Star Magnolia
Daffodil
Red Trillium
Wild Serviceberry (Amelanchier, Juneberry, Shadbush)
Wild Serviceberry in full bloom
Photos by NB Hunter (May, 2018). © All Rights Reserved.
Despite the cold, late spring, I started searching for wild flowers in late April. The search is a rite of spring, even if there’s snow in the air and it makes no sense whatsoever.
The flower buds of willow shrubs were on hold (April 27),
As were the new shoots of False Hellebore after a freezing rain (April 29).
Desperate for color in a wintry April landscape, I detoured to the edge of a wetland and discovered a reliable indicator of the advancing season: Skunk Cabbage (April 29).
Finally, the weather took a serious turn for the better. The season of renewal erupted, with April events spilling over into early May. Migrating birds, black flies, wildflowers, baby animals, mud…..Spring!
Bloodroot
A Rails-to-Trails recreation path, with willow shrubs in bloom (May 5)
The early blooms of willow shrubs (May 3), a lifeline for hungry bees
Marsh Marigold (May 5)
A tumbling brook, swollen by melting snow and frequent rain (May 5)
White Trillium (May 5)
Red Trillium (May 5)
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
Early spring wildflowers, the spring ephemerals, are vivid reminders of the fragile beauty and existence of life on earth. They tease and please with spectacular, short-lived blooms. They always leave us wanting more, and we’re quite willing to wait another year for another show. It never gets old.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier), a small flowering tree
Marsh Marigold in the wet soil along a small stream
White Trillium, a woodland wildflower favoring rich, moist soils (1 of 2)
Red Trillium in filtered light on a rich woodland site
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
I’ve captured a sample of early May in Central New York, often dodging rain drops in the process. My mother had more than a passing interest in nature and would have loved this post.
She liked flowers, cultivated or wild, didn’t much matter.
Fading glory: Red Trillium in a moist ravine, past peak bloom
Willow (one of many species of wild willow shrubs)
Wild Juneberry (also Serviceberry, Amelanchier or Shadbush)
She kept a bird feeder and enjoyed her backyard visitors. Early May was peak migration and full of surprises.
Goldfinch perched near a Nyjer seed feeder
Of course everyone loves babies. These family photos would have been plastered all over the wall (and the real family photos pushed aside)!
Family of Canadian Geese (there were 8 goslings in all, just a few days old)
Bald Eagle, tearing small pieces from a kill to feed her 3 youngsters
Raising young is a team effort: parent #2 arrives with a duck in its grasp (determined from another image in the sequence)!
Happy Mother’s Day
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
In memory of a friend, former colleague at Morrisville State College and pillar of the Morrisville Community Church, “Big Lou”.
Our native Red Trillium, this morning:
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
The better part of my Mother’s Day walks were spent looking into the sun, sometimes by design, but often due to circumstances beyond my control. Needless to say, the effects were transformative and the experience enlightening!!!
Red Squirrel (hiding from me)
Marsh Marigold
Warbler (foraging for insects on the new foliage of Sugar Maple)
Marsh Marigold
Birch tree and clouds in evening sun
Red Trillium
Black Willow trees (light green color) in a wetland
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
Spring in the North, you gotta love it! Galleries of world class images can’t fully capture the moments; there are too many intangibles whirling around, evading descriptive words and fancy gear. The last 72 hours have left me with a flood of memories, some made a bit more lasting with visual reminders. Mom would have loved this post!
Trout Lily, with insect pollinators
Red-tailed Hawk
White (Large-flowered) Trillium
White Trillium
Chipmunk
Red (Wake-robin, Birthroot, Purple) Trillium
Red Trillium
Turkey Vulture gliding in to its tree-top roost
Photos by NB Hunter. © All Rights Reserved.
