Rich Yellow Blooms

April 13, 2025

Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) in bloom right now. A marvelous plant native to the east and central United States and southwestern Ontario. Its rich yellow is a color that I adore.

Stylophorum diphyllum has two common names, Wood Poppy and Celadine Poppy. I choose to use the name Wood Poppy since there is another plant with a similar name, Greater Celadine (Chelidonium majus). Greater Celadine has a similar appearance, and is a non-native highly invasive plant. The name Wood Poppy leaves no confusion.

In the wild it is threatened by two invasives that are a concern to many native plants, Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), and Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum).

Wood Poppy is a flower which only provides pollen for visitors looking for such things, but no nectar. And it is one of those plants that has seeds with an oily appendage called an elaiosome. Ants gather these seeds to provide their larvae a nutritious food source, the elaiosome. They then discard the seeds in their “trash room” where the seeds may eventually sprout. This fascinating process is called myrmecochory.

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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 right now, in early spring are generous with their nectar. The Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is among our hummingbirds’ favorite trees.

And the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) is also right up there among the favorites. So many generous flowers providing them nectar all along their route from the very far south to their summer breeding grounds.

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Wintercress

April 11, 2025

Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris). The lighter yellow flowers in this photo. Native to Eurasia and Northern Africa and invasive.

The darker yellow blooms on the left are Roundleaf Ragwort (Packera obovata)(native to Virginia), and the orange in the lower right corner are California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)(native to California and the northern part of Baja California, Mexico).

Wintercress, another example of a non-native invasive in our landscape.

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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 similar to the male, white with black speckles, but without the orange tips. Another of the small butterflies with a wingspan of 1.375 to 1.5 inches.

As adults these butterflies have a lifespan of 6 to 10 days.

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The First One!

April 9, 2025

During dinner this evening I saw something fly past the window, looking in as it went by. It made a sudden change of direction which said to me, “Hummingbird!” But I wasn’t able to focus on it, so I was uncertain. A few minutes later it showed up at the feeder that I had put out just three days ago.

Sure enough it was a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). I wonder where he spent his winter. Did he go as far south as Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Panama? Did he go straight over the Gulf of Mexico or did he fly along the Gulf Coast?

If he doesn’t continue further north, but decides to stay here during the summer, we’re going to have to have a chat about his travels.

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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.

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Bejeweled

April 7, 2025

There are some leaves that are water repellant. I love to see these plants during rain, or just after rain has fallen. The leaves look to me like they are covered with gem stones. This is a leaf of Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) and is a great example of a leaf that is water repellant, or hydrophobic, looking to me like it is bejeweled.

Leaves with this trait often have a surface that is a waxy layer, known as the cuticle. Other leaves are covered with small hairs, or trichomes, to help water run off the leaf. The hydrophobicity may help the plant keep its leaves clean. Another benefit of hydrophobic leaves is it helps reduce water loss through the leaf surface.

Whatever the reason, I appreciate the beauty that is a result of this trait.

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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 this year.

They spend their winter in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama returning in the spring for their breeding season in Eastern North America.

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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 you are just driving by and catch the beauty of this scene. Fields of Purple Dead Nettle.

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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 autumn.

It attracts bees and butterflies. This, a Harris’ Checkerspot (Chlosyne harrisii) on a Green and Gold bloom.

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