Ironweed With A Bit Of Snow

January 19, 2026

Seedheads of Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) with a bit of snow from yesterday’s dusting, showing signs of having been nibbled on by birds.

Full seedheads of Ironweed in late November.

And in late August, showing off its bold magenta color.

Growing to 5 – 8 feet, Ironweed is a beautiful plant that blooms in late summer in the woods of the eastern United States, including the states of Florida to Massachusetts, going west to Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia and also in southern Ontario.

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Another Dusting Today

January 18, 2026

Midafternoon today, I looked out and saw snow coming down out of the sky, hard and heavy. It went on for a while but only left a dusting. Another day of pure joy.

These seedheads, topped with some of that snow, are the Maryland state flower, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). The green, snow covered leaves in the background are of Yucca filamentosa, the state flower of New Mexico, though the state doesn’t specify a species of Yucca. This one is a native to Virginia. Two special plants to Maryland and New Mexico.

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A Dusting

January 17, 2026

I woke up to a beautiful dusting of snow this morning. To me, snow is magical, creating such beauty, and taking me back to my childhood. Living on a steep hill with lots of sledding happening whenever winter brought snow. Pure joy!

This is me back then. Me and my Snowman!

Roosting Wrens

January 16, 2026

A picture from the summer, when the star birdhouse was being used as a nesting box. This evening though, as the sun was thinking of setting, two Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) were roosting in this birdhouse, trying to stay warm.

They were startled when someone came out the door, right next to where the house is hanging. Quickly they took off. I’m sure they’re back now, huddled to keep warm on this cold winter night.

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Seedheads Of Asters

January 15, 2025

Another chance for you to feed the birds by doing nothing! These are the seedheads of Asters (Aster) which can provide much food for wild birds. And the Asters look lovely while in bloom during the summer.

A disheveled garden can be a source of pride.

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Tall Anemone Fluff

January 14, 2026

Blooming mid-to-late summer, a Tall Anemone (Anemone virginiana).

After the blooms, fluffy seedheads develop which last until spring.

With spring, comes nest building season, and birds, such as this Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), use the fluff of the seedheads for building their nests.

Another reason to not tidy up your gardens,

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The Nuthatch Pose

January 13, 2025

A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) in its classic nuthatch pose, upside down.

I love having these birds around with their funny, laughing sound, much like a horn of a tiny, tin toy model T.

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A Feather

January 12, 2026

A feather caught on the brambles of a Wineberry shrub (Rubus phoenicolasius).

The brambles are sticky throughout the year, even in winter, making them even more unpleasant than their hairy, thorny, red (now brown) stems. The sticky and hairy stems may be a means of protection against small insects, and fruit predators.

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A Hermit Thrush In A Dogwood

January 11, 2026

Resting in a Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) that has enjoyed the warmish weather the past few days. But today the temperature fell rather than rising, and there were snow flurries, so it’s looking a bit puffed up against the chill.

They are a bird that forages through leaves around low bushes looking for insects. So remember to leave the leaves! They also enjoy adding berries to their diet. They’ll eat berries that are available during the winter, such as Elderberries, Huckleberries, Holly berries, Multiflora Rose hips, and Poison Ivy berries.

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Welcome Rain

January 10, 2026

Ah! Wonderful rain. There hasn’t been rain since Christmas Day when .08 inches fell well before it was time to get up to see what Santa brought. Now today, almost an inch has fallen, .91 inches to be exact. I think it has stopped coming down. So pleased for the rain.

This picture is of little globes of rain drops hanging on to a spider web that has been spun on Yucca gloriosa (Yucca gloriosa).

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