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Wild Strawberries In Bloom
April 22, 2026 Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), pollinated by many native bees, including Small Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa) and Sweat Bees (Halictidae), which often visit these blooms. These native strawberry plants are host plants to over 60 to 80 species of butterflies, moths, and skippers, including the Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus). _______________________ If you would like…
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Hummingbird Clearwing
April 21, 2026 A Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe), enjoying the nectar of apple blossoms on a cool spring day. Though the Hummingbird Clearwing is a moth, it is diurnal, or active during the day — not nocturnal. They feed on flower nectar as adults, and have a long proboscis which they use to drink that…
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Wild Geranium And Eastern Tailed Blue
April 20, 2026 A cluster of Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), just coming into bloom in the past couple days. Shortly those buds will be blooming too, filling the woods with pink. If you look closely, at nearly the center of the picture, there is an Eastern Tailed Blue(Cupido comyntas) posing in a perfect manner. It’s…
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Springbeauty
April 19, 2026 Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) blooming right now. Open on bright sunny days, not open at night and not open on cloudy days. Native to eastern North America, and generally not found in Florida. A small ephemeral perennial, growing to just 3 to 12 inches tall. The buds emerge from a stem between…
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Ubiquitous Tiger Swallowtails This Spring
April 18, 2026 While one of my sisters was visiting last weekend, she commented on the bounty of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) that are here on the mountain this spring. I’ve noticed that too, and I’d use one of my Dad’s favorite words, ubiquitous, to describe the number that are around right now. And…
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Roundleaf Ragwort
April 17, 2026 Roundleaf Ragwort (Packera obovata), buds of deep rich purple that turn to lovely yellow as spring gets warmer. Growing along the trails and the roadside up here. Native to eastern North America. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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A Yellow Violet
April 16, 2026 One of my many favorites. Often seen up here in the spring. Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens). Perhaps a favorite because it is different. Not blue, purple, or white. Different is often good. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Yellow Trillium Not Quite Native
April 15, 2026 Yellow Trillium (Trillium luteum), native to the Southern Appalachian region, including Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky. Close, but not native to Virginia. In one of my gardens anyway, with a backdrop of Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) which is indeed native to Virginia. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog…
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Flower With No Petals
April 14, 2026 Rue Anenome (Thalictrum thalictroides), native to eastern North America, blooming right now in the woods up here. An herbaceous perennial that grows to 4 to 8 inches in height. It’s petals are not true petals but are white to pale pink sepals which encircle a bundle of yellow-green stamens. These flowers produce…
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Cardinal Surrounded By Spring
April 13, 2026 Male Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) A brilliant scarlet Cardinal surrounded by the soft colors of spring in its beginning. Pinks of Redbud (Cercis canadensis) in the background. Pale greens of just emerging leaves, ivory of bracts, and tiny dots of yellow green of the actual flowers of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). Each season…