The sound of the blue jay calling takes me back to my grandmother’s backyard. I can remember hearing them cry out a warning as we would run through her grass paths and hide behind the massive live oaks. These beautiful birds are relatively easy to spot and serve as sever sports team mascots! The blue jay has a range of calls, including one that mimics the call of the red-shouldered hawk! This … [Read more...]
On Look up in the Sky Day, learn about the amazing constellations
What? You have never heard of Look up in the Sky Day? Well, neither had I until I made it a point to learn about strange holidays this year. Apparently Look up in the Sky Day is celebrated every April 14th and we are going to spend a bit of time tonight looking at the constellations. The Big Dipper is hands-down one of the easiest constellations to recognize in the night sky. It’s … [Read more...]
The Hyacinth – Feast Your Noses on a Mediterranean Native This Spring
The hyacinth tends to be the lesser known beauty of the typical spring blooms, but if you have ever smelled one . . . ahh, the scent of pure loveliness. It’s enough to make you want to dig them all up and replant them right by your door so you can enjoy them every time you head out for a walk on a nice spring day! Now, I must clarify - I am talking about the flowering hyacinth, not the miniature … [Read more...]
The Iconic Daffodil – A Dazzling Sign That Spring Is Replacing Winter
Nothing says, “Hello, it’s spring!” like the daffodil! The sunny blooms seem to smile up at you from the ground left barren from the cold winter. These spring flowers typically grow in bunches, like little pockets of sunshine in your garden. The trumpet-shaped bloom of daffodils can be yellow, white, or orange. Each bloom has a central corona that protects the reproductive structures of the … [Read more...]
The Charming Crocus – Find it in Siberia and Your Backyard
When we lived in Virginia, the sight of crocus blooms popping up in our yard meant that spring was close at hand. I think that is the reason why the crocus remains one of my favorite spring bulbs! But did you know that there are over 80 different varieties of crocus? The crocus is part of the iris family and is thought to have originated in Europe, Asia, and Africa. These flowers can live from … [Read more...]
Snowdrops – when You See These, You Know Spring Is Almost Here!
Ahh, spring is in the air. There’s a warm breeze blowing, birds chirping, and snowdrops dotting the ground! But don’t get lulled into a false sense of the season - old man winter can still rear his frozen head. Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear each spring. These blooms typically appear as soon as the temperatures are regularly above freezing - depending on where you live this … [Read more...]
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