Tendrils

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. Just one.

But once in a while, not often, several will show up in the birdbath. What a surprise when that happens. And if I’m really lucky, I’ll be able to get a picture of six of them at the birdbath. Well here I was almost lucky. Five plus a sixth that is almost out of the image.

Here’s to seeing more of the Hermit Thrush in 2024!

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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.

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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 7 feet tall and 7 feet wide.

The Colorado Blue Spruce is native to Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. If one can tolerate the very sharp needles, it has an elegant shape for a Christmas tree. I tend to ignore the sharp needles, since I adore its shape.

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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. Those needles growing in pairs with a twisted shape.

And today is a day to celebrate. It’s the first full day of astronomical winter. I wonder what this new season will bring.

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Growing Up With Iris

Iris were always in the gardens that my Mom created. They were her favorite flower. And of course she was quite fond of the many shades of purple. Today is her birthday and I’m thinking fondly of those purple iris that pleased her so much.

These iris are growing in one of my gardens. They’re a native, Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata). A bit unusual, not tall and stately like so many of the European and Asian varieties. But growing just 3 to 6 inches tall, with a flower that is 2 to 3 inches wide. They’re said to have fragrant blooms, though I haven’t noticed any fragrance. But then I am not often that close to the ground. I’m going to have to take notice the next time they are in bloom.

Around the world there are perhaps 280 species of irises, and most of those are native to Europe and Asia. Here in the United States there are just 28 species of iris that are native.

Looking forward to spring when they’re in bloom, so I can check on the fragrance of these beautiful little flowers.

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Caught In Flight

The birds are so entertaining, going after the pinecones that have been coated with peanut butter and then rolled in sunflower kernels.

Here, a Chickadee (Paridae) is hovering to get some of the snack I’ve created for the many birds.

Peanut butter and sunflower kernels go into the suet that I cook up for them too. Happy birds are what it’s all about.

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Female White-breasted Nuthatch

It took a couple weeks but the White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) have returned, after no bird feeding for quite a while.

They’re cute little birds that make a sound like an old toy tin car tooting its little horn. Or think of that little car laughing as it moves about. That’s the sound of the White-breasted Nuthatch.

This one is a female. There’s a subtle difference in the coloring of the male and female. The two, mostly black, white, and gray. The female more subtle grays, less strong, contrasty blacks, and whites.

I’m totally enjoying having these little guys around again, sounding like that little toy car.

Berries For Winter

Eastern Red Cedar berries (Juniperus virginiana). Though you can’t see them in this image there are many other Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) enjoying the treats that this tree provides for them.