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.

Tiny Flowers For A Dollhouse

These tiny flowers are Fleabane (Erigeron). They are in the composite family, like Sunflowers, Daisies, and Asters. Flowers in the composite family all have center disk florets, and the edge or petals, which are the ray florets. Florets are actually individual flowers.

Most often snow white petals with a yellow center, though sometimes the petals are pink, or pinkish-purple.

There are a surprising 173 species of Fleabane native to North America.

I love to see the flowers along the roadside as I climb my mountain. Some of the plants growing to 3 feet tall. But those petite flowers, just the perfect size to put in a dollhouse.

________________________________

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

An Oak Leaf

A leaf on the lane bring’s back memories of the house in North Arlington that we lived in and loved for 32 years. There were eight large oak trees in the yard and one of them was a Post Oak (Quercus Stellata).

A tree with a unique leaf. One that with a bit of imagination, you’ll have to admit looks like that sign we learned in elementary school that means, “Add”, the plus sign. That leathery leaf has a shiny finish to its emerald green color. Flip the leaf over and you’ll see a softer, paler green.

That tree grew very close to the foundation of the house but for some reason it never caused a crack in the foundation or any other problem.

So glad that leaf fell right there in my path as I was returning from wandering up the road — bringing back memories.

________________________________

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

Pink Roses

Don’t be fooled. Just because a rose you find in the woods is pink does not mean it is a native rose. Though a bit unusual this picture above is of a Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora). Multiflora Roses normally are white but on occasion a huge bush of this rose will decide to be independent and its flowers will emerge as pink roses.

These roses, white or pink are aggressive plants, native to China, Japan, and Korea, forming huge thickets that overtake our native plants, not giving them a chance.

There are native pink roses though. Pretty pink and no worry about taking over the whole mountain. This one is a Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina). Just one to three feet tall. Quite understated.

A difference between the two plants — Thorns: Pasture Rose has straight thin thorns sometimes two opposite each other on the stem. Multiflora Rose has thick backward pointing thorns.

Ah, if only I had all the time in the world to get rid of the Multiflora Roses to give our native plants a chance.

________________________________

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

Harvesting Has Begun

Scarlet leaves in autumn. Crimson red branches in winter. Spring brings blossoms. Summer — Blueberries!

It’s that time of year. Today was the first day of gathering the berries. Filling the freezer for pies, pancakes, and muffins through the rest of the year. My schedule only allowed me to gather three pints. Plenty more for tomorrow and beyond.

There are enough tall bushes here to allow me no concern about sharing with the birds. I’m glad they enjoy them too.

________________________________

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

Pale Pale Green Moth

Badwing Moth (Dyspteris abortivaria)

Native to eastern North America. Its caterpillar host plants are various grape species. The moth has a wingspan of about an inch. Tiny. The moth is active from mid-April until August.

Here it seems May is a good time to find one. I have several images of Badwings in various years, in May. This particular picture was taken two days ago. Very small and lovely to see in its enchanting color.

________________________________

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

Narrowleaf Sundrops

Narrowleaf Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), Native to eastern North America where it can be found in open woodlands, forest edges, and rock outcrops.

Lasting only one day, each bloom is replaced by another for a series of days. The picture above is of buds waiting their turn to open and show off their brilliant yellow. Each plant will reach one to two feet tall, and sometimes even three feet. Leaves turn red in autumn.

________________________________

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

A Bee Favorite

Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), is native to the eastern United States.

Each flower only lasts one day and blooms only in the morning but new flowers will pop up the next morning to take their place. They’re quite happy plants in one of my gardens. And oh do the bees and butterflies ever love them!

________________________________

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

Newly Emerged Leaves

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) leaves just beginning their growth. But why are they red?

The red coloring often seen in new leaves is because of anthocyanin, a pigment which give those leaves that coloring. As the leaves mature and begin the process of photosynthesis, they gain the green pigment, chlorophyll, which gives them the coloring which we expect.

Seems like magic to me!

________________________________

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

A Bush With A View

Way up the mountain, in a power line right of way, lives a quite large Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia). A Mountain Laurel with a beautiful view down the mountain. That view glowing in the sunshine. What a lovely day for a hike. And perfect timing for finding this pale pink bush in full bloom.

Native to the eastern United States. It can grow into a small tree of 15 or 20 feet if conditions are right.

Quite the treat to find on such a lovely day.

________________________________

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

Two More Tempted By The Birdbath

Like the Red-eyed Vireo that I wrote about yesterday, two Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) showed up at the birdbath yesterday afternoon as well. And like the Vireo, I’ve been hearing the distinctive rapid trilling which nearly sounds as if it’s from a machine – that sound that the Chipping Sparrows make. I didn’t have much hope of seeing them though.

But the birdbath won them over. Two of them splashing like little kids.

I’m pleased that they made a showing. I haven’t had a chance to get a photo of even one in several years.

________________________________

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