Red and Blue Fauna

I was excited to hear about some uncommon birds seen in the area lately, so I made a field trip to the backyard of some folks I know.  

Along with Purple Finches, and other typical species coming to their feeders, are two male Indigo Buntings.  

I don't recall ever seeing these before.  (The birder in me says, "Lifer!")  

My photos don't do these buntings justice, but the shades of blue and green are wonderful.  You'd think it was a wee parrot with the wrong beak.  Apparently, Indigo Buntings are a regular visitor to Nova Scotia, but I guess they don't stay around for long.

And, speaking of red and blue animals... we have been seeing a lot of the foxes lately.

I took this photo a week or so ago... the field is a lot greener now.  AND, at dusk or after dark we have seen several little foxes, from the car, as we come down our driveway.  I would so love to get a photo of them!  Wish me luck.  

Wildflower Wednesday at Smiley's

I discovered there finally are wildflowers in bloom here in Nova Scotia - Hooray! - and some nearly in bloom.  We took a wander through Smiley's Provincial Park, and found some local treasures.  Despite about twenty-four hours of wind and rain, the Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) was brightening up the intervale.  

The sun had not been out long, so these little ones were still closed up and waiting the next fine day.  Lots of Nodding Trilliums (Trillium cernuum) are well on their way, but not yet in bloom.  A little grassy critter was flowering nearby.  Are you a sedge, or a rush?  I did not find out.

The damp lichen on a tree was as green as the springtime plants arising from the ground, and the various ferns were elegant in the fiddlehead stage.  I did not identify these maroon fronds unfolding.

In a different woodland I searched out the uncommon Round-Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana (or nobilis)), but it is not yet blooming.  I must visit again in a few more days.  

May the snow stay away from my fellow Canadians, and the joys of spring continue for us all!  
For more Wildflower Wednesday posts, check out http://www.clayandlimestone.com/ today, and the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Nepenthes Bloom

Well, I know it is wonderfully spring, here in Nova Scotia, but my work and other hobbies have gotten in the way of my gardening and blogging.  And, I know it is time to blog on the great outdoors, but one of the rickety houseplants is blooming.  It's an unnamed tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes.  

This dear ole thing is a bit neglected.  It's had a dry winter, and all the pitchers that hang off the leaves are dried up.  I guess, like various other houseplants, it blooms when it is threatened.  This one is a male, producing these pollen flowers.  As I took these shots I noticed another blossom arising from another meristem.

 

OK, next post, I promise, will celebrate the plants outdoors.  Happy Earth Day, one and all.

Rhododendron hybird

My First Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

Over at the Cottage, the first crop of blooming things are making the most of the sunny days this weekend. 

The Striped Squill is holding its own (Puschkinia scilloides), and a Crocus clump is happy under a Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera flaviramea). 

Johnny-Jump-Ups rebound whenever the snow is off the ground (Viola sp.).  And even the raisin-like berries from the untrimmed Privet hedge are nice (Ligustrum vulgare).

Amid the buds of a honeysuckle shrub (Lonicera sp.) is the remains of a little nest from last year.  Likely belonged to a Sparrow or Yellow Warbler family.



The Daphne (D. mezereum) is fading, but the scent remains strong - it attracts attention.  

And back at the house, the first Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) are coming out, as well as the Periwinkle (Vinca minor).  I love true blue flowers, and spring is a good time for them.  Happy GBBD everyone!

Challenges of Early Spring

Well, one of our challenges at home is the lovely, local deer.  We like them a lot.  Sometimes as many as eight at a time wander through.  It's just that they happen to like our bird seed, and our tulips.  

And a little globe cedar, Thuja occidentalis.  No wonder that thing never seems to make much progress!   

They notice my rake and shovel, but decide to do some trimming instead.  They have not got to the tulip greens yet.  Here is the carnage from last spring.

Also, it's also too early to move some things from the windowsill out to the deck or garden.  Like these elderberry cuttings, Sambucus nigra "Black Lace."  So, the spider mites are having a field day. 

 

If I could just have an occasional rainy day, the mite infestation would be washed away.  The little banana tree (Ensete?) also needs this kind of weather, as does the parlour maple, Abutilon sp.  Instead, they get an occasional shower in our bathroom to ward off the hungry, little, web-spinners. 

Perhaps my biggest springtime challenge is the need for patience.  Soon enough, everything will be growing quickly, the houseplants will be outside, and I won't be able to keep up!