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.

Wild Geranium Seeds

In late April or early May, the Wild Geraniums (Geranium maculatum) up here on the mountain are beginning to show off their sweet, rich, pink. The blooming lasts for about a beautiful month.

Though the plant continues the show without the dramatic color, still the show goes on. This the beak-like fruit of the flower is just the beginning of the finale.

And this, what I consider to be the grand finale. One flowering season of the Wild Geranium, a herbaceous perennial at the edge of trails here in the woods, coming to an end. Slender carpels of this fruit quickly curl up and back in order to fling their seeds. Here, like a gleeful child as if saying, “Ta DAA!” each of the seed cups now is empty. Their impressive mission complete.

Plume Moths

While admiring Common Milkweed which produces an amazing fragrance across long distances, I discover several unusual looking insects. They look like a capital T or an old-fashioned airplane, with a wingspan of perhaps 5/8 inch. Feathery wings and spiny, delicate looking legs.

These are Plume Moths (Pterophoridae). There are more than 1,000 species of Plume Moths in the world. The latest figures I can find for the number of described species in North America, north of the Mexican border is 166.

Of these 166 species that have been described, it is said that it is quite difficult to tell one species from the other without the aid of a microscope. I’ll skip that and just say these interesting looking moths are Plume Moths. A fun moth to find, with such an out of the ordinary look.

Rubies On A Bush

I planted these bushes for their beauty. The rubies please me beyond words. Red Currant (Ribes rubrum). Each year when they mature into their richness, childhood memories of family reunions in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, return. The Red Currant bushes growing tall next to the quoit pits.

I’ve just stumbled upon something that makes me feel so good. Quoits is a game something like horseshoes, but with a disk rather than a horseshoe. But until this evening I could only find information on the pronunciation of the word like it is spelled, “quoits”. Back at those reunions though it was pronounced “kwaits”. But I’ve just come upon a post about The United States Quoiting Association which says, “Formally pronounced koits or kwoits but commonly pronounced kwaits here in Pennsylvania.” Ah, that makes me feel better. My memories from long ago are correct.

And those ruby red currants are delicious too. I may get a few to add to the custard that I’ll be making again soon.

Watch Where You Step!

Just a couple days after the grass was cut. Two tiny bunnies were found hiding in that short grass. Warming themselves in the sun and hiding from predators. How they were found, I don’t know. Perhaps the magic of the Woodland Fairy. They were quite invisible to ordinary searching eyes such as mine. But Granddaughter found the bunnies and she came to let me know of her happy discovery.

She proudly but very quietly showed me where they were. Though I didn’t want to disturb either one, I wanted to get a better view, moving blades of grass. The teeny critters took the stance of, “You can’t see me, because I’m perfectly still!” When I started taking pictures she put her hand down and said, “My hand for scale!” An excellent assistant.

Baby Eastern Cottontail Rabbits will leave their nest to be totally independent when they are between 3 and 5 weeks of age. The size, like this one, not much bigger than a Chipmunk. The smallest rabbits I’ve ever seen. Absolutely precious.

The Woodland Fairy

Imagine my surprise when the Woodland Fairy stopped by to visit me today. She asked me to call her Chestnut. We sat down and talked for a quite a long time. Chestnut was filled with great stories of her life in the woods.

Chestnut lives in a humongous hollow tree. Her magic is why the hollow tree is so very large and inside she has created an atmosphere just like the land outside. In her home all her animals live in harmony. They all get along and are very happy.

She specifically mentioned having birds, foxes and bunnies but I know she must have many many more. The animals are a great help for Chestnut and for each other. For instance, there are 50 feeders for hummingbirds and all the animals help to keep them filled. She tells me that there are many other fairies in the woods, all with different concerns and specialties.

She is going to be filling in for Granddaughter very soon because she’s heard that Granddaughter will be attending some really fun summer camps and she’s knows her friends will miss her. Here she is dressed as Granddaughter, complete with real Montmorency cherry earrings. What a lovely visit!

Wineberry Flower

Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius). An invasive plant that is found throughout the woods up here. Right now there are small flowers. Five, heart shaped, pale pink petals with longer pointed sepals. Very soon to become berries. An invasive, but oh the berries are so good.

Ma and Pa Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

The two of them so active. Back and forth from the nest. Bringing morsels of yummy caterpillars for their nestlings. Only stopping from time to time to sing with great bravado.

Nestlings grow quickly. Hatching to fledging takes 12 to 14 days.

Thank goodness. I’m worn out just watching Ma and Pa.

Mixed Feelings

Great to see a bear cub again. This is not the one that was seen today though. This picture is from a couple years ago. The one on our lane today was too quick, or perhaps too shy to have its picture taken. But at least a bear is back!

Before today, the last Black Bear sighting was 14 months ago. Late April 2021. The bear that showed up on that day was suffering from sarcoptic mange. It showed up nearly naked, just skin and bones. It made its appearance and disappeared just as quickly as today’s cub. Previous visits were once every couple weeks. The mange though seems to have decimated the bear population in this local area. But it looks like they are recovering.

It’s good to have the cub come through looking happy and health. Mighty good. Now watch out for the bird feeders!