Cornus florida: Gotta Love It!

I am really fortunate.

The variety of birds I just witnessed coming to the berries of one of our flowering dogwood  trees (Cornus florida)  and the feelings they inspired make me realize how happy I am living here on this property with the man I love...and surrounded by the beauty of nature.  It renews my desire to make this a place of natural beauty that is attractive not only to us, but attracts wildlife that are also things of beauty.

After hearing the call of the pileated woodpecker again, I grabbed the camera and got a shot right before it flew off to the nearest telephone pole.  Chickadees and a titmouse caught my attention (although these were eating the sunflower seeds I'd put out).  Before I realized what I was seeing, a male bluebird arrived to get his share of the berries--it wasn't until I looked at the photos that I realized there were two of males.  Finally, a robin arrived to join the feast.  I have to wonder what I miss when not looking out the window.

Behold:

Although we've added at least a dozen more dogwoods to the property, this makes me want to add even more--why not?  We have the room.  They will make great additions to the woodlands edge where I'd already planned to add some.  The one on which the birds are perched was planted by a previous owner--it is pink, although I prefer the white; once the petals fade, I can't tell the difference, and neither can the birds.

A Honking Surprise

I was about to get into the car (on my way to collect more leaves--more on that later), when I heard an unfamiliar bird call.   The word that comes to mind to describe it is almost a honk...a nasally honk?  So, I look up, and I'm shocked to see what I believe was a pileated woodpecker!  Up until now I think I've only spotted one once, while I was walking in the woods in State College--this is a first for our yard!  I'm happy to document an increase in biodiversity!

The beautiful bird was attracted to the berries of the flowering dogwood--all of the dogwoods I know have flowers, but this one the most spectacular--Cornus florida.  I attempted to take a photo of it with my cellphone...which is not even worth posting here.  I partially closed the car door, walked slowly around the car, and the long way around to the front door.  Upon noticing me, it flew off to a nearby tree.  Grabbing the camera, I searched the surrounding area for it, but it had flown off, so I began my post, camera close at hand.  Sure enough, I heard the now familiar call, went to the window and tried to focus on my surprise visitor...only to be shocked that the call of a blue jay scared it off!  Still hopeful, I returned to continue to compose this post.  Luckily for me, it returned again--I guess those berries are as tempting as they are nutritious (from what I've read--and nutritious to birds, NOT humans!).  This time, I was able to get a picture to document my sighting...and now, with no more ado, I'll share it with you:

...Now, I did close the car door halfway through composing this, so I'm hoping I didn't drain the battery and can head out for more of those bags of leaves (which I've yet to post about).

First Flurries

This morning, scattered flurries caught my attention out the window.  In a short time they started coming down a bit heavier, and I went to get the camera.  As far as I know these were the first flurries of the season.  Although I may be sick of snow before spring arrives, they were a welcomed sight.  It didn't last long and the little that stuck to the grass melted quickly.

Shortly thereafter, I put some peanuts out for the birds and I got a few nice shots. :)

Observing Birds

I spotted a bluebird at the nearest nest box as I looked out the kitchen window.  That is what prompted me to grab the camera and try to document that they were here.  I snapped some through the window (by that time they were at one of the far nest boxes...the pictures are blurred, but it is clearly the bluebird.  It seems really early to be house hunting, but the pair were at least checking things out--perhaps looking for a place to roost in the cold of winter.

The sun was shining, and although I was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, I was perfectly comfortable.  The temperature was supposed to be 54 degrees, but it felt warmer to me.  I thoroughly enjoyed being outside--especially after noticing something hopping around and perching on the dried goldenrod.  I snapped a lot of pictures and took a video or two and began to realize it was a chickadee.  Several chickadees actually.  As I walked through the paths I saw that more than one seemed to be feeding on the seedheads in various spots in the yard.  Chickadees would not have been my first guess as to what eats the goldenrod seeds.  I can imagine goldfinches, but was surprised to see the 'dees going for them. This is about when I realized how little I really know about the birds and critters that I'm attracting to the yard.  Hopefully, through the years, I'll learn much more through simple observation.

Shortly there after, I noticed another bird in the hedgerow.  Even though it came quite close to where I was standing in the path, it seemed to move too quickly for me to focus the camera on it.  I did, however, get this one good shot--but, not the best for an ID.  I plan to post it on Wildlife Gardeners in hopes of getting an ID.

Aside from the goldenrod, I caught a shot of a chickadee feeding on the staghorn sumac--something that I'd always read was the last choice for birds (at least the bluebird).  It is only late November, and they are already being eaten...so, perhaps they aren't so bad after all.

  ...The tufted titmouse seemed to like them too. :)

 

While taking pictures of the activity at the sumac, at first I thought I saw bluebirds, but once I got inside to upload the I saw it was the tufted titmouse instead.  I accepted this and kept sorting through the photos, deleting the blurred ones (these were taken at quite a distance and then cropped).  Imagine my surprise when, after seeing a blurred image that was obviously a bluebird, I found two perfectly clear images of the male!  

Unexpected Surprise

I went out the back door to enjoy the sunshine and relatively warm temperatures--around 50, I think, but it felt warmer.   Before I got a few paces out the door to put some peanuts out for the chickadees (and anyone else that wanted some), I noticed a butterfly on the cuff of my jeans!  Had it not landed there, I'd probably have missed it flying by.

Too bad I didn't get a shot of it on my jeans, but I did get a couple of shots once it landed on the side of the house. It is past mid-November and I'm still seeing butterflies.  I'm loving it.  With enough sun and critter visits, maybe winter won't feel so long.

