Early blooming trees are always welcome after a long winter. The Saucer Magnolia is an early bloomer in Virginia. It produces numerous showy, white flowers with pink and purple accents. This tree is actually a hybrid. In the early 1800s, a Frenchman crossed Magnolia denudate with M. lilliflora and Magnolia x soulangeana was born. Obviously, […]
Even though these snakes are generically called black snakes, they are really Eastern Rat Snakes. These snakes are found throughout Virginia. They are actually the most commonly found snake in Virginia. Find out more and look below for some interesting photos. Physical Characteristics Coloring Eastern rat snake juveniles look similar to a venomous copperhead […]
These crazy looking growths are squawroot. Wow! I found a rare native plant in VA! Since the COVID-19 closures, my awareness increased. I notice really interesting things that previously I would have missed. Of course, timing helps. It was coincidence that I saw the cedar-apple rust. Those creepy orange things only appear for a few […]
The Southern magnolia is a magnificent tree. It is an excellent choice to add variety to a landscape. It provides unique visual contrast that can’t be provided by other trees. Read more to find out about this lovely low maintenance tree. Another Native Species! The magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) is part of the most primitive angiosperms […]
Bamboo is another invasive species. Certainly, that is not a surprise. We have been in this business for years. I know that it is very difficult to remove. Somehow, we ended up with a patch of it. The photo above is the initial patch. Within a couple of years (see photo below), it extended over […]
I love to go hiking or trail running. I get irritated when I brush up against stinging nettle. I’ve hiked long enough to know better. I’ll be more aware now that I’ve written this post. Find out more, and maybe you can avoid the sting too. Origins: Native and Introduced Stinging nettles are an herbaceous […]