Phlox and Katydids

Midsummer offers much for the eyes and ears. Let's consider phlox and katydids.

Phlox in the courtyard at Merry Mount

Phlox are of a genus of American herbs widely grown for their showy clusters of usually white, pink, or purplish flowers.

The Clemson University, College of Agriculture states:

Garden phlox is the tallest of the commonly grown species, reaching 3 to 5 feet tall depending on cultivar. The native species may grow even taller in ideal growing conditions. Individual flowers are 1 to 1 ½ inches wide, held in large terminal clusters 4 to 8 inches wide. The fragrant flowers may be magenta, pink, white, lavender, purple or blue, flowering from early to late summer. A few cultivars are orange. Wild plants usually are magenta to soft purple in bloom.

Phlox

I always think Of garden phlox As ladies in Their Summer frocks. Sheer lawn And dimity, As fine as one Could wish to see. Colors gay And patterns laid With careful plan And lovely shade. They spread their skirts And dance all day With any wind That comes their way. And when they're hidden By the night, They scatter perfume To invite. The wandering moth That brings them word Of things that they Have never heard.

-Louise Driscoll

"Katydid-Katydidn't"

Have you gone outside on a warm summer's night and heard a rhythmic, staccato rasping coming from the trees? Chances are, you were listening to the katydid song, which is often produced by groups of male katydids in hopes of attracting females for reproductive purposes. Their chirping signal is the first step to creating the next season of large, leafy green katydids.

According to britannica.com, the common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) produces the repetitive song for which katydids are named; the song is phoneticized as “katy-did, katy-didn’t.” However, each species of katydid has its own rasping song, produced by stridulation, whereby the forewings, one of which is ridged, are rubbed together. Although katydid songs are species-specific, different species are able to hear one another’s calls. Songs differ as to their purpose, being either reproductive, territorial, aggressive, or defensive in nature.

To hear the sounds of katydids copy and paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxIzRw1BToI

Well, did Katy or didn't she?

Happy Late Summer!

CPW