Mountain Laurel is native to the Eastern United States. I recently noticed it because it is blooming. We have lots of laurel on our property near Charlottesville. It’s not quite as abundant in Northern Virginia. Look for it next time you are hiking. It stands out in the forest for its unique growth patterns. Find […]
If you hike or enjoy the mountains, I bet you have noticed tree lines. Sometimes they are called timberlines. They are the place on a mountain where trees stop growing. I became interested when I read the sign in the photo to the left. We were far up the Dalton Highway enjoying the amazing tundra. […]
The spring of 2020 was precarious for human beings. However, trees seemed to fair well. Many tree species produced prolific amounts of blossoms. The Eastern Redbud was no exception. The bright magenta flowers were spectacular. Learn more about these unique trees. A Little History – Eastern Redbud The tree is native to the eastern and […]
Well to my dismay, another invasive species. Ever remember pulling the center out of a honeysuckle flower to get the nectar? Most likely it was Japanese Honeysuckle or Lonicera japonica. Read more to find out about Japanese Honeysuckle an aggressive invasive species. History of Japanese Honeysuckle There are species of honeysuckle that are native to […]
I think almost everyone knows what a dandelion looks like. Most people consider it a weed. Weeds are usually noxious or unwanted plants. It is kind of an arbitrary designation. For that reason, I decided to do some research on dandelions. Plus, I have some dandelion tea in the cabinet. I can’t remember why I […]
Since we continue lockdown in Virginia due to COVID19, my outside travel is limited. I’ve figured out that there are still some interesting things in my backyard. One day I noticed this creepy orange fungus on a juniper. Of course I did some research. Now I know that the common name is Cedar-apple rust. As […]