A Bestiary ~ Warblers ~ Northern Parula

Over two years have passed since my monthly posts featuring Warblers began over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.  The next to the last warbler in the series, and as always sighted in the gardens at Flower Hill Farm, is presented this month in 'A Bestiary — Tales from a Wildlife Garden.'  The Northern Parula perches in an old apple tree and darts about searching for insects inside flower buds as I capture photos.  If you would like to see more images and learn about these unique, small warblers please do visit — A Bestiary.

The feisty Redstart will be the last of this series of Warblers and then onto other songbirds that share this land and habitat. I so look forward to their return this spring.  It has been a joy to recall the numerous encounters I have had over the years through writing the Bestiary.  I hope to sight more species here this coming season. 

Perhaps you can match the names to the bouquet of birds above  — Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Parula, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut Sided Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Nashville Warbler. There is a Redstart there too. 

I am still working hard on my new website, and missing posting here. I will hopefully have it going by April. 

A Bouquet of Warblers Continues In Plumule Expanse

December sighs and drops whiteness about the land. The last few weeks of 2013 are at hand.

Another month unfolds and now a landscape covered in downy snow and ice lies across these hills of Western Massachusetts.
I have a new installment of my 'A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden' up over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.

The Black-and-white Warbler joins the lively bouquet of warblers . . .  offering its striking plumage to the arrangement of songbirds. I hope you might click over and learn more about this unique new world warbler.

A New Year ~ A New Installment to 'A Bestiary' ~ Pileated Woodpecker

My first posting of 2013 to announce and hope you might click over to see my latest 'A Bestiary' installment . . . Pileated Woodpecker. 

This makes number fourteen and it can been seen by clicking here. 

Special thanks go out to Ecosystem Gardener and activist Carole Brown whose wisdom and expertise have brought together two 'really good' teams over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens  and Beautiful Wildlife Garden. 

I truly hope to be up and posting regularly soon. Wild Turkeys are happy for the hardening snow so they can move around more easily. I can see a flock walking down towards the forest as I write this. I am happy to understand why it is taking me so long to recover from my travels after getting a flu shot that gave me a wicked flu and turned into bronchitis. I rarely take antibiotics but gladly will take the prescribed dose to feel well again.

All Best Wishes for Good Health along with Great Wildlife and Human Encounters in 2013. 

Peace and Clean Green Energy For All

A Bestiary ~ North American Porcupine

An insert between the butterflies. 

A prickly tale about a porcupine who liked to dine on my apple trees. 

To see more photos and read the tale . . .  please click on the red link below.
There is a new installment to my 'Bestiary' over at  Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.

Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES 2011 ~ Eastern Tiger Swallowtails ~ Part Two

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly sipping Miss Kim Lilac blooms

For Part Two of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails Papilio glaucus, we find the tiger-striped butterflies swimming in purples, yellows and greens instead of in the pink as seen in my last post. 

St. Valentine surely might smile over these Tiger Swallowtail lovers flying and swirling about high into the sky beneath the robust Rock Maples. 

A perfect female Tiger Swallowtail. Note the blue markings . . . which make me believe it female

Frolicking about in Fields

I believe this to be a male Tiger Swallowtail

Female Drinking Comfrey Nectar

Each May and the early part of June, when the Korean lilacs and wildflowers bloom, I delight in the appearance of Tiger Swallowtail butterflies. Their animated beauty add a touch of magic to the fields and shrubberies. The way their beautiful wings catch the light is mesmerizing . . . akin to stained glass windows. 

Tiger Swallowtails do not have an easy time here with all the birds, especially Catbirds, who are raising their young. Alas! It seems the striking Swallowtails often become a sumptuous supper for them. I often see the butterflies flitting about with tatter gowns and sadly find mosaics of wings on the ground. I know it is just the food chain, but I do so feel for these lovely creatures too and just wish they were not so tempting, for there is plenty of other food about. It sounds silly but I do try reasoning with the Catbirds . . . but they never yield. Of course there is no reason to my argument . . . except my love of the butterflies.

Sending some Sweethearts to Sweden for Katarina! 

Next time my butterfly review of 2011 will feature the Fritillaries. 

This Saturday, my monthly post on Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens will feature the Bobcat as the third beast in my Flower Hill Farm Bestiary. My encounter will be retold with a new and surprising ingredient. Hope you can check it out!

