HTBT: May 2013

I think I know

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied woodpecker - female

American Goldfinch

Cardinal

Nuthatch

Goldfinch and House Finch

Goldfinch

The Red-Headed Woodpeckers in the Ozarks are mighty plump

Red-Headed

Goldfinch

Painted Bunting -- one of the most exciting birds to see!

The birds above hang around our campsite and feeder. Never get tired of watching them. Nature really is spectacular. It's amazing to watch birds, bugs, lizards, and other wildlife communicate with each other and take care of each other! God has to have fun watching His creations!

May apples -- note the bloom

the blooms will soon be turning into fruit

closeup

one bloom -- turns to one fruit

Mulleins

One of the Sassafrass saplings

5-10-13: Sherryl went exploring for tomorrow's wildflower hike and told me about a real treasure she found in the woods -- Jack-in-the-Pulpit. She described it and then I went a huntin'. I didn't find it, but I did find May Apple blooms! Practically had to stand on my head to get the pix, but a real treat!

Field Mustard

Mayapple fruit

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Jack-in-the-Pulpit about to go to seed

remains of last year's mullein stems -- which Native Americans used to dip in something and light to light their way

Wildflower Hikers

young batch of Jack-in-the-Pulpit

a really pretty purple Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Tickseed Coreopsis

False Indigo

Missouri Primrose

5-11-13: Sherryl led a wildflower hike today on the Lakeshore Trail. NOW I got to see the Jack-in-the-Pulpit! Really cool. If I saw it without the blooms, I'd think poison ivy! It's a beautiful little flower. And evidently something that we don't see often growing wild in the woods. She also pointed out some May apples that are already bearing their fruit. I learned that the ones that bear flowers, then fruit, have 2 "umbrellas". That'll save me some time in looking for them! Quote of the day: "It's only a weed if it's not where you want it" - by Sherryl Walker

The first thing we saw as we left the bldg was a Bald Eagle!! look closely to right of lightpole

Got a much better look at him than picture

squirrel

wild petunia

spiderwart

Milkweed

Tammy with a giant.........? 7

poison ivy

last year's mullien

Venus' Looking Glass

ground cherry

inside of a ground cherry blossom

May apple fruit

still not too big

Tickseed Coreopsis

crown vetch -- pretty but invasive

possible "dog vomit" -- fungus

Gala disected one of the Mayapple fruits -- the inside has a white strawberry-looking thing that is supposed to be ok to eat. this is still too young

5-24-13: It was a beautiful, cool morning at the Dewey Short. So the boss ladies decided we needed to go see what was blooming on the Lakeshore Trail. With the Missouri Wildflower book in hand, Gala, Morgan, Sherryl, Tammy, and me headed out. I learn soooo much from these ladies!