More natural foliage decimated by another invasive species. There is nothing heavenly about the Tree of Heaven or technically Ailanthus altissima. Earlier this spring, the emergence of the foliage fascinated me. It was so beautiful. At that time, I had not identified the tree. I should have known it is an invasive species. It is […]
It rained and a few fungi came back! These jelly fungi came to life again after a couple of rainy days. The last few summers and falls were dry, and fungi were scarce. I didn’t realize that the first time I wrote about fungi was an unusual year. It was really wet that year, and […]
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 […]