First of Many More

With the warm weather, I've not noticed much bird activity where I've been feeding the birds. I did bring in some branches closer to the house for them to perch on (and give me a better chance of a good photo.

The other day, I spotted some a chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, and junco coming for the black oil sunflower seeds I've been putting out. I took several pictures through the window, but only ended up with one good one of the titmouse (above).

Hopefully this is only the first of many more photos. :)

Second Batch are in Now Too

Look how root-bound they are.

I did get the second batch of first-year seedlings planted on Friday, but I didn't get a chance to post about it until today. Mostly I planted the wildflowers near the boulder again, but I did add a few near the sun porch and some near the front landscaping.

I decided to sprinkle a lot of the seeds from the daisy fleabane (Erigeron sp.) throughout the bare soil between the new plants. Hopefully they will help out compete any weed seeds and bring some additional beauty (and nectar) to the area. I also raked a light layer of mower-mulched leaves and grass clippings on top of them.

One Down, One to Go

I guess I only needed the right combination of time off, a sunny day, and some motivation to finally get the wildflowers I grew from seed into the ground. Who would've ever guessed it would be on Thanksgiving Day. :)

I found it easier to plant most of them near my pride and joy, the huge boulder. I'd been removing soil on the one side to expose more of the rock face, so digging down a bit more gave me a fairly blank canvas...except for some roots I didn't take the time to remove...and who knows how many weed seeds I probably exposed. At least the wildflowers have a head start and I'll have something to weed around if things do compete with them. Mostly, I planted the Penstemon digitalis near the rock; I tried to pull out the *tiny* meadow rue and planted them in a couple more appropriate places, but some of them were entangled with the Penstemon, so I let them go...along with the New England aster which, I'll try to transplant to a more appropriate spot next spring. Maybe this will teach me to plant each species of seed together instead of throwing them all in together--guess I'll have to wait until *next* year when I collect, as I've already mixed them all again this year.

Luckily it is in the high 50s today and it is supposed to be 60 tomorrow. I'm also lucky we are in the area this year and didn't have to cook either. I only wish I had thought to put on a pair of old jeans before I found myself kneeling in the dirt. I never know when the mood will hit and don't always think about what I'm wearing.

I'm not a good example, and I don't recommend to anyone to put off planting their seedlings like I did this year, but I do think as long as the ground is not frozen, the plants do continue to make roots, so hopefully they'll set even a little bit of roots into their new location. If not, they should still be fine. :)

Oh well, I'm thrilled to have half of them planted with plans to do the other half tomorrow. Dinner is at 3:00 today, so I'm going to have to stop now. We have another dinner with friends tomorrow at 3:00, so I'd better get up early and do some more--gotta remember to put on some work clothes next time.

Happy Thanksgiving. :)

tall meadow rue, Thalictrum dioicum, (I think)

While Weeding

I finally got around to cutting down the mugwort--well, some of it anyway--today. Almost two months ago, I started the process, but too many other things were going on...and if we weren't gone for the weekend, it would be raining. So, with a beautiful, sunny November day with highs around 60, I finally got motivated, grabbed the sickle, and started attacking the drying stands of mugwort. I can't believe I let it go to seed, but I hope to either burn the seed heads or cover them with a thick layer of wood chips and hope they rot.

(There is not a huge difference, since I left the goldenrod seed heads for the birds, but if you notice the nestbox is exposed in the second picture.)

Anyway, after I wore myself out, I was walking the trails to take more pictures, when I spotted one tiny, green mugwort plant. I reached for it, and in doing so revealed a slow moving, but very much alive praying mantis. Luckily I had the camera in hand to get this shot of him (or her).

Seeds...and Those Seedlings

For the past week or so, I've gone out to walk the yard and have begun to collect seeds. Today, I went out to collect more...but each time I do, I have to remind myself that I've yet to plant those seedlings that I grew from seed this spring. Maybe this post will get me motivated. :)

By letting the natives seed themselves (and helping them along by winter sowing them) I'm bending the competition in their favor. At the same time, I have tried to prevent the invasives from going to seed...and for the most part I keep after them. This year, however, I've let the chicory go to seed among some others. I'm hoping they've yet to disperse their seeds, so that I can prevent an influx of new plants to join the two or three I've spotted so far.

Then there are the goldenrods that don't seem to need any help from me. They are a great late season source of nectar (and beauty), but they are aggressive enough to seed themselves...and they have. By adding New England aster, other asters, native grasses, and other fall-blooming wildflowers among the goldenrod, I should be able to come up with a thing of beauty and substance.

I did, however,, collect seeds of lance leaf goldenrod (Solidago graminifolia) which is not as aggressive as some of the more common goldenrods. Lance leaf goldenrod was never a favorite of mine, but it has really grown on me over the past two years. There are several species of Solidago that have not yet appeared on their own that I'd like to add to the yard...however, I've yet to look for a source. One that I know I'd like to add is the zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis that seems to do well in the dappled shade of woodlands.

I've begun to get more and more into growing wildflowers from seed. I just have to get back into planting what I've grown! I've been wanting to add a mini-meadow nearer the house so I can see it (and what it attracts) from the window. Deciding on and preparing a site has been the main hold up...and perhaps a bit of laziness on my part.

I was surprised to see that a few of the first year seedlings actually bloomed--I have to wonder if I'd got them planted in the ground if they'd have done even better. Being perennials, I should have a much better show next year.