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.

Rabbits in Winter

Summer, and rabbits are seen often. Winter, and the sight of a rabbit is a rare thing. A time to stop and take notice. If you see a rabbit in Virginia, more than likely it is an Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

Rabbits don’t hibernate. But during the winter they are most active during dusk and dawn, which might explain why I seldom see them. In order to keep warm they retain a thicker layer of fur, build up a layer of fat, and seek out a burrow that another animal has created. A place to escape to, to keep warm. They change their eating habits during these cold months. Switching from a summer diet of grasses, clover and berries to buds and twigs of bushes and trees, and bark of sumac bushes and trees such as birch, willow, and oaks.

It snowed up here a couple days ago and along with it I got to see two rabbits. Excitement! The whole family stopped what they were doing to catch a glimpse.

Marcescence

It doesn’t happen often. Deciduous trees that hang onto their leaves through the winter, marcescence. These trees fail to create the abscission layer at the base of the leaf stem, that is, the layer that helps the plant release those leaves (also the layer that will initiate the release of flowers or fruits). It will happen in some species of Oak trees, Eastern Hophornbeam, American Beech, and Hornbeam along with a few others. Those leaves hang on, but come spring, new growth will push the old leaves off the tips of the branches to the ground. In the photo above, taken today, a White Oak (Quercus alba) shows off its marcescent leaves.

Snowdrop Buds Today

The Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) have emerged at my back porch. Not blooming yet, but it’s soon to happen. This is what they looked like this afternoon, thoroughly enjoying the odd warmth of this mid-February day.

Native plants are a TOP PRIORITY in my gardens but there are some that, because of sentimental value, and so long as I find they are not invasive or create some other problem, become part of the plants that greet me in my yard. These Snowdrops are not native to North America, but otherwise fit that bill, both in having sentimental value and being well behaved. Within a few days a single bloom will have this look.

And a grouping will bring me great pleasure as I step off that back porch, with care. Of course they’re not really snow, but maybe that will happen too. If it does, my camera and I will be ready.

Bobcat

Certainly something that I would not have expected to find anywhere around my cabin. Something that doesn’t make itself known very often at all. But on rare occasions I get the thrill of my life, when a Bobcat (Lynx rufus) makes an appearance. These creatures are secretive in nature, solitary, territorial, and nocturnal, most often hunting at dawn and dusk. Their favorite meal is rabbit but they’ll hunt down squirrels, rodents, lizards, snakes, skunks, muskrats, beavers, ground-nesting birds and even deer. They sleep during the day in multiple den areas which can be hollow trees, rock crevices or rock piles, caves, brush piles and even abandoned beaver lodges.

Adult Bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat. Weighing in at about 13 to 30 pounds, standing 18 to 24 inches high, and are 30-50 inches in length. In the wild they can live anywhere from 5 to 15 years. Their range is all of the continental United States, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, living in areas of dense vegetation.

I haven’t seen a Bobcat in a while but I’ve been watching and waiting. Maybe one day soon.

Confusing Bumblebee

Confusing Bumblebee (Bombus perplexus). Native across Canada and south into the eastern portion of the United States. This critter surprised me when I saw it. I’m not used to seeing bumblebees are are almost entirely yellow. What a thrill to see. The flower though is not such a thrill. It’s Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), which is native to eastern Europe and has become highly invasive across most of North America. Watch for the Confusing Bumblebee come spring and summer, and I hope you don’t see the Spotted Knapweed.

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Io Moth Caterpillar Stings!

Io Moth Caterpillar (Automeris io), a beautiful creature that feeds on an extensive collection of plants including corn, roses, sassafras, willow, linden, elm, oak, locust, redbud, apple, beech, ash, currant, and clover. Quite the wide variety.

The young caterpillar is orange. As it grows it changes color, and as a mature caterpillar it is bright green with bright green spines. The spines have a very irritating venom that is delivered with the slightest touch. As is the case with many caterpillars, look but don’t touch.

Dark-spotted Palthis

Looking much like the Northrop B-2 Spirit, Stealth Bomber. But don’t get confused, it’s a moth. A Dark-spotted Palthis (Palthis angulalis). The caterpillar of this Palthis eats leaves (living or dead) of shrubs and trees, including Alder, Ash, Basswood, Birch, Pine, Spruce, Willow; and of forbs including Aster and Goldenrod. I love that they eat dead leaves. Much appreciated. And they’re found Newfoundland west to coastal British Columbia, south to Florida and Texas.

In the Blink of an Eye

In just a month or two, just the blink of an eye, Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) will be emerging. Working their way up through the leaf litter of the woods. Not so long from now.

A member of the Poppy Family. Native to the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada. Look but don’t touch. And for goodness sake, don’t eat it. This plant can cause a rash if touched, and is toxic if eaten in large amounts.

The flowers don’t last very long, just a few days. Enjoy them as they brighten the woods!