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Every Now And Then
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis). Smaller than a Carolina Wren. They enjoy coming to my bird bath to care for their feathers. Seeming to be constantly in motion. Eating small insects and spiders, supplementing their diet with berries in the winter. A winter resident that doesn’t make its presence obvious. Choosing rather to stay in the…
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Super Sassafras Shades
Dependable in its rich colors of October. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Turning from soft green, its fragrant leaves become multiple shades, perfect for the autumn season. Sassafras, aside from its delightful aroma, has a vast repertoire of colors it shows off as October crawls to the haunting day of Halloween. Warm delightful colors. Many shades of…
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Bejeweled
Seemingly bejeweled, the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). I don’t see nearly enough of these beauties. As adults they seek the nectar of many flowers. A short list: goldenrod, ironweed, sunflowers, mistflower, asters, coneflowers. I’ve recently added Blue Vervain to one of my gardens. I’ve read that they enjoy the nectar of those flowers as well.…
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Five Red Leaves
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) a vine in the grape family (Vitaceae). Native to eastern and central North America. A plant that knows its own mind. One that will wander into areas where you might not want it to grow. Keep an eye on it if you have it in your garden. And beware some (but not…
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No Customers
What an absolute kick it is to feed the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) that come to my feeders during the summer. Some of them have been here before and return to my feeders, whether during the summer or during their migration. But gone is the time when I put out 1/2 gallon of hummingbird syrup…
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Late Bloomer
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in October and November, providing nectar for Owlet Moths. Unique flowers that make me think of yellow straps of shredded coconut. The blooms closely spaced make it difficult to tell but each flower has four petals that curl up on cold days and unfurl on warmer days. Blooming after their…