The patches of green moss still give a little hope that winter isn’t here yet, even as the falling leaves tries to cover it.
Patch of Green
Picture of the Day for June 8, 2022
My birdhouses will have a variety of nest types in them, from the fine grass swirls of the bluebirds, a very messy grass and feathers nest of the sparrows, sticks the wrens uses, grass and trash (like candy wrappers) of the tree swallows and the a very soft moss nest of the chickadees. This chickadee was collecting nesting material from the side of the tree.
Chickadee Collecting Moss
Picture of the Day for March 4, 2022
Five years ago, there was hints of green in late February with some moss springing up but no moss showing this March yet.
February Moss
Picture of the Day for March 27, 2020
I was on the hunt for any spring flower (so I could give one to my mom for her birthday) but I had no luck finding a blossom. There were signs of daffodils, lilies and irises poking up about an inch but no snow glories or even a dandelion flowering yet. There was some growth happening on the various moss patches with sporophytes reaching upward.
Moss Sporophytes
Picture of the Day for November 12, 2019
The forecast is calling for some possible snow tonight and for tomorrow. This pine cone and the pine needles has a warmer ‘fallen’ feel than falling snowflakes even if individual snowflakes can be pretty. Winter came too early this year and shortened the already short autumn season.
Fallen Pine Cone
Picture of the Day for March 23, 2019
There were a few more signs of spring today with the return of the red-winged blackbirds, some killdeers and the call of sandhill cranes. A few small patches of green popped in the woods too with moss emerging from the snow.
Green Moss
Picture of the Day for February 22, 2017
A walk around the lawn and woods today didn’t reveal any wildflowers, which is good if a foot of snow is coming Friday, but there was some green moss with sporophytes sprouted making it look like spring had arrived.
Moss Sporophytes
Picture of the Day for March 30, 2016
The spring flowers have been elusive this spring as my early wildflowers still have not poked up, but then they probably heard the forecast with more possible snow and below freezing temperatures. So far only sprouting has been moss sporophytes.
Moss Reaching Up
Picture of the Day for April 3, 2015
I still haven’t spotted any wildflowers but when it is below freezing this morning again, the flowers are wise not to poke their heads up yet. The only green and growing plant that I have spotted so far is moss. The tall, stalk-like sporophytes were waving in the strong winds above the low, leaf-like gametophytes of the moss. But moss might end up in a chickadee nest as moss is a favorite material for the nest foundation and I did see a chickadee going into a birdhouse this spring already.
Moss Sporophytes
Picture of the Day for March 17, 2015
There might not be snow today, but no green for the Irish either so St. Patrick’s Day needs to be moved into spring instead of during the winter months.
Forest Flora
