I was walking in Bond Park the other day and noticed something peculiar. It looked like a piece of shredded wheat cereal tied to a vine. I had no idea what it was, but I knew it wasn’t a piece of cereal. After doing some research, I learned that this is an egg case from… Continue reading What’s That? February 8, 2024
Blogs
Field Report- February 3, 2024
The first tiny bluets of the season were seen on the Shiloh Greenway today! You have to look closely, or you’ll miss them! This is what they look like when you’re just passing by. Can you see them? Here is a closer picture. One lonely field pansy was also spotted for the first time today.
What Flowers Will Bloom in February?
Several flowers start to bloom in February. These are the top 5 flowers that I saw last year. I can’t wait to see what comes up this month!
Hooded Mergansers
Have you seen the hooded merganser ducks that overwinter in North Carolina? Sometimes you can see them in the retention ponds. They seem to be very shy, though. As soon as they notice a person, they tend to go to the far side of the pond, if not fly away. The male’s head is black… Continue reading Hooded Mergansers
Green Leaves in the Winter Woods
Have you noticed some green leaves poking under the leaf litter in the woods? Maybe you have seen the leaves of the cranefly orchid. The bottom of the leaf is purple! Remember where you see these leaves! By the time the orchid blooms in the summer, the leaves are gone. The flowers are small and… Continue reading Green Leaves in the Winter Woods
Bluets!
Walking in the winter is very quiet. I often spend my walks admiring the bare trees against the bright blue sky, or watching the birds that spend their winters in North Carolina. I’m always looking for flowers, though. Waiting for those first signs of spring. Today I found the first bluets of the season! Bluets… Continue reading Bluets!
Very Early Signs of Spring
Have you noticed any signs of spring this January? Many early spring flowers have already started to grow. They might not be in bloom yet, but their leaves are poking up out of the ground. Today I saw henbit, yellow thistle, clover, and Carolina geranium leaves.
Flowers in January
What flowers are in bloom in January? It’s hard to believe that any flowers bloom in January. Maybe you’ve noticed a few dandelions here and there. Is anything else blooming? Yes! Common chickweed is a tiny white flower that you might see on a sunny winter day. Bird’s eye speedwell is a very small blue… Continue reading Flowers in January
Winter Beauty
It’s January and things seem rather dead out there. But take a closer look. There’s still beauty all around. New York ironweed has long lost its showy purple flowers. Here’s what is underneath. The fuzzy seed heads of the goldenrod make interesting texture in the dull brown fields. And these feather-like wands are the seeds… Continue reading Winter Beauty