The Woodland Fairy

Imagine my surprise when the Woodland Fairy stopped by to visit me today. She asked me to call her Chestnut. We sat down and talked for a quite a long time. Chestnut was filled with great stories of her life in the woods.

Chestnut lives in a humongous hollow tree. Her magic is why the hollow tree is so very large and inside she has created an atmosphere just like the land outside. In her home all her animals live in harmony. They all get along and are very happy.

She specifically mentioned having birds, foxes and bunnies but I know she must have many many more. The animals are a great help for Chestnut and for each other. For instance, there are 50 feeders for hummingbirds and all the animals help to keep them filled. She tells me that there are many other fairies in the woods, all with different concerns and specialties.

She is going to be filling in for Granddaughter very soon because she’s heard that Granddaughter will be attending some really fun summer camps and she’s knows her friends will miss her. Here she is dressed as Granddaughter, complete with real Montmorency cherry earrings. What a lovely visit!

Wineberry Flower

Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius). An invasive plant that is found throughout the woods up here. Right now there are small flowers. Five, heart shaped, pale pink petals with longer pointed sepals. Very soon to become berries. An invasive, but oh the berries are so good.

Ma and Pa Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

The two of them so active. Back and forth from the nest. Bringing morsels of yummy caterpillars for their nestlings. Only stopping from time to time to sing with great bravado.

Nestlings grow quickly. Hatching to fledging takes 12 to 14 days.

Thank goodness. I’m worn out just watching Ma and Pa.

Mixed Feelings

Great to see a bear cub again. This is not the one that was seen today though. This picture is from a couple years ago. The one on our lane today was too quick, or perhaps too shy to have its picture taken. But at least a bear is back!

Before today, the last Black Bear sighting was 14 months ago. Late April 2021. The bear that showed up on that day was suffering from sarcoptic mange. It showed up nearly naked, just skin and bones. It made its appearance and disappeared just as quickly as today’s cub. Previous visits were once every couple weeks. The mange though seems to have decimated the bear population in this local area. But it looks like they are recovering.

It’s good to have the cub come through looking happy and health. Mighty good. Now watch out for the bird feeders!

It’s The Little Things

White clover (Trifolium repens) that was cut just a few days ago towering over the mushrooms. That’s mighty little. It’s Conocybe lactea with the common name of White Dunce Cap. A mushroom often found in grass, popping up right after a rain.

They’re thin, fragile, lasting only a few hours before disappearing. You’ll often find me here, next to Kumud Vanderveer’s yoga studio, where there is often a vernal pool filled with more small delights just waiting for you. So much out there, if you’ll just look.

Red-eyed Vireo At The Birdbath

I hear them frequently in the woods surrounding my cabin. Making a call that sounds like a Catbird saying, “Myaaah!” Or more of a melodious song, that I use a mnemonic to remember, “Here I am! Where are you?!”

As with other birds that I wouldn’t see ordinarily, the Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), is looking for insects in the woods. I can’t provide them with their meals but I can provide them with water, in the form of a large birdbath with a dripper. That’s what has drawn this beautiful little bird to my camera’s range.

Barometer Earthstar

Barometer Earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus). An interesting little mushroom. Starting out as a minuscule, round, white blob that looks like the mushroom that I wrote about 2 days ago, a very small Giant Puffball Mushroom.

As it matures it takes on the shape that it is known for, with 4 to 20 irregularly sized petals or rays, reaching a diameter of 1/2 to 3 inches across. As the petals open, a round spore case is revealed at the center.

The petals respond to humidity in the air, opening when the air is moist, and slowly closing when the air is dry. Dispersing spores when there is high humidity.

Amazing.

Tithonia

Variegated Fritillary nectaring on a Tithonia bloom

Tithonia rotundifolia. Native to Florida, Louisiana, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. NOT native to Virginia but it is a well behaved annual which I try to plant every year. I thoroughly adore it for the many butterflies, including Monarchs, and the hummingbirds that the dazzling orange flowers attract. A bright orange magnet in the garden.