#NPOD: Cutleaf Toothwort #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 12/27/2010

Photo from March 7, 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA.

Cutleaf Toothwort - for more photos / info go to the Cardamine concatenata detail page.

Cutleaf Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata

#NPOD: Trout Lily #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 12/26/2010

Photo from March 7, 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA.

Trout Lily - for more photos / info go to the Erythronium americanum detail page.

Trout Lily; Dogtooth Violet - Erythronium americanum

Mourning Dove #Birds on Christmas

We’ve had several flocks of birds come thru repeatedly today in the snow – finches, robins, chickadees, titmouses, cedar waxwings, starlings, and odd woodpecker or two, and some mourning doves (Zenaida macroura).

Christmas Crownbeard #Nativeplants

We awoke this morning for our first white Christmas since 1989 (at least in the lower elevations) here in the greater Chattanooga area.  Naturally this is enchanting to most of us, so my wife and I took a drive around the neighborhood on Christmas morning, cameras in hand.  These Yellow Crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis) attracted my attention, holding most of the 2 inches of snow we’ve received on their flower heads.

Yellow Crownbeard - Verbesina occidentalis

#NPOD: Virginia Bluebell #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 12/25/2010

Photo from April 2, 2008. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA.

Virginia Bluebell - for more photos / info go to the Mertensia virginica detail page.

Virginia Bluebells - Mertensia virginica

#NPOD: Carolina Spring Beauty #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 12/24/2010

Photo from March 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA.

Carolina Spring Beauty – for more photos / info go to the Claytonia caroliniana detail page.

Carolina Spring Beauty, Wide-leaved Spring Beauty - Claytonia caroliniana

#NPOD: Virginia Spring Beauty #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 12/23/2010

Photo fromApril 2010. Location: Walker County, GA.

Virginia Spring Beauty – for more photos / info go to the Claytonia virginica detail page.

Virginia Spring Beauty, Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginica

#NPOD: Hepatica (Blue) #NativePlants

Native Plant of the Day 12/22/2010

Photo from March 2010. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA..  While Hepatica blossoms are most commonly white, they also will be found in pink, and various shades of blue.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (Blue) for more photos / information go to the Hepatica nobilis detail page.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica - Hepatica nobilis

#NPOD: Hepatica (White) #NativePlants

Native Plant of the Day 12/21/2010

Photo from March 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA..  The new Hepatica blossoms arise in late winter or early spring and are most commonly white.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (white) for more photos / information go to the Hepatica nobilis detail page.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica - Hepatica nobilis

#NPOD: Hepatica #NativePlants

Native Plant of the Day 12/20/2010

Photo from Feb 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA..  The leaf will stay through the winter, with the new blossoms arising in late winter or very early spring through last year’s leaves. 

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (leaf) for more photos / information go to the Hepatica nobilis detail page.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica - Hepatica nobilis

#NPOD: Bloodroot #NativePlants

Native Plant of the Day 12/19/2010

Photo from March 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA..

Bloodroot  for more photos / information go to the Sanguinaria canadensis detail page.

Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis

Black-Billed Magpie #Birds

The Black-Billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia, is a common bird in the west.  However, since we don’t have them in the east, I always enjoy observing this member of the crow family (Corvidae) while we’re in Boise.  Aside from the black and white color, one of the eye-catching features of this bird while in flight is the long scissor-like tail.

#NPOD: Bloodroot (bud) #NativePlants

Native Plant of the Day 12/18/2010

Photo from Feb 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA..

Bloodroot (bud)  for more photos / information go to the Sanguinaria canadensis detail page.

Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis

American Kestrel #Birds

On one of my drives up Bogus Basin Road this American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) sat in this tree for me while I got my camera out, changed to my long lens, and took a series of photos. He was still hitting there when I headed on up the mountain.

#NPOD: Oakleaf Hydrangea #NativePlants

Native Plant of the Day 12/17/2010

Photo from November 2010. Location: Reflection Riding, Hamilton County, TN

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Late Fall) – for more photos / information go to the Hydrangea quercifolia detail page.

Oakleaf Hydrangea - Hydrangea quercifolia