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Hummingbirds And Blooms
April 12, 2025 I’ve been wondering about the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). How in the world are they finding nectar here to keep them humming along? The woods and gardens are just beginning to create the blooms that the hummingbirds need. Turns out the answer is quite obvious. The many trees that are in bloom…
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Another Very Small Butterfly
April 9, 2025 Perched on a Bi-color Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia f. priceana), sipping its nectar. One of just a few flowers that are available during their season of flying, in early spring. This, a male Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea). The male has orange tips on the dorsal side of its wings. The female looks…
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Dancing
April 8, 2025 As their fiddleheads unfurl, they seem to be gently dancing to the soft songs of spring. This, the frond of a Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). A common sight up here on my mountain. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Ready And Waiting
April 6, 2025 All set. A feeder is out filled with hummingbird syrup. Four parts water to one part sugar with no red dye. Now the wait begins. There have been a couple years when Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) arrived here on April 17th. I’m patiently waiting to see what their arrival date will be…
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Fields Of Purple
April 5, 2025 Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureumo). Native to Eurasia. A member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is quite an aggressive grower and is considered an invasive weed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, there are times when it can be appreciated. First, when these are not your fields. And second when…
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On The Back Hill
April 4, 2025 Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) native to eastern United States from Rhode Island and New York to Louisiana and northern Florida. Beginning to bloom on my back hill. In the middle of May it will look like this blooming like crazy. The blooms will continue, though not quite as profusely, on through…
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Wild Strawberry Blooms
April 3, 2025 They’re blooming now. Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca). Popping up like weeds, all over. They’re native plants. Plants that I thoroughly enjoy. I don’t wildiscourage them. The strawberries they produce have an exceptionally wonderful flavor. The only problem with the berries is that they are so tiny. They will be here, getting ripe…