Wood walk

On November 28, 2023November 25, 2023 By CarynIn Cats, Flora, Fungi

I took some green time and walked through the woods. I can still see the results of the heavy rain we had, the path I cleared years ago had been swept clean by the water, making a path about two feet wide through the leaves.

Photo description: Dirt path through saplings and vines with a scattering of newly fallen leaves.

I saw some nice mushrooms too, another sign we’ve actually received significant moisture.

Photo description: bright white hairy puffball mushroom in brown and yellow fallen leaves.

Photo description: white and cream capped mushrooms in green meadow grass.

I have what I believe is a mulberry tree in the back woods. It is growing under the canopy, so is spindly but keeps making a go of it each year. I was sad to see that something, probably deer, have stripped the bark on one side of the tree.

Photo description: Bark stripped from half of a maybe two inch trunk, two green leaves visible from the same tree.

And of course there were cats. I was able to get a picture of Mr Tom in his glorious winter coat before he wandered off.

Photo description: Flame point long haired cat with full winter ruff sitting in meadow grass.

Hibiscus guardian

On July 16, 2023July 16, 2023 By CarynIn Flora, Garden, Wildlife

Green Lynx spider on a pink and white Hibiscus flower

We have a spider that hangs out on our Hibiscus bush. It is a very welcome spider, and especially welcome to eat the insects that come to eat my flowers. I am pleased with this photo because the backlighting really highlights the spider and the petals.

Meadow walk

On May 10, 2023 By CarynIn Flora, Garden

I took a bunch of photos of flowers as I toured the meadow. The one that cracks me up is the purple thistle growing through the deer statue’s haunch. I really like the look of the purple thistles, reminds me of Scotland.

Purple thistle growing through a deer statue

Cut-leaf daisies and Indian Blanket flowers in the meadow

I didn’t realize that bluebonnets form seed pods like peas. Hm.

A walk around the yard

On April 7, 2023 By CarynIn Flora

I took a walk around the yard to see what our Spring showers brought us.

We have bluebonnets! Not in a place I expected, tucked up against the trees near the road, but maybe they will spread.

I have three ironweeds sprouting this year! These are in the meadow, and in a place we don’t mow. I only had two last year, but they grew chest height and bloomed purple.

The surprise finding was the pumpkin vines poking out around the compost heap. Hm. It will be interesting to see how far they make it, as I don’t water over there and it doesn’t get that much sun. Here is for a pleasantly wet spring.

Hello oak pollen

On April 3, 2023April 2, 2023 By CarynIn Flora

Yup, it is definitely Spring. Everything outside is yellow with oak pollen and everyone’s allergies are on high alert.

The picture above is of my usually black metal bench that sits by my front door, under an overhang. It is currently dusty yellow from all the oak pollen, despite having some protection and not being directly under an oak tree. We have Post Oak and Cedar Elm in the yard. The Cedar Elm has already spread its confetti of seeds, so I guess it is now the oak’s turn.

Critters and Craft

Category: Flora