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.

More Eastern Phoebes

That bobbing of the tail and saying its name makes identification of the Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) mighty easy. Many bird songs baffle me, but this one is easy. Just think “fee-bee” (Phoebe) and you’ve got it.

I was delighted as I was refreshing my memory about what Phoebes eat to see that they not only eat flying insects which they capture in mid-air but they also eat spiders, millipedes and TICKS! Yay Phoebes! I can’t find a specific reference to it, but now I’m wondering if they also eat brown marmorated stink bugs. Too bad that they are such solitary birds. I’d love to have a big flock of them around.

Not as exciting as the Phoebe eating ticks and BMSBs but they do sometimes even eat small fish from shallow water. Such a talented bird.

As I look through my images thinking of which to include I see this photo of a Phoebe at one of my birdbaths. This reminds me to mention that as a pair goes through the process of selecting a site for breeding, one of their considerations is having a source of water nearby. That is something that I always try to provide in every season. You’ll get many more birds stopping by to see you with that birdbath set up. All four seasons.

Tulip Poplar

The first tree I remember getting to know. Growing right next to our patio. As a little one I’d listen for its “heartbeat” and give it “injections” though now I’m sure it was totally healthy. Back then I had the title of “Tree Doctor” and would take care of it. A Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera).

Here, my Mom on our patio and that tree, my “patient”, in this image slightly left and behind her.

One of many common names, Tulip Poplar, is confusing since the tree is not closely related to true poplar trees or to tulips.

Another name from long ago comes from Native Americans using the wood for dugout canoes. It was called Canoewood by early settlers west of the Appalachian Mountains.

The bark of the Tulip Poplar as a young tree has a smooth appearance.

As the tree ages, the bark becomes beautiful with deeply interlaced furrows. The tree can grow as much as three feet per year but as it ages that growth rate slows. Under near optimum conditions a Tulip Poplar can live to be three hundred years old and reach a height of 200 feet.

The “tulip” in the common name Tulip Poplar comes from the look of the flowers of the tree. Since the trees are so tall, often the blooms aren’t even visible.

After the bloom comes the fruit which is a cone-shaped arrangement of winged seeds called samaras.

And of course if one were to be in a parade the leaves would make a perfect banner to carry.

Rue Anemone

Here in the Blue Ridge depending on your elevation you’ll be seeing Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) beginning to bloom around the middle of April.

This spring ephemeral is native to deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. So small, you must really look for them along the trail. They grow to only four to eight inches high.

Also known as Windflower, the flower’s thin stems give way to their waving in the tiniest breeze.

The flower itself has no actual petals, but is a circle of white or pink sepals with a dense cluster of small green pistils in the center. Those pistils are in turn surrounded by stamens with white filaments and soft yellow anthers. In summer each of the blooms are replaced by four to fifteen pale green turning to dark brown achenes, which is a fruit containing a single seed.

In May, trailside with another native flower, Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea).

And in the middle of August as things begin to shut down, take a rest, slow down and recharge for next spring.

Mourning Dove

Visitors to my feeders every now and then. Always arriving in pairs. The Mourning Dove (Zenáida macroúra).

For a while my granddaughter’s favorite bird, I think in part because of the soft coo-oo that the male makes. Good for her that she knows a bird call at the age of 6. I doubt I knew any at that age. Still at THIS age I know very few.

Another sound associated with these Doves is the fluttering sound the feathers of the wings make as the bird takes flight and lands. And that flight is impressive, up to 55 miles an hour.

These Doves generally mate for life and when they have a brood it usually consists of two squabs (young). In warmer areas they might have as many as six broods per year. Whew!

The Mourning Dove is a ground feeder and its diet is almost entirely seed. They’re part of my little community of birds here at Snow Mountain Observatory and Frog Farm.

Morels

So many mushrooms up here in the mountains. So many different sizes from diminutive to quite substantial. So many different colors from the expected tan or white, to bright red, turquoise, lavender and periwinkle blue. Some that are sought after because of their legendary tastiness to some that can bring on serious illness or even death, if you eat just a small amount.

Don’t depend on my photos or this post to decide you should collect and eat wild mushrooms. For the most part, I only take photographs of mushrooms that I find in the woods. No eating them. I leave the risky stuff, like eating them, to those that are more brave or crazy than I am.

These mushrooms are Morels (Morchella). Yes, the type that I mentioned earlier with a legendary tastiness. They’re quite common here in the Blue Ridge.

The middle of April is when I start thinking they’ll be making their presence known. Bring on some nice rain and they’re sure to be found. The fruiting body of a fungus. Morels or Merkels.

Though thought of as flourishing in the woods, I found some growing in my yard when I was living in Arlington, Virginia. Certainly not the country. Our yard DID have eight mature oak trees, but certainly not the woods either.

