Example of Vegetation Changes Towards the Tree Line

Timberline or Tree Line – The place where the trees end.

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. […]

Eastern Redbud Flowers

Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis L.

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 […]

White honeysuckle flowers with pollen and stamen.

Japanese Honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica

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 […]

Dandelions: Not Just Ugly Weeds

Dandelions: Not Just Ugly Weeds

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 […]

Creepy Orange Fungi

Creepy Orange Fungus – Cedar-Apple Rust

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 […]

Autumn Olive Flower In Great Falls, VA

Autumn Olive – Elaeagnus umbellata Thunberg

Darn I found another invasive species. Autumn Olive is everywhere. The plant was introduced in the early 1900s. It is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Evidently, we needed more wildlife habitats and erosion control. It seems like we could have found native plants for the wildlife. The wildlife evolved to live here, and we […]