A Stream That Makes Me Think Of Van Gogh

February 28, 2026

A walk down to the stream. Passing so many intriguing things along the way, Red-headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), blue quartz, many different Mosses and Lichens, Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), a remarkable burl on a White Oak (Quercus alba), nest of a Organ Pipe Mud Dauber (Trypoxylon politum), and Ground Cedar (Diphasiastrum digitatum), among so many things to make it a special day in nature.

Once down to the stream, I got many pictures of the gurgling water. Now, looking back through the images, I’m struck by this picture of the water. It reminds me of the dramatic impasto paintings of Vincent van Gogh.

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent van Gogh.

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One Of My Small Friends

February 27, 2026

Looking like a ping-pong ball with feathers, this is one of my buddies, the Chickadee (Poecile).

I would normally refer to a bird by its specific species but that would be difficult since the native range of both the Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), and the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), overlap in my area. And to add to the confusion, they interbreed, and they learn each other’s songs.

These little black, white, and gray critters are so charming. When I go out to feed the birds, I call to them, and Chickadees are the first to come, calling back to me when they arrive.

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Yucca Highlighted With Snow

February 26, 2026

This past Sunday was quite the day. The temperature hovering around 33° or 34° with huge gusts of wind and snow coming down. Seems I was lucky being up here on the mountain. Down below it was, for the most part only rain. Elevation has its advantages.

I mentioned wind. Oh my! Did it ever blow, pasting snowflakes on everything. This Yucca filamentosa sure caught a lot of those snowflakes. Flakes were even captured on its thready filaments.

Snow is now in the forecast for early next week. It will be the 2nd day of meteorological spring 2026. We’ll see.

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Cardinal In My Black And White Landscape

February 25, 2026

Oh my! A spot of brilliant scarlet, against the stunning black and white landscape. A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) catches my attention as I travel aimlessly. The scene becomes a quilt of winter.

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Snow On The Ristra

New Mexico, Land Of Enchantment. That’s what this ristra represents to me. A state very special to me.

The wind was blowing so very hard 2 nights ago, it blanketed everything with the snow that was coming down. Making it a frosted fairyland.

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Plastered With Snow

It wasn’t the same as snowcrete coming down, like nearly a month ago, but yesterday was quite a day. Snow falling all day long. Some of that time the temperature was fluttering between 33° and 34° so the snow didn’t stick very well, that is until the temperature dropped below freezing.

And was the wind ever blowing. This picture is while snowflakes were being plastered on absolutely everything, including small branches of trees, the windows in my cabin, the cedar siding on my cabin, the sides of trees, leaves that were still hanging from trees, and here tiny stems of Purple Coneflower seedheads (Echinacea purpurea).

This is when I really adore snow. When Mother Nature’s artistic tendencies go wild, decorating everything.

A Year Ago Tomorrow

February 22, 2026

Late this afternoon snow was coming down at a good pace and the wind was whipping it up. I was looking out at the crazy weather when I got quite a surprise, a Bobcat (Lynx rufus).

This is only the fourth Bobcat that I’ve seen here at the cabin. And the third one was sighted here a year ago tomorrow. That one was seen late in the afternoon like this one. They are crepuscular so that makes sense.

What a strange feeling to realize this seems to be an annual event. I’ll have to watch for it next year.

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How Did They Bloom So Quickly?

February 21, 2026

Just a couple days ago, they were buried under heavy, rock solid snowcrete. A short bit of time with some warm weather, nearly an inch of rain, and they are blooming as if they can survive anything.

Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis).

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Wood Frogs, A Late Winter Joy

February 20, 2026

It’s late winter, and right on time, even before the Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) begin their chirping calls, Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) have arrived. Their noisy clacking calls can be heard through my closed windows, as they call, hoping to attract a mate.

Out of the water, it’s a bit easier to see how a Wood Frog looks, complete with a robber’s mask.

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A Few Words From A Robin

February 19, 2026

An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) wants you to know that its species is not a sign of spring. They are year-round residents of the lower 48 states. They just change their behavior during the winter. Switching from their warm weather diet of worms, grubs, and insects that they find in your lawn. Their winter behavior is flocking together moving from one tree to another eating fruits and berries. They are still around, just not always in your yard, but nearby finding Crabapples, Holly berries, Sumac berries, Hawthorn berries, Eastern Red Cedar berries, Dogwood berries, and Wild Grapes.

The Robin wants you to know that whether you see them, or not, spring is coming!

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