Much to the delight of the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), has started to bloom.
It seems designed specifically to the needs of hummingbirds with its long, tubular red-orange flowers. Trumpet Honeysuckle is native to the eastern United States including East Texas and Oklahoma.
It’s adding some lovely color to my yard. And much like the hummingbirds being delighted, I’m totally pleased that it’s blooming for them.
The world of birds has just become a bit brighter, at least here around my cabin. I’ve just spotted an Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) out at the suet feeder. During the breeding season these brilliant blue birds settle into areas from southern Canada to northern Florida. If you’d like to tempt them to come to your backyard feeder, they are seed eaters that may be tempted by Nyjer seed, and that suet too. Also, always have water available and consider planting native berry producing plants.
Though winter is my favorite season, there certainly are good things about the warmer months too, like seeing Indigo Buntings.
Bowman’s Root (Gillenia trifoliata) is a herbaceous perennial that grows to 2-3′ tall. It’s native to eastern North America from Ontario to Georgia.
Bowman’s Root is found up here in the mountains along the trails. It’s fun to find blooms with their five-pointed flappy star-like flowers. Right now the bushes are not in bloom, although some have buds. I expect in about a week there will be lots of flowers. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.
Late April into very early May is when Morels, in the Morchella genus, are in the woods up here, waiting to be found. As if the Easter Bunny had placed them to be found. Rain helps them sprout up through the soil.
Though edible, Morel consumption needs to be approached with caution. They contain a toxin which is destroyed during cooking. So, never eat raw Morels. Also it’s quite possible to have an allergic reaction to Morels. When consuming them for the first time, proceed with caution. Only a small amount to begin with.
I live in the woods but that is not the only place that Morels are found. I once found one growing in my yard in Arlington, Virginia. A total, bewildering thrill to me.
Being a photographer, my interest in Morels is simply in their beauty. I collect Morels in photographs, for the most part without eating them.
In bloom right now. Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) is a striking beauty in miniature form, growing to just 4 to 6 inches tall. It’s native to the eastern United States. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Eastern Towhees are here in the mountains of central Virginia year round. Their diet is primarily insects, seeds and berries and during the summer they tend, of course, to eat more insects. True bugs, beetles, ants, caterpillars, moths, millipedes, spiders and snails are all on the menu. But there’s something special to me, which I share with them. Those blueberries. This fellow is watching over them. Watching how they are growing. Watching and waiting for them to ripen. Just like I am. I wholeheartedly enjoy sharing the blueberries with the birds. For me, the berries mean pies, pancakes, muffins. For them it means breakfast, lunch and dinner. Glad to share.
Mountain Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum)
“Once established, this prostrate, spreading ground cover needs little, if any, maintenance.” — Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Now that is my kind of plant.
A native to much of the eastern United States. As you can see, its flowers are star-like with four points. The leaves are arranged in whorls of three. Flowers in late spring and early summer. The leafy plants are 2 to 3 inches tall with blooms towering over them at 6 to 8 inches tall. Pollinators are various bees, wasps and flies.
First comes the bubblegum pink of the Redbud (Cercis canadensis) flowers. Now as the blooms drop to the ground the leaves are making their way into the world. The leaves are first blushed with red then to the green we know through spring and into summer. The green indicates the presence of chlorophyll which is a pigment used to absorb energy from the sun.
The red color in the new leaves is the pigment anthocyanin. This pigment and the role it plays in leaves has been studied and it is thought that the red plays a part in protecting the leaves from being eaten. Many mammals, primates excluded, do not perceive yellow, orange and red colors but see them as gray. These mammals, not seeing a green leaf, would not recognize it as a choice for a snack or meal. This same pigment is the one that allows some autumn leaves to turn red, as the amount of chlorophyll diminishes in the leaves of those leaves.
Spring unfurling.
Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) is an invasive plant, native to Japan, Korea and China. This is what it looks like right now with its red prickly stems and leaves that have white undersides. It grows all over up here in the mountains.
Soon there will be luscious berries. Ruby red. Last year many were collected. They’re best eaten right away since they’re very delicate but some were set aside to be made into a syrup and frozen in order to make a delightful treat.
This morning I whipped up some cream, slowly poured some of that syrup in and churned it up in the ice cream freezer. Tonight after dinner we’ll have Wineberry sherbet. Mmmmmm!
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is a perennial, herbaceous plant, native to eastern North America. I find it here in the higher elevations.
It spreads by rhizomes and makes a lovely groundcover in shade or part shade. I find it doesn’t care for the driest days of hot summer, but responds with appreciation when I water the many little plants.
This, from a few weeks ago. A bud, soon to be a flower.
Here’s the flower of Wild Ginger. If you didn’t know, you certainly would miss the flower. Gently push aside the soft leaves and there it will be. This is one of many plants that benefit from myrmecochory, or seed dispersal by ants. Pollinators are flies and beetles. It is a host plant to some moths and butterflies including the Pipevine Swallowtail.
More and more, spring is unfolding!
