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Tracks in the Snow
Looking through my photographs, deciding upon an image to use for this year’s Christmas card. That task brought this photo to my attention and many good memories — during the winter of 2009-2010, 72 inches of snow fell at my cabin. It was such great fun. That winter is my very favorite winter of ALL…
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Mistletoe in Arizona
Juniper Mistletoe (Phoradendron juniperinum). Looking back at photos from a trip to the Southwest. Such a wonderful part of the country. I love to roam out there. To find new plants and animals. This, a species of Mistletoe that I was not familiar with. Juniper Mistletoe is a plant that grows on Juniper trees in…
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Northern Red Oak
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra). A grand cacophony of glee. The last of autumn. The Northern Red Oak is quite common in a good part of eastern United States and southeastern Canada. If you are trying to figure out the various Oak species, the Northern Red Oak is going to send you quite the challenge.…
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The First Day of December
It’s December 1st. The first day of meteorological winter. This image, an ice storm, does its thing on a Colorado Blue Spruce, mid-January 2015. Once a Christmas tree, then planted in the yard. Again one day to be a Christmas tree.
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Late Autumn At the Feeders
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis). This graceful pose by my model, the female White-breasted Nuthatch, was captured a while ago but reflects the many birds that I’m seeing right now at my feeders. I didn’t have the feeders out during the summer and greatly missed seeing all but the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds which circled the cabin, round…
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Bark of Shagbark Hickory and Hop Hornbeam
During the winter when there is little to use to identify a tree, the bark is often the place to go to get that identity. Two trees that grow here in the Blue Ridge Mountains that can offer a bit of confusion, due to each having shaggy bark are shown here in these eight photographs.…
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Wishful Thinking
A few mornings ago as I sat eating my waffles I was treated to a wonderful sight. Snow flurries being blown through the sky. Blowing quickly past the window I was peering through. Certainly not unusual for this time of year. That got me thinking of the marvelous weather that winters can bring. And of…
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Sometimes Red Means Blueberry
There are some blueberry bushes that are spectacular every season of the year, including autumn, with their brilliant scarlet leaves. Seeming to shout, “Here comes WINTER!”
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More on Hop-hornbeam
A couple days ago I told you about a bit about the bark of Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). When the tree is young its bark is red/brown with horizontal lenticels giving it the appearance of a Cherry Tree. As the tree matures the bark changes to a pale gray/brown and becomes quite shreddy with narrow strips.…
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Sassafras in the Spotlight
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) soaking up the sunshine. A chilly day but oh! That color has such warmth!