I saw a banded woollybear caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella) this week. Have you heard the folklore about their ability to predict the coming winter’s weather? Some people say that the wider the rusty band, the milder the winter will be. There’s a Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, NC every October. They have a caterpillar race,… Continue reading Banded Woollybear Weather Folklore
Blogs
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Now that the tree branches are bare, it’s easier to see the birds. This is a male red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). The red on the male’s head goes from the beak to the back of the neck. The crown of the female’s head is gray. These birds have some light red coloring on their bellies,… Continue reading Red-bellied Woodpecker
A Glowing Ember?
The setting sun hit this oak leaf just right, making it look like a glowing ember. Remember to take some time out of your busy day to enjoy the simple things.
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? December 2025
Can you believe that December is almost here? Winter will officially begin in just a few short weeks. Will any flowers bloom in December? Japanese mazus, winter honeysuckle, Asiatic hawksbeard, and leatherleaf mahonia will begin to bloom this month. There are many flowers that bloom year-round. The experts have different months for when they officially… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? December 2025
What’s That? November 25, 2025
What happened to that blackberry branch? The leaves are shriveled and curled up, and there’s white wax on the stem and leaves. This is damage from blackberry psyllid (Trioza tripunctata). Blackberry psyllids are bugs that look like small cicadas. They feed only on blackberry plants. They pierce the stem and suck out the sap. The… Continue reading What’s That? November 25, 2025
Quiet Nature- November 23, 2025
I love how these muscadine grape leaves made a golden arch around some red possumhaw berries. Enjoy some quiet nature today.
Seeds of Invasive Vines
Some of our most invasive vines are producing seed right now: oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). If you see these vines on your property, it’s time to pull them out. The birds eat the seeds and help spread the vines to new locations.
A Taste of Spring in the Middle of November
We attended an event in Forsyth county last weekend, and had an opportunity to take a walk. We were both stunned when we came across this cherry tree, blossoming in mid-November! It turns out, there are some cultivars of cherry trees that blossom twice per year – once in the spring and again in the… Continue reading A Taste of Spring in the Middle of November
North American Wheel Bug
Have you ever seen a North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)? This is a full-sized adult. It was about 1.5 inches long. I’ve had several nymphs on the plants in my yard over the years. This is the first time I’ve seen an adult. It was crossing the Shiloh Greenway this week.
A Different Perspective
We took a walk at Umstead State Park recently, and came across this interesting sight. It looked like a curtain of beautiful autumn leaves. A large tree branch had fallen, and bent another tree’s branch toward the ground, giving us a different perspective. Take time to enjoy the little things.