Not Petals But Bracts

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) in the very early stages of floral bloom, back on April 10th. Those little pale green nubs at the center are the buds of the Dogwood flowers. Those four even paler green items extending out from the buds – items that we most often think of as petals are actually bracts.

Buds form on Flowering Dogwood trees in the autumn and need protection from the harsh winter. Those bracts protect the fragile flower buds as snow and ice do their thing.

After months of being inconspicuous, the bracts finally open in early April here in central Virginia. Those flowers are still buds though, like the picture at the top of this post. Two or three weeks later that cluster of buds (those tiny flowers in the center) open. The many flowers each have four petals opening and curling to reveal a single pistil with four stamens covered in pollen. Soon to become the red berries (drupes) that become the look of autumn.

Flowering Dogwood, beautiful in every season

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Ecstasy

Dear readers, friends, and family,

Tendrils is back – finally. My blog crashed on March 29th and I’ve been trying to stay calm since then. As I tried to figure things out it seemed I was hitting a brick wall everyday but thanks to very helpful Rick at Bluehost, in the Philippines, things have been resolved.

I have no clue as to what caused the crash but whatever it was, I certainly hope it never happens again. And I must say I am ecstatic to be able to share my photographs and my ramblings with you anew.

Brenda

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Spring Colors

What a joy to be out and about in the spring finding all the colors that have been sprinkled in the woods by Mother Nature. Such a kick after winter with its black and white landscape. Okay, not literally black and white. Many shades of brown, gray, white and the greens of evergreen trees. That’s my version of black and white, which I actually adore but enough is enough! Spring is here.

Today’s discovery, a new color thanks to spring, and a small evergreen herb, Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis). A plant that is native to eastern North America.

I do indeed love the black and white landscape of winter but I’m ready for more color. And I guarantee that by the time autumn is near it’s end, I will be all set for black and white again.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Tiny Early Spring Butterfly

Teeny tiny with a wingspan of just one inch. Don’t blink. You might miss it.

This is the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), that flies in a fast, unpredictable manner.

The ventral sides of a butterfly’s wings are the undersides, the sides that are seen when the wings are held together, closed. That is the preferred stance that the Spring Azure takes in nearly any circumstance. That underside of its wings are pale, pale gray with spots of various darker shades of charcoal gray.

The dorsal sides of the wings are the sides of the butterfly’s wings seen when those wings are open. If you’re fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the dorsal side of the wings you’ll see a lovely medium blue color.

Later in the summer there are some nearly identical butterflies that will be flying around, Summer Azures (Celastrina neglecta). How to tell the difference? When they are flying around.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Often Considered A Weed

Ah, yes. THAT weed! Not one I’m particularly concerned about. No threat of bringing precious trees down as is the case with some other invasives.

This one reminds me of my Dad who seemed to take it upon himself to rid the world of as many Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) plants in his yard and that of friends and neighbors as he could.

This species of the Dandelion is originally from Eurasia and was introduced to North America in the mid-1600s. Brought to this continent by settlers hoping to grow it as a crop for food and medicine.

For me and my yard, not a plant that I’m going to worry about. There are many more horrible weeds out there to be concerned about. Dandelions? No big deal.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

An Early Sighting

An afternoon trekking through the woods in a favorite spot in western Albemarle County. Woods, yes, but so very different than the woods here on my mountain in Greene County. And quite the surprise, I happened upon an adult Luna Moth (Actias luna). I’ve never seen one so early.

Its color surprised me too. Leaning more toward yellow than I’m used to seeing. Usually I would describe the color as a pale lime green. On the Internet I found one site that mentioned males leaning toward yellow, and this fellow is a male. See those feather-like antennae? That means this one is a male.

These moths are not around long as adults since they are not equipped with a mouth or a digestive system. Their only purpose at this stage in their life is to reproduce, living perhaps a week.

One short life. It’s no wonder that they are seldom seen. Not around long and nocturnal. My normal sightings per year: just one.

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Up Here

Down at the bottom of my place. Looking further down through the utility line right-of-way, to the low lands where things are growing more quickly. Growing at a faster rate because it is generally warmer.

Up here the Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are at this stage. Just beginning to show a little color but not open. Down below they have broad strokes of lovely pink on their branches lighting up the countryside.

A little further along in their development, Spicebush (Lindera benzoin).

Spicebush brightening up the dreary winter woods. Bringing in some spring color.

Spring becoming more and more at home on my mountain as the days go by.

Happy Astronomical Spring

I’ve been watching for the first signs of Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) making its spring appearance. And today, this is what I found. Perfect timing!

In just a few days the plant will develop flowers and green leaves. You can see a leaf on the left which looks like a green butterfly. This “butterfly leaf” is why the plant has its “twinleaf” name.

Here’s a better look at the leaves and a seed pod that is just beginning to develop.

And this funny looking guy is actually an opened seed pod ripe and ready for ants which love these seeds, to come along and take the seeds to their nests. The seeds have appendages called elaiosomes which is what the ants love about the seeds. The ants will bring those seeds with the elaiosomes back to their nests and feed their larvae those elaiosomes. That will leave the seeds in the nest in a perfect spot to take root, spreading the Twinleaf plants, thanks to the little ant farmers.

All this will take just a few days to develop. I’ll be checking on the new plants everyday to see what is going on. And for tonight — Happy Astronomical SPRING!

_______________________________________________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Winter Residents Still Around

White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), are one of many birds that visit my feeders everyday. Arriving in late autumn, they spend lots of time here.

I was wondering today how long they stay around. When do they migrate north for their breeding season? Seems they are around long enough to greet the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) that arrive here in late April. The White-throated Sparrows will hang around for just a tiny bit beyond that, heading north in mid to late May.

I’ll certainly miss them when they head to their northern homes. But there will be a wide variety of summer birds to keep me company. Nature certainly keeps me entertained!