being ~0.3" at the longest. Notice the interesting fringe on the inner back legs. The species name, venusta, is Latin fo More
The tiny (only ~0.5”) Crowned Slug Moth Caterpillar, Isa textula, has stinging spines on the edge of its body and stinging “hairs” down its back.
Chicory, Cichorium intybus. Some make a coffee substitute from chicory by roasting the roots and grinding them. Note - collecting or digging plants in the park is prohibited.
Chestnut Picnic Area table and grill with universal access Public domain photograph - park, sign, monument, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Indian pipe, Monotropa uniflora, does not contain chlorophyll, but instead, gets its nutrients from fungi.
Northern Fence Lizard Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Fruit of Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. In the fall, the fruit can be found laying on the ground or standing about 7" to 1' off the ground. There are small calcium oxalate crystals in the tuber that c More
White-tailed Fawn Public domain photograph of a deer, wild animal, wilderness, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Big Hunting Creek in Winter Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The milk snake is a beautiful species of king snake that is not dangerous to humans.
Chestnut Picnic Area Sign Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Amur Honeysuckle is a non-native plant from Asia.
Chimney Rock Picryl description: Public domain photograph of National Park, nature, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth, Lycomorpha pholus. Its larvae feed on lichens, while the adults like dogbane and goldenrod.
The Red-spotted Purple butterfly, Limenitis arthemis, has an impressive wingspan up to 4". Its coloration mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail, which accumulates toxic alkaloids from their hostplants.
Bloodroot seeds are spread by ants. The seeds have an elaiosome attached that is fleshy and is rich in lipids and proteins. The ants eat the elaiosomes and leave the seeds.
Toothwort. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Dobsonfly Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Shagbark Hickory. Public domain photograph of timber industry, lumber, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Common Milkweed. Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly, female Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Northern Cardinal Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Pinesap, Monotropa hypopitys, can be found in September.
Firefly/Lightning Bug Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Chestnut Picnic Area Accessible Site Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Great Spangled Fritillary Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Passion Flower. Public domain photograph of a wildflower close up, nature, flowers, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Female Promethea Moth Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Cicada after emerging from nymph skin.
Barred Owl Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The web of the Fishing spider, Dolomedes sp., acts as a nursery for the young, not to catch prey.
Eastern-screech Owl, gray morph, is 6-10" tall, and is the second smallest owl in our area after the northern saw-whet owl.
Katydid Nymph - Scudderia Public domain photograph related to US National Parks, Nature, conservation, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, is one of our first plants to flower in the spring. Its foul odor attracts pollinators such as bees, flies and even stoneflies.
The Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar, Lophocampa caryae, has hairs that can cause itchy rashes on your skin and if the microscopic barbed hairs are transferred to your eyes there can be serious medical complica More