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 Autumn

Oh it is so very nice to be back in autumn again. I spent a few days traveling to Florida and got to experience the change of seasons all over again. I traveled south into summer and green green green. Returning yesterday I got the thrill of seeing the mountains covered in their autumn best. Golds, yellows, reds, oranges and lovely burnt siennas. Colors that tell me snow will be soon arriving. I can hardly wait.

These leaves, putting on a welcome back show for me, are American Beech (Fagus grandifolia). Leaves that are reminiscent of American Chestnut leaves with their ocean wave edges. No wonder. They are in the same family, Fagaceae. Ahh! What color. How nice to be back in autumn.

Learning About Nature

A walk in the woods with The Little One. Learning what is safe to eat. Learning what is not safe at all. In her hands, Blackhaw drupes and Persimmons. Safe.

Chestnut Oak Leaves

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) leaves have undulating edges. Their leaves are alternate.

Leaf shape is obovate, or egg-shaped and flat with the narrow end at the base. They’re quite the common sight up here in my woods.

Common Milkweed Seeds

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Fluffy white parachutes waiting for the slightest breeze to take seeds away to the perfect spot to burst forth. To provide sustenance. To give a magic protection for moths and butterflies.

Horsenettle

Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). Horsenettle, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). Other members of the Nightshade family that you are familiar with are Tomato, Potato, Eggplant, Bell Pepper, and Petunia. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States. It can grow to 2 or 3 feet tall, and is covered with spines.

Though the fruit of Horsenettle looks quite similar to yellow Cherry Tomatoes, don’t be tempted.

THE FRUIT, AS WELL AS LEAVES, ROOTS, AND STEMS OF HORSENETTLE ARE POISONOUS, AND EATING THE FRUIT CAN CAUSE DEATH.

A Stop on the Way

A favorite place to stop on the way to yoga. A favorite place to pull out my camera and get a picture.

Smooth Sumac Revisited

Nothing better than Smooth Sumac doing its thing in autumn. I, along with many birds, love it!

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). A few of my White-throated Sparrows have arrived at my feeders. By the time winter has truly arrived there will be many more. There are two color morphs in the White-throated Sparrow, white striped and tan striped. The stripes mentioned are on the top of the head. This one is a white striped morph. Looking forward to winter, and seeing more of my winter birds.

Japanese Honeysuckle Berries

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), the Honeysuckle that many of us know from childhood with the luscious drop of nectar that we’d catch on our tongue. Mmmm. And surprise, that Honeysuckle gets berries. Berries that are poisonous to us humans. The nectar is safe but not the berries.

White Oak Leaves

The leaves of White Oak (Quercus alba) are alternate leaves, alternating along their stems. They have rounded lobes, often 7 to 10 per leaf, which makes them pretty easy to identify. The leaf length is anywhere from 4 to 9 inches long, with a width of 2 to 4 inches. Right now, as autumn ambles along I’m seeing charming leaves of burnt sienna.