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.

Woodpecker Colors

My first thought when I think of the color of woodpeckers is black, white, and red. Though that is not always the case. This woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), is a good example. Look at it and, “Well, almost,” comes to mind. The breast of the bird, in a herringbone pattern, black and pale tannish-gray. Other places where one might expect to see white, a soft butter-yellow has been inserted instead.

This woodpecker is only in my woods during the nonbreeding/winter season. I enjoy having them around because of their habit of creating sapwells on some of the trees. Certainly not for the purpose of decoration, though I like to think of the sapwells that way. Small holes tapped into the bark of trees, leaving beautiful patterns. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker’s calling card.

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Lichens

So much to get one’s brain around in this world of nature and how it works. In this post I’m trying to understand Lichens.

They’re not plants, nor animals. They are an alga and a fungus living in an association which benefits both of them, or a symbiotic relationship. The fungus has a root that will acquire water and minerals. The algae uses the process of photosynthesis to produce food.

The two images in this post are British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia cristatella). Lichens that I’ve discovered here at my cabin, and also further up, climbing Hightop Mountain to its summit, where British Soldier Lichen also lives.

Two organisms, so different, working together becoming a symbiotic association.

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Goldfinches In Winter Garb

The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) molts twice during the year. In the autumn they exchange all their feathers, one by one, for new feathers. A slow process, so that they can continue their lives as they normally do. Eating seeds, flying about, and staying comfy warm.

During this autumn molt the female goes through the same feather exchange, but her appearance changes very little. The male though, makes a dramatic change from a brilliant yellow with a striking black cap to the colors of the female, soft grayish tan.

Now, they enjoy their winter garb. Females and males, looking quite similar. Easily blending in with their surroundings.

Picking up suggestions from changes of the amount of light during the day, Goldfinch begin their second molt near the end of January or beginning of February.

Again, one by one, the new feathers emerge. This time it is only the body feathers. The tail and wing feathers that came in, in autumn remain.

But for now, for the winter, in my gardens, there are many little grayish tan birds enjoying the seed heads I left for them. Seeds waiting to be gobbled up.

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American Beech In Winter

Holding their tan leaves through the winter until spring, American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), is one of a few trees around here that are marcescent. Others include Oak, American Beech, Hornbeam, Eastern Hophornbeam, and Witchhazel.

Marcescence is a name that scientists have given to the process which they have described in detail, explaining what happens. But they haven’t come up with an answer to the question, “Why?”

Normally, in a tree that will lose its leaves in the autumn, the leaf will fall when a layer of cells between the end of the stem of the leaf, and the tree branch is formed. This is the abscission layer, and happens in the autumn. This whole process, in trees that are marcescent, happens in the spring. Those marcescent leaves do not have the abscission layer until the spring, and therefore will not drop until spring.

Through the winter, with its marcescent leaves hanging on, the American Beech makes me think of shave ice as its leaves collect snow as it falls.

And until I hear that scientists have come up with an answer, I will be wondering, “Why?”

Appalachian Bellflower

Appalachian Bellflower (Campanula divaricate). An herbaceous perennial that can grow to 28 inches tall.

This Bellflower is found mainly in the Appalachian Mountains, and is native to the eastern US. Bloomtime is July, August and September. Those flowers, of just 1/3 inch, can be found in shades of white, pink and blue.

Totally enchanting.

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A Few Of The Birds That Enjoy Smooth Sumac

The berries of Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra), popular with many birds. Birds that entertain me as they come by to eat the berries.

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). A bird that I see as it comes to eat these berries.

Northern Flickers are often at the Smooth Sumac, downing the berries. Sometimes showing off their yellow feathers.

Smooth Sumac is the only small tree/bush that is native to all 48 contiguous US states.

Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) are another species of bird that frequents the Smooth Sumac to eat the berries.

And a last image. So many that haven’t been captured in pixels. This last one of course is a Robin (Turdus migratorius). So many birds love these berries.

And I love the little trees, for the birds that are attracted to them.