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.

Quite The Songster

March 30, 2025

Yesterday morning I heard beautiful musical phrases each repeated twice, coming from the woods. A Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) singing his heart out. It is the male Brown Thrasher that sings, and he has a vast repertoire of songs. Even more songs than other songsters and family members Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) and Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).

Their bright yellow eyes are intriguing and I’ve learned that when I see a Brown Thrasher with pale gray eyes, it is a juvenile. As they mature their eyes turn the characteristic yellow, or sometimes orange.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

A Quick Glimpse

March 29, 2025

A quick glimpse of blue in the garden this morning. An Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) came by for a brief drink and a quick, “Hello!” They’re only seen occasionally. Hoping a pair will use one of the houses that are out for them this spring.

Quite the pleasure to see.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

The Elusive Towhee

March 27, 2025

Another solitary bird. One that is around but not obvious, since it enjoys dense shrubs and lots of leaf litter in which to search for their next meal of seeds or insects. An Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus). The male Towhee sings its song, an easy one to remember, “Drink your teeeeea!”

A bird that is here year round near my cabin.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

 

First Of The Violets

March 26, 2025

Little white and purply-blue Violets blooming near my frog pond, in the first week of spring. Bi-colored Common Blue Violets (Viola sororia f. priceana). Native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. Violets are the host plant of many Fritillary butterflies.

Welcome spring.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

It Says Its Name

March 25, 2025

Often I’ll hear it calling its name before I see it. A Phoebe (Savornis phoebe) who often flicks its tail.

An insect eating bird that will take off from its perch in pursuit of its prey and return to that same spot to eat it. A solitary bird, so the one I see often around the cabin is indeed just one.

Glad to have it around eating insects.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Twinleaf In Bloom

March 24, 2025

A small native flower that doesn’t get much attention. Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), native to eastern North America. In bloom right now.

This is one of those plants that has seeds that are attractive to ants. The ants gather them, take them to their nest and feed their larvae the nutritious portion of the seed, called the eliasome. They then discard the rest of the seed in the nest’s trash room where it stays and sprouts. A process called myrmecochory.

I watch for these plants to emerge and bloom every year. They’re early. And they’re subtle. Easy to miss.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Soon To Be Pink Clouds

March 23, 2025

Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are budding out, soon to become charming clouds of pink scattered throughout the trails here in the mountains.

Those buds don’t just occur on twigs. Redbud trees send out buds directly on the tree’s trunk and large branches as well. This behavior is called cauliflory and is found not only in trees but also in some bushes and woody vines. It is found most often in the tropics in trees such as breadfruit, cacao, some figs and papayas.

I love to see the clouds of pink in the woods. It’s particularly enchanting on a foggy day.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Blueberries In The Works

March 22, 2025

On the bushes right now.

Buds form for the following June in late summer and early autumn. Seems much preparation is in order for blueberries to happen. All winter long the buds sit. Waiting. And now spring is upon us and the bushes are taking signals — length of day and temperature. Things seem to be going well since the buds are expanding, soon to become blossoms. Soon after, Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) magically appear.

Nature is marvelous.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

A Special Visitor

March 21, 2025

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis).

Though they are here in the area year round they aren’t in my yard all the time. They just pop in from time to time. Two days ago was one of those days when I had a special treat. A special visitor dressed in blue, with a soft sweet song.

Here he is, eyeing the birdbath. Thinking of taking a plunge.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!