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Color
So important to me – COLOR. And autumn really brings it to me. Now, in early autumn, a small tree, Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum), is bringing joy to my heart with its color. In spring, a tree with blooms that attract so many pollinators that the tree itself seems to buzz with activity. But in…
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White-banded Crab Spider
White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes). The body length of a female is about 1/4 inch to almost 1/2 inch. The body of a male is about 1/10 inch. The color of a female, who has the ability to change color – could be yellow, white or pale brown. That color will depend on where the spider…
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Gray-headed Coneflower
July, and the hillsides that are my gardens are brilliant with the happiest of yellow thanks to Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata). Native to central and eastern North America. A herbaceous perennial plant that can be as tall as four or five feet, and quite narrow. Tall and spindly. But in a mass planting they’re a…
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Golden Alexanders
A favorite of mine, late May trailside. Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea). The color might be the catch for me. Or perhaps it’s the tiny flowers arranged in flat-topped umbels. A short-lived herbaceous perennial that enjoys moist soil, and full sun to part shade. I tried once, long ago to add it to one of my…
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Green and Gold
A super ground cover that is holding up my back hill, keeping it from washing away. And such a splendid glowing yellow. Bright colors tend to win my heart. Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is a perennial herb with opposite, oval, hairy leaves, blooming from early spring into late autumn though its peak bloom is in May. I can count…
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Color
Oh color! I adore rich colors. Like in this photo of Virginia Bluebells just beginning to open in a back garden. White to soft pink to rich yummy pink to lavender and then periwinkle blue. Soon they will all be azure blue. I like the mixture in this image. Hmmm. This would make a lovely…
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Sunflower
Sunflower (Helianthus). The happy flower. You bet. Today would have been my Dad’s 96th birthday. He LOVED sunflowers. He loved to grow huge sunflowers! This post is a salute to my Dad’s favorite flower. A flower that’s popular with many creatures including bees. A flower that brings on the butterflies. A flower that inspires artists.…
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Winter Aconite
The same day that I first heard the raucous clacking of wood frogs coming from the pond, my Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) were beginning to bloom. Just hours before meteorological spring was about to begin. These small screaming yellow beauties were a gift from a dear friend years ago. Since then they have won my…
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Hoarfrost
The cold temperatures of winter can create such works of wonder. Often so delicate they can’t be touched for fear of destruction. Occasionally the beauty makes me forget that what I am looking at, such as these rose hips of Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), is something that I work diligently to rid my woods of.…
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American Beech
Hawaiian shave ice. Snow collects in the cone shapes that American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) leaves make during the winter. It reminds me of a trip long ago. A trip to Hawaii to see a total solar eclipse. A trip to be introduced to Hawaiian shave ice, which brings me back to the subject of my…