Author: 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.

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.

Dreaming

The weather is like spring rather than the winter that I love. I might as well be dreaming about the season to come. April, with a Confederate Violet (Viola sororia priceana) and a Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea). Soon to be reality.

Hermit Thrush With A Background Of Snow

The Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus) that are here for the winter sure do enjoy the birdbath.

This image was taken as this thrush is enjoying the heaviest snowfall so far this winter. If you look closely, you’ll see the dusting, which I have to admit is an exaggeration to call it that. Perhaps barely a dusting is more appropriate. This snow arrived on January 14. A week ago.

Delicate Fern Moss

Not a fern, but a moss. Delicate Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum), found up here in the woods, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Mosses are non-vascular plants, plants that absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. Those leaves harvest carbon dioxide and sunlight to create food using photosynthesis.

This moss, Delicate Fern Moss, can be found from Alaska to Brazil. Quite the range, maybe not actually all that delicate.

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Frogs In Winter

Yes, frogs in winter. The beginning of February. I’m watching the calendar and the pond. They’ll be here soon. They seek shelter under the leaves that fall in autumn, and survive being frozen by what seems like magic. They increase their blood glucose levels, which acts as an antifreeze. But with daytime temperatures rising to the 50s they leave their shelters and go to nearby ponds.

That first frog to show up in my little pond, Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). Many of them in a mating frenzy. Making lots of noise, day and night, sounding like little ducks having a grand time.

Caught Caching

A dear friend of mine, a bit ago, asked me about birds caching. I just happened to catch this Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), doing just that, caching some food for better times.

Caching is hiding food away to retrieve and eat later in the season. The Red-bellied Woodpecker will hide away acorns, nuts including whole peanuts, seeds, fruits, corn kernels, insects, suet, and peanut butter. In this picture, above, it is hiding peanuts into the holes in this tree stump.

These Red-bellied Woodpeckers are in my woods year round, and while I have my feeders out there is at least one that I see several times a day.

When I lived in Arlington, they were regular visitors to my feeders too. Wonderful to see them and to hear their call.

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