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Gray Beardtongue
June 4, 2026 Gray Beardtongue (Penstemon canescens), is in bloom right now along trails up here in the mountains. It gets is common name, including the confusing “gray”, because its stems and leaves have a thick covering of tiny hairs which create a subtle gray look. It often grows to a height of about 30…
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A Couple Drops Of Rain Yesterday Morning
June 3, 2026 The couple raindrops yesterday morning were a surprise, and enough to add some texture to my photo of a bright yellow bloom of Narrow Leaf Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa). A couple were blooming just a few days ago and today they are opening up all over. Their blooms open in the morning and…
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A Scarab Beetle On Gray Dogwood Blooms
June 1, 2026 This is a species of scarab beetle, the Hairy Flower Scarab (Trichiotinus affinis). They enjoy eating the pollen and nectar of broad, flat flowers such as this Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) bloom. As larvae they eat rotting dead trees such as oak, elm and aspen. They’re native to eastern North America. And…
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Cedar Waxwings Hunting For Ripe Berries
May 30, 2026 Two Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) this morning, hunting with great determination in my many Blueberry bushes (Vaccinium). Going from branch to branch looking for a gorgeous deep blue gem with a frosted look. A few minutes pass and I can almost hear one of the birds shout with excitement, “Oh! I got…
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Purple Flowering Raspberry
May 28, 2026 Growing on a bush with leaves that closely resemble those of maple trees, the Purple Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus) is one of 850 species of flowering plants in Shenandoah National Park. It’s just coming into bloom now, with a flower that is a rich magenta hue. Their fragrant flowers are a nectar…
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Chipmunk And The Baby Box Turtle
May 26, 2026 While I was out this morning, coming up the mountain after my yoga class, I stopped and helped a small, about 4 inches in length, Common Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) cross the dirt road safely. That encounter with such a small turtle made me think of an amazing experience back in June…