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.

Taking A Dip

I’ve been hearing them for some time now with their unmistakable song of, “Here I am. Where are you?” The Red-eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus) have come back from their wintering grounds in the Amazon basin of South America. They return to their same breeding grounds every year which pleases me. A couple years ago a nest of Red-eyed Vireos were discovered in a Flowering Dogwood tree just a short distance from the cabin. That nest was watched until the babies fledged. Maybe this is one of that same family.

I’ve been hearing them but today was the first that I’ve seen of them. The birdbath can attract birds that you might not see otherwise. I’m glad to have birdbaths in the yard within easy view. Here the Red-eyed Vireo takes a moment to take a dip with the female Cardinal on the edge of the tiny pool. The Vireo is not one to stay long. It will take a dip and quickly go away only to return a couple minutes later repeating the same actions over and over.

I wonder what summer bird will show up next.

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Wild Blueberries

My hike this morning took me way up the mountain to where there are precious little Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum) bushes. I missed their blooms, but green berries are on the bushes now and soon they will become a meal for some bird or other animal up there.

These bushes usually grow to be 9 – 20 in tall, and the berries might get to be 3/8 inch. They’re native to central Canada and central and eastern United States. 

Yes, they’re small but they’re mighty delicious.

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Hickory

Leaves emerging on Hickory (Carya) trees looking like hands reaching out into spring.

Those leaves that emerge are pinnately compound leaves. Each leaf is made up of leaflets that are connected along both sides of the leaf stalk. The number of those leaflets varies from one Hickory species to another.

It is always a remarkable experience to see spring turn the forests to a nearly all green landscape. An experience that I thoroughly enjoy.

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Blooms To Berries

A good distance up past our gate, at the edge of the narrow dirt road, there is a patch of Solomon’s Plume (Maianthemum racemosum) blending in with the other plants so that they’re hardly noticed.

The herbaceous perennials each send up a single, unbranched stem. This stem is topped with a panicle of 20 to 80 snow white flowers. See those tiny tree-like clusters of flowers surrounding the stem? This is what is called a panicle of flowers. They are blooming right now, up the dirt road. Many will pass by and not even notice. You must go slowly as you hike the mountain if you want to see such interesting things.

Summer watches as the flowers become berries. By mid-August they are red, or red and purple-striped berries. Birds, such as Ruffed Grouse and Veery will eat the berries and help spread the seeds throughout the woods.

And I’ll enjoy seeing the plants as I hike up to get more photos.

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Stellafane ’90

This is Stellafane ’90, a quilt inspired by one of many trips to an annual telescope makers convention and star party. My son, Kevin, and I went to those star parties for nearly 20 years.

I was reminded of this quilt when a rare event happened in the sky a week ago, when Northern Lights put on a show in the nighttime sky. A show that was visible to us in Virginia, and south to Florida and beyond. A friend reminded me how I missed an opportunity to see a similar show in Vermont when Stellafane 1990 was taking place.

It was Saturday night of the star party. I didn’t stay out extremely late that night anticipating a ten hour drive to get home the next day. When I got up the next morning I heard great stories of a remarkable Northern Lights display that looked like flames undulating above the tops of the trees. The other members of my astronomy club, The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, seemed to enjoy telling me about it and what I had missed.

The event that I missed moved me to create this quilt. The one I missed at Stellafane ’90.

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Sweet Rain!

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)

The end of April, so very hot and no rain for such a long time. No rain for nearly the whole month.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

Now it has cooled off with temperatures that seem normal, maybe even a bit cooler than normal. Most welcome temperatures.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

And now sweet, sweet rain. Rain coming down landing on the plants that need that moisture.

The plants in these photos are hydrophobic, meaning they tend to repel water. Look around your yard when it’s raining, or just after a rain if you prefer. You’ll see some leaves that look wet, other leaves, the ones that are hydrophobic, look like these photos. With water droplets ready to roll off.

The rain drops add something, something like an added touch of color to a painting. Making that painting complete. I love to see the rain drops.

The sweet rain – yesterday’s .98 inches and (as I write this at 9:34pm) today’s .41 inches – just what those thirsty plants need.

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Another Milkweed

This is Fourleaf Milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia). The flowers can be white, or a subtle shade of pink or lavender.

Monarch butterflies have a single host plant for the survival of their larvae —Milkweed. There are several dozen native species of Milkweed in North American. This Fourleaf Milkweed is native to the eastern US and Canada, where it is often found in dry, rocky, open woodland. Much like the conditions here on my mountain.

Fourleaf Milkweed is a perennial herb which grows to about 20 inches tall. Aside from the Monarch butterflies, its flowers are a source of nectar for bees, other butterflies, and many other insects.

So many plants to discover and enjoy as I hike.

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Leaves Like Maples

About to bloom up here in the mountains. Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). The common name of Maple-leaf Viburnum is because of the resemblance of this Viburnum’s leaves to a Maple (Acer).

The flowers are in flat-headed panicles, with each individual flower being 1/4 inch across.

The leaves of Maple-leaf Viburnum grow up to five inches long and are opposite in arrangement.

The flowers turn to drupes (or berries) that are popular with birds. The leaves are beautiful in autumn becoming a golden color created with hues of red, purple and pink. This is a small Viburnum, a height of 6 feet is only rarely attained.

These Viburnums are found in the eastern and central United States.

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Iris For Mom

My Mom loved Iris.

I think perhaps purple Iris were her favorite.

Butterflies love them too.

This is a species I enjoy. A tiny Iris that is short in stature with a flower that measures 2.5 inches across. Native to southern and midwestern United States. Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata).

Happy Mother’s Day.

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Another Arrival

The Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea) have arrived for the summer, adding more bright color to the woods. They love birdbaths, small seeds, and fruits.

My blueberries will be ripe soon. I’ll be happy to share them with the Indigo Buntings.

Something that astounds me is that they frequently migrate at night using celestial navigation. Amazing.

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