-
Flowering Dogwood Bracts
April 7, 2026 Providing protection as the flowers are developing in late winter and early spring, what appear to be petals on blossoms of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) are modified leaves called bracts. The actual tiny flowers, in a shade of soft yellow green, are at the center of the four bracts, each one complete…
-
Cauliflory
April 6, 2026 Cauliflory, a word which refers to trees that bloom and produce fruit from their trunks. Of course it’s the opposite of what is normally seen, blooms and fruit growing on new growth. It’s a happening that is rare in temperate climates but common in tropical forests. It surprises me to find that…
-
Wild Easter Turkey
April 5, 2026 Quite the surprise this morning. The Wild Easter Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) came by for a visit. On the one hand it was really a disappointment since it showed up with no Easter basket filled with goodies. No chocolate bunnies, no dyed eggs, no jelly beans, no Peeps. But what a treat to…
-
Molting Goldfinches
April 4, 2026 Right now I’m seeing many Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) that are looking quite mottled, as a result of molting. Changes in the amount of daylight, and temperature changes, in early spring trigger hormones, causing a partial molt, involving only body feathers, but keeping tail and wing feathers. Males become a more brilliant yellow…
-
Wood Violets
April 3, 2026 I’m always inspired at the yoga studio, both inside, and outside the building. Yesterday morning didn’t let me down. There were little patches of blooming, native Wood Violets (Viola sororia) here and there, but this large gathering of the Violets caught my eye. My camera and I got several pictures, but I…
-
Wood Poppies And Rain Drops
April 1, 2026 Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) One of the native plants that bloom in early spring. Native to eastern North America from southwestern Ontario and Pennsylvania, down to Georgia and Alabama, out to Michigan and Missouri. There are two common names for this plant, Celandine Poppy, and Wood Poppy. There is another Celandine (similar…
-
Sassafras Blooms
March 31, 2026 In bloom now in the woods, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). A delightfully fragrant tree in all its parts, roots, bark, leaves, and twigs. These blooms will create drupes which are small, egg-shaped, shiny, blue-black berries with brilliant red stalks, or pedicels. Maturing in late summer. _______________________ If you would like to receive my…
-
Blooms Of Red Maple
March 30, 2026 Early spring and the Red Maple trees (Acer Rubrum) are taking their place in the roll out of blooms, painting the woods with a blush of many shades of red and red-orange. These trees produce unpredictable flowers, some with all female flowers, some with all male flowers, and still other trees have…
-
Dad’s Birthday
March 29, 2026 Today would have been my Dad’s 101st birthday. This picture is from the first time Mom and Dad got to meet our Granddaughter, and their Great-granddaughter. She is resting on my Mom’s shoulder, and Dad is reaching out to her tiny hand. So many special memories. _______________________ If you would like to…