Author: Brenda Clements Jones

  • Recycling And Composting

    My Dad was totally into recycling and composting before they were even a thing. When I was little he was often out back burying kitchen scraps in the compost, and mention a scout troop doing a newspaper collection for recycling, he was on board helping out. Later, after he retired, he volunteered at recycling centers…

  • A Bird Of All Seasons

    The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a year round resident, one that doesn’t migrate. Looking stunning all year long, but particularly in late autumn and winter, when there are few colors to complete with their many shades of red. This female Cardinal is enjoying Beautyberry (Callicarpa) drupes. Cardinals and snow. What a perfect combination. _______________________________________________________________________…

  • Up Really Early

    Oh MY! What a beautiful morning. How wonderful to wake up and find 2.75 inches of snow plastered all over everything. Up early because an electrician was coming out at the crack of dawn this morning. He managed to show up in his trusty 4X4 Silverado, despite a very challenging, narrow, twisty-turny, snow covered, mountain…

  • Something I Miss

    At the yoga studio that I visit often there has been a vernal pool. Notice I said, “has been.” Over the years it has been there nearly all the time. Sometimes large, sometimes small, but there. It has provided me and my camera much entertainment. Particularly in the cold weather with its frost and ice…

  • Ocean Waves In The Rain

    Leaves with edges that resemble ocean waves. American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) in the rain. I love finding these trees that have somehow survived. Not many out there, but they are indeed, out there. _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

  • Warbler In Winter

    A winter resident. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata). An insect eater while the insects are around and berry eater during the chill of winter. Favoring the berries of Juniper, Poison Ivy and Poison Oak, Grapes, Dogwood, and Virginia Creeper. They love the birdbath. And though I’ve not made up any suet recently, I’m planning on putting…

  • Vibrant Colors

    Such an enchanting bird, the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). Its head a buff color trickling down the neck to gradually become soft shades of gray. These neutral colors are accented with small spots of brilliant color. The waxy wingtips of scarlet that are gained through age. The tips of the tail feathers a bright sunflower…

  • Year Round Resident

    A female Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). A bird that is native to most of the United States and Canada with the exception of the north’s tundra and the southwest’s deserts. As they are in Virginia, these woodpeckers are permanent residents to most areas. During the winter though there are a few exceptions. Northernmost birds, and…

  • Robins And Cedar Waxwings Hanging Out Together

    The past several days I’ve been seeing Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in large flocks visiting my little pond and my birdbath. This is a normal thing to see during the fall and winter, these two species on the lookout for berries and a source of water. Depending on each other to…

  • Black Oak Pie

    Though it IS December, and there is talk of a bit of snow in the higher elevations, it’s STILL autumn. Autumn has inspired the decorative top of my apple pie. The leaf of a Black Oak (Quercus velutina). The Black Oak has alternate leaves which are a shiny, rich dark green on the top side.…