Author Archives: Brenda Clements Jones

About Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

Looking For Lunch

Yesterday, just after noon a bird came by, surely on the lookout for its lunch. It sat in a Maple Tree which was thinking of bursting forth with red springtime blooms. The bird, a large one, a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

As it sat there, the birds at the feeders immediately realized the hawk was on the prowl, and vanished. I’m sure though, at some point it found what is was looking for. Lunch.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Rock-shield Lichen

Rock-shield Lichen (Xanthoparmelia). A lichen that I commonly see up here growing on rocks. An incredible organism that is a symbiotic partnership between a fungus and an alga.

I’ve become fascinated with lichens, but still I’m struggling to understand them. Not a plant, not an animal but an organism. There are about 3,600 species of lichens in North America, and more are being discovered every year.

Sunshine Yellow Flowers In Winter

Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis). Given to me a few years ago by a dear friend. A small patch in the garden glowing with the color of happiness, right now, mid-February. Not a native to North America, but of France, Italy and the Balkans. In my garden it’s well behaved and hasn’t spread at all, so Winter Aconite has earned my seal of approval.

The Wood Frogs Have Returned

The Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) have returned to my pond with their noisy, “Clack, clack, clack!” Incredible frogs that spend the early part of winter hunkered down in leaf litter, hibernating.

That leaf litter only gives these frogs minimal protection against the cold. They will spend much of their hibernation actually frozen. They don’t breathe, their heart does not beat, they don’t move. Frozen solid like a stone. Frozen all except for the frog’s blood which is protected by glucose which keeps the blood from reaching a frozen state.

They are not arriving at my pond now because it has been incredibly warm, but because right now is when they normally arrive, with weather warm, like now, or extremely cold. Even if the pond is nearly frozen over, they will seek the part that is still open water and dive in. Time for mating, and soon there will be a pond with eggs aplenty.

Shape Of The Day

The shape of the day, of course, is the heart. These are a few of the hearts from my many photographs. Created by nature, or created by an expressive person. This one, above is a cherry pie.

Walk slowly, otherwise you’ll miss something, like this heart, made by nature, on a Sassafras leaf.

A mincemeat pie.

A heart carved into a lichen covered tree along the Blue Ridge Turnpike.

In Tucson, a heart shaped Prickly Pear Cactus pad, in our son’s yard.

An apple pie.

So many heart shapes out there just waiting to be discovered, or to be created.

Floral Witnesses Of History

Down by the old cabin

There is a very old cabin a short walk from the cabin where I live. It’s believed that it was last occupied in the 1950s. In going back through deeds, I can trace the cabin to 1905 but it is possible that it is older than that. The paper trail ends leaving no more hints.

When were these Narcissus planted?

If only the resident flowers could talk. Planted with care long ago. Poet’s Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) would have so much to say.

I look forward to these flowers blooming in April. Perhaps I could start the conversation and see if I get a reply.

Ancient Tulip Poplar

An old, and immense, Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). The bark, gray and lined, as if it is saggy, makes me think of a huge elephant. Not the elephant in the room, but certainly the elephant in the neighborhood.

_____________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!

Butterbutt

More formally known as a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata). A black, white and gray bird accented with that lovely bright buttery color. A bird that shows up at my birdbath occasionally during the winter. I’m patiently waiting, hoping one will make an appearance. Often it is mid-February when I’m able to capture a photograph.

This image was taken February 15, 2018, as this little creature was taking a break in a marcescent White Oak tree.

_____________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!

One Crazy Winter

Ice on a vernal pool. February 13, 2018. Perhaps a normal winter. What IS normal these days?

February 10, 2023. I miss seeing ice. I won’t even mention my feelings about snow. You probably already know. I miss going out for a walk in the woods and not thinking about spraying myself with an insect repellent. Those ticks are happy about the warm weather. They’re out there just waiting for me.

A dear friend two days ago let me know he encountered a snake while out tackling Rosa multiflora. He thought he wouldn’t see any snakes. It’s winter after all. And the high temperature that day? 70°.

This is one crazy winter, 2023.

_____________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!