Did you know that American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees hang on to their golden brown leaves in the winter? It is thought that the leaves protect the new bud growth from hungry deer.
Author: Jaclyn
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American Lotus in Downtown Cary Park
The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is blooming in Downtown Cary Park. These native plants are filtering stormwater before it enters Walnut Creek. Stormwater typically contains nitrogen and phosphates, which act as fertilizer for algae. The algae form dense mats that prevent underwater plants from growing. Bacteria break down the algae and consume the oxygen in… Continue reading American Lotus in Downtown Cary Park
American Persimmon
Have you noticed piles of small white flowers on the ground? These are American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) flowers. Persimmon trees are dioecious, which means they have separate male and female trees. If you want to have persimmon fruit, you need to have both kinds of trees. You can tell the difference between the trees in… Continue reading American Persimmon
An Unusual Pair of Ducks in Bond Park
I came across a beautiful male wood duck (Aix sponsa) in Bond Park this week. He seemed to be friendly with a female mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos). I read that it’s pretty common for both mallard ducks and wood ducks to breed with other types of ducks. Their hybrid offspring are usually infertile, though. If… Continue reading An Unusual Pair of Ducks in Bond Park
Animal Encounters- Spring 2026
Do you ever look in holes or crevices for plants or animals? These are some critters that I’ve spotted hiding in drain pipes over the last month. Keep your eyes open and stay curious!
Ants
Have you ever noticed the large ant mounds that always seem to appear after the rain? The ants are busy rebuilding and relocating their nests. We saw at least 8 large ant hills on our walk today, all of them swarming with activity. This ant hill didn’t appear to have much going on. But look… Continue reading Ants
Autumn Beauty
I hope you’ve had a chance to get outside and enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn!
Autumn Glow
I love how the trees glow with the setting sun in autumn.
Backyard Visitor
It’s always a special treat when the deer come to visit. This one actually came out of the woods and very close to the house before retreating back to the cover of the trees.
Bald Eagle Sighting
We had quite a surprise yesterday at Umstead State Park. A bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was gathering some brush for its nest as we walked by Reedy Creek Lake. We noticed it when it took off from across the lake. Luckily, it landed on a tree for a brief moment. It was just long enough… Continue reading Bald Eagle Sighting