A Bestiary - Over At Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens

I am working on a 'Bestiary' and sharing tales of the wildlife that share my land and gardens. Please check out Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens to read more about my encounters with American black bears. You can see more of the beasts that inhabit the land around me in my Bestiary Parade  here. 

Beginnings and Endings Days and Months Painted Sky and Canvas

Sunrise Over Mount Holyoke Range November 29, 2011

Fairies come out to celebrate the new day. 

Mount Tom at Sunrise November 29, 2011

The magical time just at the beginning and end of each day, where the sky becomes a vivid, living painting, is well worth honoring within silence, reverence and reverie. From my home and retreat at Flower Hill Farm the view allows a spectacular promise at those early and later moments . . . especially as November takes its leave of us. Clouds and mists of yesterdays sunrise (in the photos above) reflect and refract colors and light . . .  while holding to the sky a striking palette . . .  truly staggering and startling the imagination and spirit of this observer. It is a painting in constant movement as clouds float, stretch and swell into the atmosphere. Then . . .  the luminous composition fades . . .  as a wisp of smoke or a whisper . . . until the day is finished and a new painting, as seen below, fills the canopy of sky in that twinkling of time before gray and darkness befalls. 

Mount Tom at Sunset November 29, 2011

Mount Holyoke Sunset November 29, 2011

  

Today this last morning of November begins with a stratospheric light show. Tomorrow will bring the first December sunrise of 2011 . . . the end of one day . . . one month . . . and beginnings of another. Nearly the end of a year. November has been mild with a slew of sunny, warm days, allowing for shoeless walks along the North Truro shore and here at Flower Hill Farm many more days, and evenings too, with windows and doors flung wide open. Oh, had I been able . . . it was a great month to garden.

Dramatic light-show when the sun appears to moves into the thick blanket of clouds. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

While working on this post flocks with hundreds of birds were filling the sky, so I had to pause and fetch my camera to try to capture them, if only to identify the species. I could not, but what a joyous sighting for me in my own dear Rock Maple . . . a first here at Flower Hill (for me) . . . a Red-bellied Woodpecker!! My first sighting was earlier in the year at a Great Blue Heron Rookery. I shared my experience of the rookery at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. 

November nearly ending now . . . offers gifts of beautifully painted sky and birds. Bluebirds are sweetly singing their soft and melodious songs and calls.  I am glad and grateful for having been in the moment and able to accept them all . . . gifts and songs . . . though none were intended for me at all. It is only for me to take the time to notice. I am very fortunate to be in such a place and to have the time.

At November's end I begin a new painting. This is an underpainting. I plan to use lots of yellows and pale greens which is why I chose the compliment of purple. Plans can change. I always find this early stage exciting . . . something becoming . . . a mystery with possible promise (If I destroy it I can always cover it and begin anew). Alas, my paintings are pale in beauty when seen next to such stunning works of Mother Nature, but then I am not trying to copy nature . . . only to find my own voice and way of expressing the feelings I find in my connection to nature. Nature all around me is my muse. 

(My Painting process and some works over the last few years can be seen above just under the header photo by clicking on the 'Page' titles.) 

I will bid farewell to November and welcome December in the morning. 

Let's not forget the moon, which is a mirror to our sun. Here another beginning and ending  'Moonlit' for Katarina of Roses and Stuff for now it is Blooming Friday. Happy Roman Holiday K. 

Deeper Into Green A Monarchy Morphs

Little Monarch caterpillars do not stay little long.

Growing strong each day

stretching towards one's destiny

 searching for one's self

It may take some time

finding a place to feel safe

life can then unfold

Can you see what does not quite fit in this photograph? To see its story told . . .  visit Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. 

Hidden within all

growth reveals inner beauty

the curtain rises

Throwing off old garb

crumpled up caught by jade leaf

growth comes from within

A chrysalis forms

green wing templates expanding

intention grabs hold

Just before changing

securely fasten your clasp

preventing a fall

Greening soul resting

imagination flowing

metamorphosing 

Song of renewal

realizing potential

a new beginning 

Honor the journey

yellow white and black larva

become beaded gold

A garden holds light

beauty and danger reside

a white fright in green

Illumination

ever morphing surroundings

green within and out

Sneak peek for next week. 

It has been my great joy and honor to have experienced hundreds and hundreds of Monarch butterfly metamorphoses over the last twenty seven years. Each and every one is magical and feeds the spirit . . . a lovely metaphor for our lives. You can see more about these enchanting creatures by visiting earlier posts beginning here then following the other acts.