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Cauliflorous
Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) and with needles growing from its trunk, being photobombed by a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). Redbud (Cercis canadensis) with flower buds emerging from its trunk. Who would have thought Redbud and Pitch Pine have something in common. These are cauliflorous trees. They have flowers that emerge from their main trunk or…
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Pink Fog
The blooming of Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) in the woods is a highlight of spring. Something that makes it even more wonderful is when there is FOG blanketing the mountain. Wait until the light is just right and you’ll see what I mean. Then, in that moment, it’s not a pale gray nearly white fog…
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Graupel
Yesterday’s precipitation was for me a delight to see and my use of the word “graupel” in yesterday’s blog post took some of you by surprise. If you went to your dictionary, you might not have found it. It’s not in the dictionary that is here on my computer either but it’s a word that…
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What Season is it Anyway?
Though spring is moving right along, things got very confusing today, as graupel pummeled my mountain, off and on for several hours. But spring is here. Very soon Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) will be filling the verdant woods with creamy white blossoms. Despite today’s weather, spring is here.
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Perhaps the Last Sighting for a While
Not really purple but raspberry red, male, and soft brown and white, female. A pair of Purple Finches (Haemorhous purpureus). Most winters I don’t see these finches due to their erratic and irruptive habit, thought to be connected to variations in the production of conifer cones in their winter range. Spring migration generally happens between…
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Raindrops on Bloodroot
At the backdoor today. I went out in the fog this afternoon looking for photographs waiting to happen. This one called to me. Raindrops on Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).
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The Perfect Climbing Tree
Many years ago I would spend much vacation time at a wonderful home in southeastern Pennsylvania. There my best friends who happen to also be my cousins, Judie and Beverly, taught me that apple trees are the preeminent climbing trees. Perfect climbing trees for children. Apple trees are also great climbing trees for hungry bears.…
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American Woodcock
This morning returning from yoga I stopped several times to pick up cans that had been tossed aside along the road. A gesture that was rewarded, as my truck climbed the mountain, with the sight of an American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), slowly dancing across the road. What a joy to see! This chunky little speckled…
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Spicebush in Spring to Berries in Autumn
Right now, the beginning of spring, if you’re in the right place in the woods you’ll be surrounded by Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) in bloom. The woods appear to have been painted by a water color artist. A thin wash of butter yellow extending far into the distance. As the weeks move along leaves will appear,…
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A Bridge in Spring
A magical moment with her grandpa. Spring of 2016. A bridge over Four Mile Run in Bon Air Park.