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Blackhaw
April 11, 2026 Blooming all over the mountains up here, trying to get as much attention as the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and Redbud (Cercis canadensis) trees. Nearly as common as those two trees, the Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium). This small tree is native to eastern North America, Connecticut west to eastern Kansas, and south to…
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Lots Of Mayapples
April 11, 2026 Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). An herbaceous perennial plant that’s between 1 to 1.5 feet tall. They’re native to nearly every state east of the Rocky Mountains, from the Great Lakes down to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Nonflowering stems of each plant produce a single leaf. Flowering stems produce a pair…
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Dancing Christmas Fern
April 10, 2026 Clumps of Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) spent from a tough winter. Sending up new fronds to meet spring, dancing as they arrive. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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The Spring Unfurling
April 9, 2026 Spring, and loads of ferns emerging from the earth as they unfurl. These will grow up to be Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum pedatum). Even more beautiful in its grown up form. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…