Snowdrops By The Back Porch

February 9, 2025

Soon to open, Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). Native to Europe. Though not native, it is a well behaved plant. Two leaves emerge from a bulb along with a single pedicel, or stem, with a solitary flower. Three to six inches tall.

It is said that Snowdrops blooming indicate that spring is coming. However since they begin blooming in early February, I simply take it as an affirmation that it is indeed winter.

Quite the treat for the middle of winter.

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And NOW There Is Power!

February 8, 2025

It is Saturday evening as I sit here typing this. You might recall on Thursday I posted a blog about my Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) which had been painted by Mother Nature with a thick, beautiful, coating of silvery ice.

Early Thursday morning that ice event caused many many trees to come down blocking the road down the mountain. It also caused oodles of trees to come down on power lines. There has been no power here at the cabin since then, until just a few minutes ago. The generator which had been chugging loudly since then turned itself off. The welcome silence that occurred, said to me, “You have power again!”

During the time with no power the generator kept most things going but not the heat pump and not the washer and dryer. Thank goodness for the woodstove. Those lovely flames you see through the door kept the cabin warm all that time.

Hooray for power again!

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Ice On The Filaments

February 7, 2025

Another plant that is a state flower. This is a Yucca Filamentosa (Yucca filamentosa). A species of Yucca that is native to Viriginia. The Yucca is the state flower of New Mexico, though there is no particular species mentioned in that designation. I’m taking advantage of that lack of stipulation since I love the state of New Mexico and enjoy having its state flower in my yard.

The filamentosa in the name of this Yucca refers to the multitude of curly threads that extend from the edges of the sword-shaped leaves. The ice that Mother Nature painted everything with yesterday was captured easily by those filaments creating an icicle nest of sorts.

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Lovely Scene To Wake Up To

February 6, 2025

It was forecasted and it sure did happen. A totally gorgeous sight to wake up to. That is, wake up to after the transformer just a couple hundred feet away blew up. Thank goodness for the generator which came on right after the power went out. Oh but what a delightful sight. Mother Nature had painted absolutely everything with a thick layer of ice.

This, one of her subjects. Black-eyed Susans, not to be confused with other Black-eyed Susans. **These are special** The state flower of Maryland. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta).

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Sharp-shinned Hawk

February 5, 2025

What a surprise this afternoon after I refilled the birdbath. I was back inside when I noticed a Bluejay sized bird fly into the garden, then up into the Flowering Dogwood. Certainly not a Bluejay, just that size.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). These hawks prey upon small birds for the most part, and sometimes will dine on large insects, frogs, lizards and small mammals. The male of this species is the smallest hawk in the United States and Canada.

Needless to say, all the other birds vanished when this little hawk arrived.

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Box Elder Samaras

February 4, 2025

Box Elder (Acer negundo), a species of Maple that is native to much of eastern North America and in many scattered areas throughout the rest of the continent, all the way south to Guatemala. There is even a Box Elder County in Utah.

These are seeds of Box Elder, called helicopters or samaras. Perhaps you recall, from your childhood, why they are called helicopters. They twirl to the ground as they fall.

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An Emerging Redbud

February 3, 2025

One determined tiny Redbud (Cercis canadensis) trying its best to survive. Emerging from the leaf litter. Hanging out above the leaf of a Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana).

In looking for an answer as to why the leaf of this small seedling would be red and not green, I find an answer in the Las Cruces Sun News. The young leaves of trees contain anthocyanin pigments which we see as red. The anthocyanin has a protective role, helping with cold temperatures, drought and UV radiation.

Hoping you survive through the winter little one. You will add much beauty to our woods.

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Two Cardinals

February 2, 2025

Two Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) in a Flowering Dogwood tree (Cornus florida) about two weeks ago, puffed up against the very cold temperatures. That day, and today, quite similar. High temperature for both days only creeping to the mid-thirties.

Cardinals are monogamous, staying together from the mating season through the winter. Some Cardinals though will find other mates after that time period. The rest, about eighty percent, stay together for their entire lives.

It is wonderful to see Cardinals during the winter. After seeing isolated pairs during the mating season, winter brings on a different scene with many gathering together to find food. I will easily see ten at a time when I put out hulled sunflower seeds.

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Happenstance

February 1, 2025

Happenstance with commentary.

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