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Merry 2024
Merriest of best wishes, For a marvelous New Year, And to all a good night!
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The Tiny One Is Taking Charge
This morning a Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) came by for a dip in the birdbath. I was pleased to see the little critter since I seldom see them. They mainly eat insects but are willing to eat berries while they spend their winters here in Virginia. I have some raisins out on the feeder but…
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Mercury Glass Ornament
Ten years ago, on December 9th, there was a remarkable ice storm here that entertained me for hours as I roamed with my camera. These images are just a very small look at the many pictures that I captured as I was wandering on Cloud Nine. This first picture is a native shrub. Beautiful, particularly…
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Late December Surprise
An adopted orchid bloom! A lovely surprise this late in December. A short time ago I noticed buds emerging. I’m hoping it is in response to my careful watering. In any event something good is coming of the care this plant is receiving. Amount of light? Temperature of the room? Watering schedule? My yoga friends…
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Moderate Drought
Pink, certainly not a winter color, but this photo has rain drops in it. That’s what I’m after. Priceless raindrops. After the past many months we have been through drought conditions. Slowly, very slowly, we are making progress. Over the past several months we have gone from “moderate drought” to “severe drought”. Hanging out in…
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Stunning Beauty
A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), hit by the sun at just the right angle and intensity, showing off her feathers at their best. Cardinals are at their brightest coloring by midwinter/early spring, in preparation for the spring breeding season. They go through a complete molt in late summer, leaving them with not the brightest…
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An Occasional Visitor
This morning there was a visitor at the birdbath. That’s generally where I see the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Most often I see one at the birdbath, but on occasion I’ll see one at the Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) or Beautyberry bushes (Callicarpa) eating the berries. Mostly it is just one, not two or three.…
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Stained Glass Treasure
A large blue piece of art, a stained glass star created by my son as a gift to me. Snow in the background. Wishing you the best of the season, and a 2024 filled with many good things. _______________________________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Colorado Blue Spruce
This Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), on Dec 21, 2013, making its first appearance as a Christmas tree in the cabin. Shortly after, it was planted in the yard just outside my studio windows. And now it has taken its place again in the living room as a much larger Christmas tree, standing a stately…
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Oh Happy Day
A snow that sticks to everything. Wonderful for photographs. We had some like this twelve days ago. It was a marvelous 2.75 inches, but this image is from the end of January, 2005. Its been captured by a Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) with its handsome cones and needles that are 1.5 to 3 inches long.…