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There are many kinds of organisms that can be placed in the group fungi. They become noticeable when they produce their fruiting body. The puffball above is the fungus’ fruiting body. Most of time you don’t see them do their work of de-compositing of organic matter to their roles in nutrient cycling.  This fungus is causing white…

The Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) likes Eastern Red Cedars. They remind me of Christmas tree ornaments. I know most people don’t want them, but with the insect population decreasing so rapidly, I am not one to kill them. The ones I see around my place have not caused any damage. And well, it is nature….

Hope y’all are feeling good and got to get out in this awesome weather. Gracie was feeeeeling good and a roll in the grass just makes it better.  Cedar Elm’s (Ulmus crassifolia) have these corky wings/ridges on some of the branches. This corky wings had galls (the pointy things) on it. Another view. Cedar Elm is…

 Today’s weather was just absolutely perfect! Robins on my birdbath. Frosted coyote scat. Our low was 32 this morning. The whitish knot looks like some sort of creature, but not sure what. LOL Closeup. Greenbriar (Smilax bona-nox) tendril. I think the tendrils are amazing the way they find something to hold. I got these tiny 2×3…

 Brown is adjective which is defined as a color produced by mixing red, yellow, and blue. When I googled the definition of brown, I also got these words as similar:  hazel, chocolate-colored, coffee-colored, cocoa-colored, nut brown, brunette, mousy, sepia, mahogany, umber, burnt sienna, beige, buff, tan, fawn, biscuit, camel, café au lait, caramel, mushroom, bay, sorrel,…

Hackberry seeds that a bird has eaten.  Crow-poison (Nothoscordum bivalve) finds the day warm enough to bloom! Milkweed seeds ready to fly!  Insect eggs on a Hackberry tree. Keep looking!

What do you see? It is 47 degrees about 11:15 am and you can see dirt, debris, and a few Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) berries. Now it is 52 degrees and about 2pm. Closeup. The Harvester ants in my observations will not come out until it is at least 50+ degrees. I’m not sure of…

Start with a knot. Reminded me of a snail. You might have to use your imagination. LOL Thistle’s pattern in the phyllaries (bracts that held up the flower). Open Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) seedpod. A Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata) stalk and seeds. Greenbriar (Smilax bona-nox) leaf. I think this is a Bois D’arc (Maclura pomifera) leaf. The leaves look…

Looks like a painting from Van Gogh.  I just like knots. Mosses with its sporophytes (the brown stalks which is where the spores are produced). Keep looking!  

 Well, not really frosting on the cake BUT frosting on the plants this morning!  It got down to 27 degrees at my house. Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) is a favorite plant of mine. It attracts beaucoup (which is French for a lot- I didn’t remember that it was French) of insects while it is blooming. And…