Enjoy a dose of quiet nature today. Eastern tailed-blue butterflies are 0.75-1 inch wide. They are low-flying butterflies commonly seen in fields and lawns. Their caterpillars feed on plants in the pea family (clover and vetch species). They have very thin, antenna-like tails on their wings. Underneath, the wings are light blue to gray. There… Continue reading Quiet Nature- April 17, 2024
Blogs
Field Report- April 13, 2024
The first two weeks of April have been full of activity! Everywhere you look, something new is blooming. Here’s a list of what I’ve seen: Trees and Shrubs: Flowers: Can you believe how much has changed in less than two weeks? What are you seeing?
Welcome Little Ones
Do you seen anything? Look carefully. The mallard duck family welcomed TWELVE new ducklings to the family last week!
Consider Native Plants for Your Garden This Year
Are you getting ready to plant your garden? The average last spring freeze date for the Triangle area is April 8. The NC State Extension has data for the first and last frost dates for each county in North Carolina on their website here. When choosing plants for your garden, you might consider the effect… Continue reading Consider Native Plants for Your Garden This Year
Field Report- April 2, 2024
Annual blue eyed grass was seen for the first time today. The wild azaleas are also starting to bloom!
What Flowers Will Bloom in April?
Spring has finally arrived and the flowers are really starting bloom! These are the top 5 flowers that I saw in April last year. Check the April Flower page to see what other flowers will be blooming.
Field Report- March 26, 2024
Things are changing very quickly now that spring is here. Most of the pear and plum trees are done flowering. The cherry trees with white flowers and the crabapple trees are currently in full bloom. Wisteria is starting to bloom now. The blackberries and the different types of viburnum (like the rusty blackhaw pictured above)… Continue reading Field Report- March 26, 2024
Pine Pollen Season
The pine pollen really started to be noticeable last week. Everything seems to be covered in sticky yellow dust. How long will it last? I read a very interesting article from the NC State Extension Forestry division explaining how to calculate the beginning and peak of the pine pollen season. Essentially, starting on February 1,… Continue reading Pine Pollen Season
What’s That? March 23, 2024
Have you ever noticed a green slime or jelly like substance on the ground after the rain? What is that? It’s Nostoc commune, or star jelly. It is not a plant. Nostoc commune is a special kind of bacteria called cyanobacteria. Regular bacteria use food to get their energy, while cyanobacteria use light to produce… Continue reading What’s That? March 23, 2024
Happy Spring!
I hope you are enjoying the first day of spring!