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Flowers Of Blue?
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) In bloom right now, beautiful flowers that are native to the continental United States and much of southern Canada. Growing to 5 feet tall and branching about half way up, with spikes, in a candelabra-like way. The spikes become panicles of buds opening from the bottom up. The flowers attract many…
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One Reason
One reason that I am so interested in nature is my Dad. Here he is in 1991 stretched out on the driveway, having a heart to heart talk with a Gopher Tortoise about the state of the world. As always, I’m thinking of you Dad! Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) live in a small area, from…
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Orange On Orange
I captured this Orange On Orange this afternoon. A Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) thoroughly enjoying the nectar of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). This creature was dining on the nectar for at least 45 minutes. Quite satisfied with its discovery. Female Great Spangled Fritillaries lay their eggs near violets in August or September. The newly…
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Berries
There are Black Raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) ripening up here. Tempting me as I am out on my hikes. Though Black Raspberries look quite similar to Blackberries, when you look at the berry, where it was picked from the stem, it is hollow. A Blackberry is solid. I enjoy seeing the Black Raspberry bushes with their…
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Delightful Orange
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is in bloom right now on my mountain, creating bright orange patches scattered here and there. It’s a flower that attracts bees, wasps, and butterflies. This bunch of orange attracted a Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) creating a scrumptious color combination of black, white, and orange. Butterfly Weed has a wider native…
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Sentimentality
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria), a beautiful flower native to Europe, naturalized in North America. I tend to want all natives, except the ones that aren’t. The ones that I have a sentimental attachment to. Like the Lavender in this photo. It’s native to the Middle East and India. Oh but it’s a wonderful plant. The…
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Here For The BirdBath Or Berries
A bird with lovely, lengthy songs. A mimic like Catbirds and Mockingbirds. A Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), a bird that comes ’round for the birdbath and the berries. I miss the Mockingbirds up here. I’ve never seen a single one at this elevation. They seem to prefer the lowlands. And I do miss the Catbirds…
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Passing Through
Normally I go out and holler, in my most threatening voice, at White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that come by to nibble in my yard. I seldom have to do that though, since there are Black Bears (Ursus americanus) up here and deer tend to avoid areas where there are bears. BUT rather than holler at…
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Flowers To Look For
Roam the trails up here in the mountains and you might find some Smooth Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum). Herbaceous perennials, native to eastern and central North America. Growing two feet tall and on occasion will grow to three feet tall. Bees harvest nectar and pollen from the flowers that grow in pairs along the arched…
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Gathering Berries
Today I was out enjoying the perfect weather as I gathered more Blueberries to go into the freezer. A couple birds joined me but then realized I was there and took off. A Cardinal in one moment and a Cedar Waxwing in another. I was able to get four pints. Many, many more to go.…