I’ve never seen one but there are other mushrooms, called False Morels, which could be mistaken as True Morels by someone hunting up Morels. Some pictures of these counterfeits look to me like masses of earthworms. I’ve seen them described as looking as though the mushroom has been stepped on. Another sure giveaway is that True Morels when cut in half lengthwise are totally hollow from its tiptop to the bottom of its stem. No cottony fibers, nothing, just hollowness.

If you’d rather have a Morel that you can keep forever, or light for a romantic dinner, here’s a suggestion. I got this Morel candle at my favorite store here in Stanardsville, Noonwhistlepottery.com. I don’t know if they have any of these candles right now but I think you’d enjoy the visit if you stopped in! Tell Holly and John I said, “Hi!”

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). It’s no secret that I am totally crazy about winter. The black and white, pen and ink landscape takes me back to my childhood. Add a male Northern Cardinal to that beautiful landscape and you’ve got the perfect image.

The female Cardinal has her own beauty. Soft tawny brown with subtle accents of rich red and bright orange. A winged creature to marvel at.

The native range of the Cardinal is southeastern Canada through eastern North America including part of Texas, a small section of New Mexico, about half of Arizona, down through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. 

And with all the coming and going of other birds, the Cardinal does not migrate.

During the mating season male Cardinals become extremely territorial but come winter they will flock together by the dozen or several dozen. A stunning sight on a cold winter’s day.

Virginia Bluebells

An ephemeral spring plant native to eastern North America. Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica). I’m watching. I’m waiting.

I just checked. No sign of them yet. BUT very soon. Surely in less than two weeks I’ll be seeing leaves of purply-green emerging from the soil. Reaching for the sun. These plants enjoy being in a shady location. A location that is exposed to the sun during the spring. A location that will see shade as the leaves of the trees emerge.

The buds my favorite to see. Looking so beautiful soft folds with pink, bluish pink, or purple coloring.

Spring sees two or three weeks of Virginia Bluebells that fade leaving fruit which contain four seeds each.

Midsummer sees the fading of the leaves and stems that will turn into the soil. To be seen next spring again.

Winter Aconite

The same day that I first heard the raucous clacking of wood frogs coming from the pond, my Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) were beginning to bloom. Just hours before meteorological spring was about to begin.

These small screaming yellow beauties were a gift from a dear friend years ago. Since then they have won my heart. Blooming in what seems an effort to bring a bit of jubilation in winter.

My first introduction to Winter Aconite was on a walk through the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy eleven years ago. Though it was early March, there glowing at the foot of a beautiful rock wall was a swath of cadmium yellow flowers. Flowers that shouldn’t be there so early in the year. In the dead of winter.

A short time later my friend shared some of the tubers from her garden to spread the joy of friendship and bright colors.

Winter Aconite cover can be expanded by dividing the tubers, or by spreading its seeds.

Not native to this continent, but native to Europe (France to Bulgaria). In my gardens I try very hard to add only natives for fear of adding an invasive plant that will soon get out of hand. I must say though these little plants have behaved just as I would wish.

A spot of glee in an otherwise subdued black and white, pen and ink landscape.

First Wood Frogs of Spring

As the evening was coming to a close last night I was so pleased to hear a sound I’ve grown fond of. “Clack, clack, clack!” An odd sound not heard since LAST spring. Today my pond has been REALLY active.

The sound of Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). They’ve left their winter hibernating spots. Perhaps under a rock, beneath a log, or snug under leaf litter, they come out in search of a pool of water to join others for breeding. They’ll breed in lakes and slow flowing streams, but more often seek out vernal pools which won’t have predators that would eat their eggs or tadpoles.

During the day into the evening males call to attract females making quite a hullabaloo.

Within just a couple days there will be MANY eggs in the pond. The eggs laid in the water, as a male clasps a female, releasing sperm into the water to fertilize the eggs. Often those eggs are hatched within a week. And by late June or early July there will be more Wood Frogs here in the woods.

Pie Crust

Pies make the world go round. And one basic thing is common in nearly all pies. The crust.

Many different recipes.

Not for ME.

I use one recipe that I got from my Mom and I stick with it.

No sense in tangling with perfection.

Here’s the recipe that I use without fail. Memorized since I use it so often.

Pie Crust      

2 — 8 or 9 inch crusts

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup shortening

4 to 5 tablespoons COLD water

Stir flour and salt in large bowl until blended. Cut shortening into flour mixture using pastry blender or fork until shortening pieces are the size of peas. 

Gradually add just enough water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring with fork just until dough holds together and forms a smooth ball.

Let dough sit for one hour. Divide dough in half and shape into two balls for two pie crusts. At this point the balls of crust can be frozen.

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I hope you’re able to use this recipe and thoroughly enjoy it.