April Woodland Wildflowers

I was wildflower hunting in the spring woods of Pennsylvania this week. Here are some of the pretty things I found. Click to enlarge.

 

Great white trilliums.  

Yellow trillium, also called yellow toad shade. 

Purple toad shade, also called little sweet Betsy. 

And the lovely trout lily, or yellow adder's tongue. 

  

 

Spring Nesting

 

This spring I am monitoring nest boxes at a local county park again. For the past several years, I've watched tree swallows like the one above, build nests and rear young. Click to enlarge. 

Before settling in, birds investigate the nest sites. Today this one landed on one of mine and then flew away. And then...

This eastern bluebird showed up! Bluebirds also use these boxes, but I haven't so far had them use my boxes. I would love to photograph them nesting.  

Which will it be? Swallows or bluebirds? We will find out soon. 

Happy Easter

 

I met this eastern cottontail rabbit on my street yesterday. Timely appearance, rabbit. May everyone's Easter be happy and peaceful. 

Pine Warblers

 

I was in the New Jersey Pine Barrens again a few days ago. I saw things I have not seen for a year, including butterflies and basking turtles. As usual, it was quiet among the trees, making it easier to hear... 

Pine warblers! They are back. It's easier to hear them singing than to see them, but this fast moving busy bird stopped moving long enough for a photograph. Would you like to hear the song? Click here. Or go take a walk in the woods. Click to enlarge. 

Spring Comes to the Pine Barrens

This is one of my favorite spots in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. I was there about a week ago. See the small sandy yellow beaches on the far shore? It's just the kind of place that some of the area's special plants grow. And just in time for spring... 

New pitchers on the famous purple pitcher plants! 

The new one is bright red. They persist through winter sometimes; the white papery one on the left is last year's. Click to enlarge.

Each pitcher is a modified leaf. They form tubular cups that fill with rainwater..

See the spiky hairs on the big hood above the open mouth of the one on the riight, rear? They face down and direct insects downward toward the water. The lip on the edge is waxy and slick. Insects fall in, drown, and their nutrients are absorbed by the plant. 

It's a uniquely Pine Barrens sign of spring. 

Spring Equniox on Friday

Despite the cold gray weather I saw open daffodils in my neighborhood today, including this one. Just a few were open, the others are still swollen buds. Maybe they are waiting for astronomical spring to begin on the equinox this Friday. 

Meanwhile, a little daffodil poetry from A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young... 

 

 Daffodowndilly

 

 “She turned to the sunlight  

And shook her yellow head,

 And whispered to her neighbor:

 ‘Winter is dead.’”

Daylight Savings Time Has Begun

Daylight Savings Time started last night while we slept. Our clocks spring forward by one hour, and sunset today in Philadelphia will be at 7:01. Click to enlarge.