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
Blogs
Young Turtles in the Spring
It’s always a joy to see the baby animals in the spring. We had the honor to watch this young turtle sun itself on a stick for a moment before it jumped into the water. Turtles usually hatch in the late summer or fall and overwinter in their nest. As the weather warms in the… Continue reading Young Turtles in the Spring
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?
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.
Field Report- March 31, 2026
Isn’t it amazing how much can change in just a few weeks? Here is a partial list of plants that are now in bloom in the last half of March: The wooden bridge portion of the Hatcher Creek Greenway is filled with spring beauties and rain lilies right now. You can see jack-in-the-pulpits and may-apples… Continue reading Field Report- March 31, 2026
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? April 2026
What flowers are you looking forward to seeing this April? Some of my favorites are Venus’s looking glass, the fleabanes, ox-eye daisies, fringe trees and blue eyed grass. Don’t forget to check the April Flower page to see all of the flowers blooming this month.
The Sweet Smell of Spring
Between the wisteria and the Carolina jessamine, the sweet smell of spring is in the air.
What’s That? March 18, 2026
Have you ever seen pine seedlings just emerging from the ground?
A Close Encounter with a Bullfrog
The temperature was in the low 70’s when we went for a walk Saturday afternoon. We always stop when we pass by the pond at Church Street Park. That afternoon, we noticed a bullfrog in the water. We took some pictures from the trail and watched it for a little while. The pond was pretty… Continue reading A Close Encounter with a Bullfrog
Field Report- March 12, 2026
We’ve had a long stretch of warm weather, and now we’re tripping over flowers everywhere we go! In just the last week, I have seen: Yesterday (March 11, 2026) was 89 degrees. The high temperatures have brought out the snakes and lizards. In one half mile stretch, I saw an eastern kingsnake, a black rat… Continue reading Field Report- March 12, 2026