Today, the first day of winter and my Mom’s birthday. A special day. Winter brings new birds to watch and enjoy. This, one of those winter birds, a Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), was completely obliging and posed for me.
At the very top of my favorites for wintertime shrubs — Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). A deciduous species of Holly. Native to eastern North America, and is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. Winterberry is a dioecious bush that gets tiny inconspicuous flowers in June and July that attract bees and butterflies and is the host plant for one butterfly in particular, Henry’s Elfin Butterfly. Birds love the brilliant crimson berries which cling to their leafless branches in winter. I love them too, for their elegant beauty.
Waiting to be discovered. Sitting in a big jar. Spritz cookies. Tradition for our family.
Christmas trees atop an apple pie. Made with McIntosh apples, my favorite apple for baking pies and making applesauce. Using my Mom’s recipe. All set to be served.
Spider web, treasured rain drops, Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens).
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). I know, not something you really want to think about. I’m right there with you. I’m highly allergic to it. BUT birds, including many woodpeckers, LOVE the berries. So I enjoy the Poison Ivy too, because of the birds, though I certainly try not to touch it.
In the morning hours of December 9, 2017 moist air and snowflakes wafted past a spider web. The moisture in the air and the feathery ice crystals clung to the web and captured my fascination.
Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in dull winter garb. All set for the cold. If it ever comes.
Gregarious birds. Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). In a group they’re called an “ear-ful” or a “museum” of Waxwings. They move together, often with American Robins (Turdus migratorius), from one area to another hunting down their favorite berries and fruits. Nomads roaming their range, showing up here and there wherever they can find a meal for their numbers. Here, Smooth Sumac berries have attracted them.
An annual tradition for many many years. Today I’ve chosen a photograph to use but its look will change as I add borders, surrounding the picture with images of fabric, or wrapping paper, or other visual textures that have tickled my fancy through the years. Choosing the photo is just the first of many steps along the way. This image was captured in Hobbs, New Mexico, at the beginning of November, 2004.
