-
American Toad
What a nice surprise to have a little visitor in the vegetable garden. A visitor that I don’t often get to see. An American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus). It seemed to prefer the “sit very very still and you won’t be seen” stance. But the little creature was seen throughout the day. I was pleased each…
-
Flowering Dogwood
The Flowering Dogwood trees (Cornus florida) here in my neck of the woods are just beginning to open as the Eastern Redbud blooms (Cercis canadensis) are on their way into decline. That’s the pattern every year. A slight overlapping of their big show. Like homemade vanilla ice cream with home grown strawberries on top. In…
-
Our Native Violets, Host Plants to Fritillaries
Something important to think about. Our native violets are the most important host plant for caterpillars of many Fritillary Butterflies. And for a good number of them these violets are their only host plant. Fritillary Butterflies fall into one of two genuses. Either Greater or Lesser. And as you might expect the larger of the…
-
Rattlesnake Fern
My apologies if you are creeped out by references to snakes. Rattlesnake Fern is the common name for Botrypus virginianus. Some say the common name comes from it growing in rattlesnake territory. However its range is across all the United States and nearly all of Canada with the exception of its far northern territories. Others…
-
Blueberries
I’m watching both the progress the blueberry blooms are making as well as the calendar. Watching the blossoms grow and mature. Watching the weeks go by on the calendar. Right now in early April there are only tight buds on the many bushes. And it’s hard to say since this is weather related and as…
-
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
Tomorrow one hummingbird feeder will go up on my front porch. The time is about right, but I don’t know exactly when to expect my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). I want to greet whoever shows up first, with a welcome mat and a feeder with its favorite syrup. The recipe: 1/4 cup sugar to…
-
Mock Strawberry
Originally from India. Mock Strawberry (Potentilla indica). It appears very much like Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). If you’re looking for the marvelous experience of eating Wild Strawberries more than likely you will be disappointed. The Mock Strawberry has very little flavor and is quite dry. But if you’re feeling adventuresome, it is edible. You’ll find…
-
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…
-
Wild Strawberries
Their leaves are out there waiting. Possibly waiting for warm weather to inspire flowers. Wild Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana). Waiting for just the right day? angle of the sun? temperature? Maybe all of those things and others that haven’t even occurred to me. But in past years there have been blooms as the calendar’s top page…
-
Wild Peach
Now blooming in the woods, a native to China. It’s believed that Hernando de Soto brought the first Peach Trees (Prunus persica) to North America in 1539. Now innumerable cultivars of those trees populate orchards. Thank goodness for those orchards. Peaches make summer so wonderful. And a tossed seed will eventually result in a random…