Song Sparrow Revisited

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). A sparrow that is here in central Virginia all year long. Mainly a ground feeder, eating insects spring, summer and autumn. Dining on seeds and various fruits as the weather turns cold. The Song Sparrow is one of the most variable songbirds, with as many as 30 different phases of this species from one location to another across North America. They love to challenge me.

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Blooms in the Snow

Hellebores. Native to southern and central Europe, where they’re often found growing in the mountains in stony clay soils. It’s no wonder they seem so at home here in my gardens. Though not a native, I must say they are well behaved and know just where their bounds are. They welcome snow in late January with a surprise of bloom to those who don’t expect it.

Here for the Winter

Today is a delightful day. Not only snow falling several hours this morning that has continued into this afternoon which now coincides with what the weather folks are saying, “Snow this afternoon.” But also a diminutive bird that I only see in the winter, and for the most part only at the birdbath, has made himself known. I first caught sight of him preening in the apple tree, after taking a bath, in the snow.

Diminutive, indeed, smaller than a Chickadee. And that “Ruby Crown” is not always visible, though depending on which direction the little bird is looking, I can usually see it. It is only on the male of the species though. They are short distance migrants, moving from far northern North America as well as the western mountains to southern and southwestern United States and Mexico during October and April. Makes a day special when I get to see one.

Look But Don’t Touch!

Many caterpillars aren’t to safe to pick up. If you don’t know what the species is that you’re admiring, proceed with caution. These are four caterpillars that can cause a very itchy rash if you pick them up. To be safe, look but don’t touch. This one is a Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae). They’re native to the eastern half of North America.

A pretty one that I see frequently. The White-marked Tussock Moth caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma). Another caterpillar of eastern North America which can become a pest in Christmas tree farms. Oh NO.

And this beauty is a Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris). Found in the eastern three-quarters of North America, excluding west of the Rockies.

And this wild and crazy looking creature is a Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillar (Euchaetes egle). They’re found on Milkweed and Dogbane, from southern Canada south through Texas and Florida in North America.

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Ice covered berries of NATIVE honeysuckle. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens).

The scarlet berries bring Quail, Purple Finches, Goldfinches, Hermit Thrushes, American Robins, and surely more birds, to the vines which are native to the southeastern United States.

Spring Azure butterflies and Snowberry Clearwing moths use the Trumpet Honeysuckle as their host plant.

And if you’re guessing that Hummingbirds are attracted to the blooms you are certainly correct.

I’m fascinated by the leaves immediately below blooms which are not only opposite but also fused into an oblong shape that creates a cup that can catch raindrops, making silvery pebbles of water. I’m going to experiment with propagating Trumpet Honeysuckle come spring, either by layering and/or by cuttings. Wish me luck!

Ice

This past December fooled me. It was so warm. Not at all the way December is supposed to be in the Blue Ridge Mountains or in the Mid-Atlantic states. The whole month was that way. The warmth had me worried about how the rest of the winter would be.

But January came through for me. It’s been a nice frigid cold. Perfect. So far my cabin has been decorated by 17″ of beautiful snow. The first came on January 3rd. Those 9″ were the best, wet, clinging, heavy snow that stayed on the trees for several days. A perfect fairyland. These pictures are not of those snows but what winter also brings, the frosty cold, and with it, ICE.

The first image at the top of this post is of ice on the vernal pool at my yoga studio. The second is also at the yoga studio, and is of frost. And the photo just above this text is ice covered Blueberry buds. And no need to worry, the Blueberry flowers and the berries themselves were just fine, not damaged at all by the ice.

These buds are of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). And again Mother Nature is a gentle artist, creating beautiful landscapes covered in ice and still those buds were not harmed. Going on to bloom, creating another gorgeous landscape of flowers a couple months later.

More ice and another Dogwood. This one Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) with its fruit stalks, or pedicels encrusted in ice.

And here, one of my favorite Pine trees. Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida). Plastered in ice. All this icy elegance, just one part of why winter is my favorite season.

Not Every Winter

It’s not every winter I see them. But quite the treat to see when they do show up. The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata).

Internet sites say you can attract them with sunflower seed, raisins, suet, and peanut butter.

Where I see them most often though, not at the feeders but at the birdbath.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll get to see them this winter.

They Laugh at Winter

It’s been a mighty cold January. Last night’s low was an invigorating 6°. And yet here they come. Leaves emerging from the soil and soon there will be buds.

Daffodils (Narcissus) are intrepid plants native to southern Europe and North Africa concentrated mainly in the western Mediterranean area.

In the genus Narcissus there are over 50 species, and a multitude of cultivars.

I’ve heard expressions of concern when snow falls on Daffodil blooms but these flowers laugh at such things and keep coming back for more.

Bloom time varies greatly from one cultivar or species to another but I’m anticipating the first flowers to appear here in central Virginia in about a month. And if it snows on them, they’ll just chuckle.

Midwinter Blooms

Many months of new discoveries. Training to become a master naturalist. February 2010. Blandy Aboretum of Virginia. Midwinter, and my first introduction to Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis).

Then a precious friend shared some of her Winter Aconite with me. All these years later they still emerge, sometimes through the snow, in early February. Like rays of warm sunshine on cold winters days. Hope for warmer days IF one should desire warmer days.

Leaves of long hearts joined together at the center. Circles of green.

And like the leaves, the seedpods arranged in a magical symmetry. Beauty in nature.