Thank You Pollinators

April 8, 2026

A Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) gathering nectar and pollen from the blooms of Blueberry bushes (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus). Of course it doesn’t realize it, but its efforts result in blueberries appearing on the bushes in late May. Soon after they ripen, they will become blueberry muffins, blueberry pies and toppings for many bowls of cereal.

Thank you pollinators! I love having you around!

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Flowering Dogwood Bracts

April 7, 2026

Providing protection as the flowers are developing in late winter and early spring, what appear to be petals on blossoms of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) are modified leaves called bracts.

The actual tiny flowers, in a shade of soft yellow green, are at the center of the four bracts, each one complete with stamens and pistils, the male and female parts of the flowers. And with the help of pollinators, will develop bright red berries in autumn.

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Cauliflory

April 6, 2026

Cauliflory, a word which refers to trees that bloom and produce fruit from their trunks. Of course it’s the opposite of what is normally seen, blooms and fruit growing on new growth. It’s a happening that is rare in temperate climates but common in tropical forests.

It surprises me to find that there are three cauliflorous species of trees that grow right here in my woods, Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida), Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), and in the picture above – Redbud (Cercis canadensis).

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Wild Easter Turkey

April 5, 2026

Quite the surprise this morning. The Wild Easter Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) came by for a visit. On the one hand it was really a disappointment since it showed up with no Easter basket filled with goodies. No chocolate bunnies, no dyed eggs, no jelly beans, no Peeps. But what a treat to get to see it. I’ll bet not many people got to see the Easter Turkey this morning.

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Molting Goldfinches

April 4, 2026

Right now I’m seeing many Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) that are looking quite mottled, as a result of molting. Changes in the amount of daylight, and temperature changes, in early spring trigger hormones, causing a partial molt, involving only body feathers, but keeping tail and wing feathers. Males become a more brilliant yellow and females become a more subtle olive-yellow. There is also a change in the color of their feet, legs and beaks, going from a dull brown to orange for the spring and summer seasons.

This molt is the first of two molts that Goldfinches go through. The second occurs between late August and October, and again involves taking hints from the amount of daylight, and temperatures. This one is a complete molt involving all feathers. Warm, strong feathers, for the cold winter, and colors that are not as bright, providing camouflage.

Nature – amazing!

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Wood Violets

April 3, 2026

I’m always inspired at the yoga studio, both inside, and outside the building. Yesterday morning didn’t let me down. There were little patches of blooming, native Wood Violets (Viola sororia) here and there, but this large gathering of the Violets caught my eye. My camera and I got several pictures, but I like this one in particular, even with the photobombing done by the few sprouts of a non-native, invasive, Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum).

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Yellow Trout Lily

April 2, 2026

So pleased today to come upon a blooming Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum), native to eastern North America. A plant that grows to 3 to 6 inches tall, with a bloom that is 1 to 3 inches wide. The tiny flower is composed of 6 tepals, which are 3 true petals and 3 petal-like sepals, which bend dramatically backward.

The plant takes 3 to 8 years to mature and produces a flower and 2 leaves. Plants with only 1 leaf are immature or in a crowed environment. Only 1% to 5% of a colony blooms at once.

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Wood Poppies And Rain Drops

April 1, 2026

Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)

One of the native plants that bloom in early spring. Native to eastern North America from southwestern Ontario and Pennsylvania, down to Georgia and Alabama, out to Michigan and Missouri.

There are two common names for this plant, Celandine Poppy, and Wood Poppy. There is another Celandine (similar in appearance) that I know of as a highly invasive, non-native plant, Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus). Since I don’t want that plant with the bad reputation getting confused with the native, I choose to use the common name of Wood Poppy.

Wood Poppy is one of those interesting plants that relies on ants to distribute their seeds in a mutualistic partnership called myrmecochory.

Nature always manages to amaze me.

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Sassafras Blooms

March 31, 2026

In bloom now in the woods, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). A delightfully fragrant tree in all its parts, roots, bark, leaves, and twigs.

These blooms will create drupes which are small, egg-shaped, shiny, blue-black berries with brilliant red stalks, or pedicels. Maturing in late summer.

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Blooms Of Red Maple

March 30, 2026

Early spring and the Red Maple trees (Acer Rubrum) are taking their place in the roll out of blooms, painting the woods with a blush of many shades of red and red-orange.

These trees produce unpredictable flowers, some with all female flowers, some with all male flowers, and still other trees have a mix, with both male and female flowers. And sometimes during the year a tree will switch from producing one sex to producing the other, or switch to a mix.

Within a few weeks of blooming, samaras or helicopters appear, dispersing at about the same time the trees begin to leaf out.

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