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Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia). Tucson, Arizona. Native only to the Americas, including a couple species that are native to the East Coast of the United States. __________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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One Crazy Winter
Ice on a vernal pool. February 13, 2018. Perhaps a normal winter. What IS normal these days? February 10, 2023. I miss seeing ice. I won’t even mention my feelings about snow. You probably already know. I miss going out for a walk in the woods and not thinking about spraying myself with an insect…
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Spiderwort
Today a few leaves of Spiderwort (Tradescantia) were spotted emerging from the soil. It’s native to eastern North America. Come May, blooms will be gracing the garden, to the delight of bees. _____________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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¡Por Fin!
Or, in English, FINALLY! Freezing rain during the night, ending with nearly an inch of snow over everything. Here, an image from this afternoon. I am pleased as Punch! _____________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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Ruffle Lichen
Lichens, such beautiful and intriguing things. Not a plant, not an animal. A combination of two organisms, a fungus, and a alga or cyanobacterium. This particular one, Salted Ruffle Lichen (Parmotrema crinitum), found growing on a tree branch. _____________________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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A Bunch Of Cardinals
Northern Cardinals
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Haircap Moss
Haircap Moss (Polytrichum).
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Gray Catbird At The Birdbath
A Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) surprised me this morning. A bird I seldom see, it was at the birdbath quenching its thirst. This Catbird eats insects and invertebrates when they’re available, also eats fruits and berries. I’m particularly bewildered because when I do see a Gray Catbird, it is normally during the summer. This is…
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Poison Ivy In The Spring
Early April. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) begins to emerge, ready to tackle another year. Buds that become flowers, arrive soon after the leaves. Flowers that become berries in April will delight hungry birds come winter. _______________________________________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts, sign up here!
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Eating Poison Ivy Berries
Seems mighty strange but Poison Ivy berries are quite popular with birds. Here, a Chickadee (Paridae) enjoys a snack of what else, Poison Ivy berries. Chickadees, here at my location are just Chickadees. This area is where the range of two species of Chickadees overlap. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) and Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus). They…