The violets, periwinkle, large yellow vetch, and mayberry are starting to bloom this week. The eastern redbuds are very close to blooming, keep watching for them!
Blogs
Wait and See
There’s always something to see in nature if you take the time to look. Today, I heard something crunching in the dry grass. It sounded like someone walking very slowly, but no one was around. I stopped for a minute to see if I could spot what was making the noise. I didn’t see anything… Continue reading Wait and See
Cherry or Plum?
You can’t help but notice the beautiful flowering trees this time of year. I stopped to take some pictures of the plum blossoms this week and had a number of people comment on the beautiful cherry blossoms I was photographing. Wait a minute. Was I looking at a plum tree or a cherry tree? I’m… Continue reading Cherry or Plum?
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
National Invasive Species Awareness Week
February 26 – March 1, 2024 is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. You’ll likely see many invasive species as you explore nature. Invasive plants are non-native plants that have a negative effect on native plants and animals. The NC Invasive Plant Council and the North Carolina Native Plant Society have published a comprehensive list of… Continue reading National Invasive Species Awareness Week
Field Report- February 26, 2024
The spring beauties and sticky mouse-ears are starting to open! It’s going to be an unusually warm week this week. What do you think will come out next?
What Flowers Will Bloom in March?
The flowering trees will start to bloom this month. Look for the dogwoods, the beautiful pink blooms of the eastern redbud, and the colorful flowers of the azaleas. In the woods, look for jack-in-the-pulpit, rain lilies and little brown jugs.
Surprise on the Trail
I came around a bend in the Shiloh Greenway yesterday and was surprised to see a group (a gaggle) of six geese walking up the trail toward me. Of course, the geese are very common around here, and I often see them on the Indian Creek Greenway at the trailhead by the water. When I… Continue reading Surprise on the Trail
Field Report- February 15, 2024
Today I saw the first blooms of narrowleaf vetch, running five-fingers and wood sorrel. The wood sorrel was out in early January, but it died back with the freezing temperatures. Soon, it will be hard to miss!
Field Report- February 14, 2024
The first southern bluets of the season were spotted on the Shiloh Greenway today. Have you noticed that the Carolina jessamine is also starting to bloom this week?