Tendrils

GrandKitty Camp

We’re all having a grand time at GrandKitty Camp. Betelgeuse is being the perfect guest, politely asking for shower water, or bathroom water. That bowl of water next to her food just isn’t nearly as good as those two other choices. And she is ever so polite to ask for more food.

Though I don’t understand her language, she and I have great conversations. She certainly seems to know exactly what I’m saying as I imitate her, “Meow!”

Definitely not a lap sitter, but I managed to capture this moment, as she sat on a lap for perhaps five minutes before she jumped down, saying, “Enough!” in her kitty way.

_____________________________________________________________________

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

Spring Molt

Like many small songbirds, the Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) goes through two molts per year. One in the autumn, a complete molt. A total replacement of all their feathers, body feathers as well as wing and tail feathers. Male and female, they go from yellow to a dull gray with just the slightest suggestion of yellow. In the autumn molt the male loses his distinctive black forehead.

In the spring, right about now, the spring molt is taking place. Leaving behind the dull color and taking on a yellow. In the case of the male the yellow is the brilliant yellow that we think of with Goldfinches. The female is a softer yellow and those females don’t have the black forehead which is a distinctive characteristic of the male. This spring molt is partial. The wing and tail feathers which came in, new, in the autumn molt are not replaced.

These photographs were taken yesterday, April 3rd. This male Goldfinch is looking a bit disheveled because of the spring molt, but given just a bit of time he will be looking quite handsome.

_____________________________________________________________________

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

Surprise Photo Op

Yesterday I was pleased when I got photos of a Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) at one of the feeders, as it was passing through on the way to its summer breeding grounds. I figured as the day ended I wouldn’t see any more of these Finches. But I was wrong. I don’t know if this is one from yesterday’s encounter, or a different one coming through. The breeding season for the Purple Finch is spent in southern Canada, New England and the Pacific Coast.

This fellow is in an apple tree that will be in bloom in just a few days. The perfect setting for a photograph.

___________________________________________________________

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

Heading North

Today’s treat was to see two Purple Finches (Haemorhous purpureus), as they stopped at one of the feeders. A very brief stop for refreshment, on their journey north, to their summer breeding grounds. I was pleased I was able to capture one of them in pixels.

Purple Finches look very much like House Finches (Haemorhous purpureus). I’ve really studied this photo, along with all the other images of this fellow today. And over the years I’ve gotten images of other Purple Finches. Seems that I have never seen a House Finch. Surprising since Audobon.org tells me, “House Finches are currently among the most widespread and common birds across the United States.” Oh well.

___________________________________________________________________

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

Tiny White Butterfly In Spring

A tiny white butterfly that flutters low to the ground with quick, erratic movements. Though that orange tip seems it would be obvious, when the butterfly is in flight it can be hard to spot. The Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea) has a wingspan of 1.5 inches.

The male and female butterflies are sexually dimorphic, meaning the male and female have different looks. The male, shown in the first image is the one that gives the species its name, with the orange tip visible in the dorsal view. The female, in the image immediately above, is white and gray.

These butterflies are native to the eastern US and in the eastern portions of Texas and Oklahoma. They’re active early to mid spring.

Notice them now, they’ll be gone before you know it.

______________________________________________________________

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

Long Gone

Signs. Old signs. Signs that are about to disappear forever. They intrigue me. This is a pair of such, old signs. Long gone.

They sat, for who knows how long at the intersection of Seminole Trail, Airport Road and Proffit Road in Hollymead/Charlottesville, on the land where Walgreens now sits. Long gone.

__________________________________________________________________________

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

Early Spring

It’s early spring and I’m on my way to yoga as the sun shines through the still black and gray woods of the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. The grass has greened up just a bit. Most of the trees that I’m seeing are not putting out much energy to create their new leaves yet. Even the Red Maple (Acer rubrum) which are showing up here as shades of red, are just at the very beginning of that adventure. They have bloomed and those blossoms have created samaras which are what shows up in this image. Soon though the green will arrive in crazy abundance.

_________________________________________________________________

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

A Birthday

Going through my photos this evening, thinking of my Dad on his birthday. He would have been 98. His favorite flower, the sunflower. He grew some pretty spectacular sunflowers. One year he grew one so tall that to get a photograph of the flower and the grower, my Mom got him to climb a ladder so she could get the image. These, were posing for me in Vermont.

____________________________________________________________________

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

Wild Ginger Is Slowly Emerging

An herbaceous perennial, Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), is slowly emerging from its snug winter slumber. The gardens here at my cabin are at an elevation of 1800 feet. This is where these plants are just peeking up through the soil. I often hike up to elevations of 2600 feet and higher, where, during the summer swaths of Wild Ginger grow too. Right now though, they have not even given a thought of emerging from the soil. It’s too cold up there.

This is what the plants in my gardens will look like in a couple weeks. With a maroon flower that must be hunted for, blooming close to the soil level.

A great native plant to use as a ground cover, but keep in mind that it doesn’t like to be extremely dry.

______________________________________________________________________

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

Brilliant Yellow

A yellow flower that blooms with such intensity, a shade of yellow that I take pleasure in calling, screaming yellow. A happy color, one that would be my choice if I were to purchase a Corvette Stingray. Not going to happen though. I wouldn’t be able to get it up my mountain road. The Stingray’s ground clearance leaves a lot to be desired.

This is a Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum). Native to eastern North America where there are moist forests, from USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.

Wood Poppies bloom from March through June, and beyond that, intermittently, if there is enough moisture. Planted next to Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), the two plants create a lovely combination.

_______________________________________________________________________

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