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The Middle of March
It’s the middle of March and the first of my daffodils are up and blooming. Looking so lovely as they trumpet the arrival of spring. Don’t get too confident though you golden beauties. Mother Nature has a way of bringing surprises. Surprises like SNOW, even in the middle of APRIL!
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Bear Corn
There are so many awesome treasures to be found in the woods. One of those treasures that is right up there near the top of my list is Bear Corn (Conopholis americana). It’s a native to eastern North America. This is a plant that doesn’t have a speck of the color green because Bear Corn…
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Wild Ginger
Along the trails here in the Blue Ridge, come April there will be green leaves peeking up through the earth. Take your time as you hike. There’s so much out there to see. Like patches of Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense). Each plant sends up two heart shaped leaves that split at the soil’s surface. At…
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Wood Poppy Revisited
I’ve written about Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) before but I enjoy the native flower with its happy yellow so much I’d like to tell you more about it. The deeply lobed green-blue leaves of Wood Poppy are poking up from the surface of the soil here in the Blue Ridge now, as the month of…
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Eastern Bluebirds
Two Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) in search of rental property. One room nesting box would be perfect. Buffet complete with mealworms also desired.
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Wood Betony
This native perennial is found in southeastern Canada, eastern North America (as well as New Mexico and Colorado) and eastern Mexico. Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis). The first time I ever saw this plant was along a trail here in the Blue Ridge. As is often the case, I took a picture of the flower, went…
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More Eastern Phoebes
That bobbing of the tail and saying its name makes identification of the Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) mighty easy. Many bird songs baffle me, but this one is easy. Just think “fee-bee” (Phoebe) and you’ve got it. I was delighted as I was refreshing my memory about what Phoebes eat to see that they not…
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Tulip Poplar
The first tree I remember getting to know. Growing right next to our patio. As a little one I’d listen for its “heartbeat” and give it “injections” though now I’m sure it was totally healthy. Back then I had the title of “Tree Doctor” and would take care of it. A Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera).…
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Rue Anemone
Here in the Blue Ridge depending on your elevation you’ll be seeing Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) beginning to bloom around the middle of April. This spring ephemeral is native to deciduous woodlands of eastern North America. So small, you must really look for them along the trail. They grow to only four to eight inches…
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Mourning Dove
Visitors to my feeders every now and then. Always arriving in pairs. The Mourning Dove (Zenáida macroúra). For a while my granddaughter’s favorite bird, I think in part because of the soft coo-oo that the male makes. Good for her that she knows a bird call at the age of 6. I doubt I knew…