Just last week I wrote a blog about stopping on my daily walk to look around and really notice what was there. A few days later, I happened to stop after walking only for a minute beyond my house. I was admiring the wood sorrel along the side of the road. It was early in… Continue reading A New Wood Sorrel
Month: April 2026
City Nature Challenge 2026
The City Nature Challenge is happening this weekend: April 24-27, 2026. This is an excellent opportunity to participate in a citizen science project. All you have to do is go outside and record nature! You do not need to know what the observation is. Just take pictures of what you see. Any observation logged on… Continue reading City Nature Challenge 2026
Devil’s Urn Mushrooms
When I’m out for a walk in a familiar place, I try to pick a spot to just stop and look. Look down, look up, look at eye level. I’ll spend a few minutes and really notice what’s there. These devil’s urn mushrooms (Urnula craterium) blend in with the leaf litter around this log. If… Continue reading Devil’s Urn Mushrooms
Dewberry or Blackberry?
This time of year, there are two blackberry-like plants in bloom: blackberries (Rubus pensilvanicus) and southern dewberries (Rubus trivialis). Do you know how to tell the difference between them? In most years, southern dewberries bloom slightly earlier than blackberries. This year, however, I am seeing several early blackberries. You can’t always tell the difference by… Continue reading Dewberry or Blackberry?
Field Report- April 14, 2026
What has been blooming on the trail for the first two weeks of April? Here’s a list of new flowers that I’ve seen recently: The butterflies and dragonflies are starting to come out. I saw my first monarch butterfly of the year last week. I’m starting to see more snakes on the trails, too. A… Continue reading Field Report- April 14, 2026
Observations for the 2026 City Nature Challenge
Were you able to get outside this weekend for the City Nature Challenge? I wasn’t able to get out as much as I wanted to, so I decided that this year I would try to get different observations than last year. I thought it would be fun to share some of them as a collage.… Continue reading Observations for the 2026 City Nature Challenge
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? May 2026
At the end of April 2026, we are under an extreme drought in Morrisville, NC. I’ve been looking at my notes from previous years and comparing them to what I’m seeing this year. The lack of water is definitely noticeable. The ground is dry and dusty. Some plants don’t seem to care, while others are… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? May 2026
What’s That? April 21, 2026
What is that swarm of bugs on that log? Termites. Have you ever seen them up close? This group was on the American Tobacco Trail. If you see something like this near your home, you might want to have it checked for damage.
WRAL Azalea Garden in Full Bloom
If you love azaleas, now is the perfect time to visit the WRAL Azalea Garden in Raleigh. I was there on March 30, and I would say the azaleas were at 75% of their peak bloom. I think the next two weeks would be an ideal time to visit.
You Never Know What You’ll See In Your Own Backyard
Nature came to entertain us yesterday morning. We saw a large bird land in the woods behind our house, so naturally we tried to see what was going on. Who came to visit us? It was a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)! At first it just sat on the ground. Maybe it was resting. After a… Continue reading You Never Know What You’ll See In Your Own Backyard