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.

Hellebores

March 4, 2026

Hellebores (Helleborus) native to Eurasia. There are 15 to 22 recognized species in this genus. I have a few of those species in my gardens. Remarkable plants, after seeing what they have come through this winter, and bloom as if everything was perfectly normal. But then the Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), and Snowdrops (Gallanthus) have come through as if this winter has been no big deal, as well. Whew.

Nature is remarkable.

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Eastern Red Cedar With Snow

March 3, 2026

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Native to the Eastern United States and Canada. Very popular with Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in late autumn through February as they eat the fruits, or cones, of the Cedar.

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A Bright Spot In The Woods

March 2, 2026

Midafternoon today, snow has been coming down in a heavy manner, as if it’s in a hurry to cover everything. A brilliant dot of scarlet in a Flowering Dogwood tree (Cornus florida). Just what the second day of meteorological spring needs.

Late afternoon, fog comes in. The snow stops, at least for the moment, leaving an inch and a half.

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First Day Of Meteorological Spring

March 1, 2026

Oh my! Is time ever flying!

Spring is here. Well, meteorological spring anyway. I like using the meteorological seasons, since by the time the end of one season is approaching, I am quite ready for the next one to arrive.

This is a picture of Snowdrops (Galanthus), one of just a few flowers that are typically blossoming even before meteorological spring arrives. Native to Europe and Eurasia. A member of the Amaryllis family. In bloom, happily greeting spring right now.

There are several words for a group of Snowdrops including blizzard, drift, flurry, flourish, dusting, splendor, spectacle, sprinkling, spring, and salutation. Some of the words are a bit funny, but seem appropriate, others bring to mind deeper meaning. I’m not sure which one I would chose if I was searching for just the right collective noun. But I’m quite glad they are blooming.

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A Stream That Makes Me Think Of Van Gogh

February 28, 2026

A walk down to the stream. Passing so many intriguing things along the way, Red-headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), blue quartz, many different Mosses and Lichens, Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), a remarkable burl on a White Oak (Quercus alba), nest of a Organ Pipe Mud Dauber (Trypoxylon politum), and Ground Cedar (Diphasiastrum digitatum), among so many things to make it a special day in nature.

Once down to the stream, I got many pictures of the gurgling water. Now, looking back through the images, I’m struck by this picture of the water. It reminds me of the dramatic impasto paintings of Vincent van Gogh.

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent van Gogh.

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One Of My Small Friends

February 27, 2026

Looking like a ping-pong ball with feathers, this is one of my buddies, the Chickadee (Poecile).

I would normally refer to a bird by its specific species but that would be difficult since the native range of both the Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), and the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), overlap in my area. And to add to the confusion, they interbreed, and they learn each other’s songs.

These little black, white, and gray critters are so charming. When I go out to feed the birds, I call to them, and Chickadees are the first to come, calling back to me when they arrive.

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Yucca Highlighted With Snow

February 26, 2026

This past Sunday was quite the day. The temperature hovering around 33° or 34° with huge gusts of wind and snow coming down. Seems I was lucky being up here on the mountain. Down below it was, for the most part only rain. Elevation has its advantages.

I mentioned wind. Oh my! Did it ever blow, pasting snowflakes on everything. This Yucca filamentosa sure caught a lot of those snowflakes. Flakes were even captured on its thready filaments.

Snow is now in the forecast for early next week. It will be the 2nd day of meteorological spring 2026. We’ll see.

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Cardinal In My Black And White Landscape

February 25, 2026

Oh my! A spot of brilliant scarlet, against the stunning black and white landscape. A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) catches my attention as I travel aimlessly. The scene becomes a quilt of winter.

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Snow On The Ristra

New Mexico, Land Of Enchantment. That’s what this ristra represents to me. A state very special to me.

The wind was blowing so very hard 2 nights ago, it blanketed everything with the snow that was coming down. Making it a frosted fairyland.

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Plastered With Snow

It wasn’t the same as snowcrete coming down, like nearly a month ago, but yesterday was quite a day. Snow falling all day long. Some of that time the temperature was fluttering between 33° and 34° so the snow didn’t stick very well, that is until the temperature dropped below freezing.

And was the wind ever blowing. This picture is while snowflakes were being plastered on absolutely everything, including small branches of trees, the windows in my cabin, the cedar siding on my cabin, the sides of trees, leaves that were still hanging from trees, and here tiny stems of Purple Coneflower seedheads (Echinacea purpurea).

This is when I really adore snow. When Mother Nature’s artistic tendencies go wild, decorating everything.