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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!
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Warm Autumn Color
Warm colors of autumn. Dancing Sassafras trees. Toffee yellow Maple leaves. The trails call to me.
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Hop-hornbeam Bark
As leaves fall in autumn, so does a key element in identification of trees, lost to the wind. The bark of the tree is another route to take if you want that I.D. This scrappy looking bark belongs to the Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). Pay attention as you roam through the woods. What are the barks…
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American Beech in Autumn
Oh it is so very nice to be back in autumn again. I spent a few days traveling to Florida and got to experience the change of seasons all over again. I traveled south into summer and green green green. Returning yesterday I got the thrill of seeing the mountains covered in their autumn best.…