Welcome

To all those interested in the natural world. Please add your sightings.

In the woods we return to reason and faith-Emerson

Best-Lynn

Thursday, March 31, 2022

3-31 Big Night?

 3-31

Big Night?

John



Wednesday, March 30, 2022

3-30 Dandelions

 3-30

A few Common Dandelions are showing their faces.

   Also seen but not shown - a Phoebe, a Kingfisher and 5 sub-adult Bald Eagles.

John



Sunday, March 27, 2022

3-27 Myrtle

 3-27

Myrtle, a commonly cultivated and commonly escaped alien species, is opening a few flowers. This plant is also known as Periwinkle.




Hairy Bittercress, an infrequently documented alien in Vermont, is starting its flowering.



John

Saturday, March 26, 2022

3-26 Shepherd's Purse

 3-26

Shepherd's Purse - a common plant of gardens and waste places - is said to flower from early spring to late fall and sometimes in winter. The triangular seed pods which gave this species its common name will be more noteworthy than its tiny flowers are now.

John


Friday, March 25, 2022

3-25 Hepatica

3-25

Today's warmth opened a few Hepatica flowers. In the coming weeks each plant will produce a new set of leaves.

John



 

Thursday, March 24, 2022

3-24 Daphne

 3-24

Daphne, an alien shrub, is putting out a few flowers.

John


Wednesday, March 23, 2022

3-22 Beaked Hazelnuts

 3-22

The tiny stigma of Beaked Hazelnut's female flowers are opening but easily overlooked. The shrubs male catkins are much more noticeable.

Hazelnuts are edible and sweet, a fact understood by chipmunks everywhere.

John 



Monday, March 21, 2022

3-21 Early Saxifrage

 3-21

Early Saxifrage, AKA Rock Break, has opened a few flowers. This plant faors cracks and crevasses in ledges as the common name implies.

John


Sunday, March 20, 2022

3-20 Whitlow Grass

 3-20

The little, deeply cleft 5 petaled flowers of Common Chickweed and the even littler 4 petaled flowers of Whitlow Grass are opening. both species are alien. And both could easily be overlooked.

John

Common Chickweed
Whitlow Grass



Saturday, March 19, 2022

3-19 Mouse-ear Cress

 3-19

Last night a Woodcock was "peenting" in a field near my house.

   And, the tiny white flowers of Mouse -ear Cress - another early flowering alien - are open.

Joh


n

Friday, March 18, 2022

Coltsfoot

 3-18

The ditch in West Dummerston village is full of Coltsfoot. Like many flowers coltsfoot is only open in full sun light. It is also an alien which explains its very early flowering as aliens tend to flower early. But, today it is a more than welcome sight! 

John