Redbud, A Member Of The Legume Family

May 23, 2025

Seed pods of Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). These look like they’re beans and sure enough, Redbud trees are in the legume family (Fabaceae). Members of the legume family are well known for their ability to add nitrogen to the soil.

A little bit of what happens in the adding of nitrogen to the soil. There is a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria that lives in nodules on the plants’ roots. The bacteria changes nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form that the plants can use. This process adds nitrogen to the soil.

However, Redbud is part of a very small portion of the legume family that does not add nitrogen to the soil.

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Indian Pink

May 22, 2025

A unique flower. Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica), native to inland areas of the Southeastern and Midwestern US. An herbaceous perennial that grows to a height of 1.5 to 2 feet, with a width of about 1.5 feet.

In bloom right now in my garden.

A row of flowers emerges at the top of every stem, 2 inches tall, tubular, and a brilliant shade of scarlet. Each having a lovely yellow star shape on top.

A flower that seems to have been created for Hummingbirds.

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One Of Many Favorites

May 21, 2025

Thinleaf Blue-eyed Grass or Common Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), a delight to have around, volunteering here and there. Native to the eastern two thirds of the United States and Canada. 

Though indeed it certainly looks like a grass, the several species of blue-eyed grass are in the iris family.

And another thing I discovered as I was doing my research: these flowers have just three petals, alternating with nearly twin sepals, creating the look of six petals. The sepals can be found easily, as they are slightly wider that the petals.

Isn’t nature filled with amazing surprises!

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Farmer Ants

May 20, 2025

These are seed pods and seeds of Wood Poppy. You might be able to see, if you look carefully, that each seed is wrapped with something that looks like a fuzzy white band. This is an elaiosome which is nutrient rich and attracts some ants.

These ants are participating, along with the plant, with seed dispersal in a process called myrmecochory. This is a symboitic relationship in which both the ants and the plants benefit.

The seeds of an amazing number of plants have an attachment called the elaisome which is rich with lipids and proteins. Ants know that their larvae will benefit greatly by being fed these elaisomes, which are brought to them in the nest. After the feeding, the remains of the seeds are placed in the “trash room” of the nest which is a perfect atmosphere for sprouting.

Some of the spring ephemerals that participate in myrmecochory are Trilliums, Bloodroot, Wild Ginger, and Dutchman’s Breeches, Trout Lily, Twin Leaf, Spring Beauty, and Wood Poppy.

Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), native to eastern North America.

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Melodious Warbling

May 19, 2025

Oh what beautiful songs coming through the open windows today! A Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) was out roaming and singing his heart out. Delighting me with the sounds of nature.

Mockingbirds, Catbirds, and Brown Thrashers are closely related, in the family Mimidae. A family known for being mimics and expert vocalists.

The male Brown Thrasher is certainly in the running for having the largest song repertoire of birds in North America, being documented as having over 1,100 songs. They’re able to pick up new sounds and include them in their performances which enables them to have that large repertoire.

Those songs, such a soothing sound.

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Back From South America?

May 18, 2025

This morning I saw the season’s first Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). They spend the winter months somewhere between southern Florida and northern South America. No telling where this guy has been. Even spending the winter in southern Florida means he was very far from here.

They find their way over those incredible distances by using the movement of stars, specifically the North Star, and constellations like Ursa Major and Cassiopeia.

Pretty impressive.

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A Pair Of Towhees

May 17, 2025

He came by just before lunch today. Splashing around in the birdbath to get those feathers clean. He had enough of the cleaning and went to a perch to shake off the water and get his feathers in order again. A male Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus).

Just a couple minutes later, she must have decided that the birdbath was empty. She came close to be sure, then with no more hesitation got in and started splashing around just like he had done. Then, like he did, she went to a tree branch, shook off the water, tidied up her feathers and flew off in the direction he had gone. A female Eastern Towhee.

I see the male Towhee from time to time but the female is unusual to see. Glad I got to see both of them today!

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Elderberries In Bloom

May 16, 2025

Blooming in the lowlands now. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), a large shrub reaching 5 to 12 feet tall, leafing out early in the spring.

Large, flat-topped clusters or cymes, of five-pointed, white, 1/4 inch wide, mildly scented flowers are emerging now and soon will be in full bloom up here in the mountains. They provide both pollen and nectar to bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and flies.

Berries (actually drupes), reddish-purple leaning toward black, develop in late summer. These drupes are enjoyed by at least 43 species of birds.

Quite the bush for wildlife!

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Carabus Beetle

May 15, 2025

The Carabus Beetle (Carabus serratus), a ground beetle native to North America, in both Canada and the United States. Ground beetles are a large family of beetles, Carabidae, with around 2,000 species in North America.

A beautiful beetle, shiny patent leather black, with purple edging. They eat slugs, snails, worms, and insects benefitting farmers and gardeners.

I see this beetle every now and then, pleased that I can bring home more photographs of its incredible coloring.

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Blooms Of Maple-leaf Viburnum

May 14, 2025

Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is blooming right now in my yard, and along trails up here in the mountains. It’s a shrub that reaches a height of 3′ to 6′ and a width of 3′ to 4′.

The fuzzy textured leaves grow opposite each other, and are 2″ to 4″ long and wide, with 3 to five lobes. Those lobes have a serrated edge.

The flowers are arranged in flat-topped clusters, or cymes, which provide nectar and pollen to bees, flies, beetles, wasps, butterflies and skippers.

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