May 2020 – French Broad Hollow Ramble

Where did the time go? No kidding, where did it go?

Apparently time is not under quarantine and, like the river, just keeps on rolling along. I started this post almost a week ago, and I hope to post it today! Maybe I need to get to work like these ants!

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, then you know that I am partial to Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina), and this time of year they are out and about, especially after a rain. (By the way, should you see a turtle in the road, follow these steps: https://www.wildlifecenter.org/tips-helping-turtles.) Usually I am on my walk when I see one, but one morning I saw one in the meadow as I walked up after feeding the deer, and then I found a small one in my yard. (I saw the little one in the yard again today. ) I even saw one down in the creek!

Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolina

Different flowers are blooming now, including the beautiful but invasive Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica); sometimes the scent is almost cloyingly sweet as I walk. For some reason, I am particularly fond of the Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium); I’m happy to be seeing more of it this year along the roads and in my meadow.

Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium

White clover Trifolium repens

Summer Bluet Houstonia purpurea

I haven’t seen any fawns yet, but the young deer, especially Bambi,his brother, and the little doe come pretty regularly. They are often bedded down in the meadow—or in the yard!—when I get up.

And just like that, time flew by again. I already took food down to the deer and checked on the little turtle; now it’s time to feed the cats. (Remember these muchachos? And, yes, there are cat toys all over my house. :-))

Maybe I’ll be able to catch up on time and post again before too long. Maybe…

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Rainy day rest

Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana – Version 2 — https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127906-Magnolia-virginiana

It’s raining today, and I decided to take a day off from walking, although I almost kept going when I went down for the mail. I’m glad I didn’t since it since it started to rain harder as soon as I got back to the house.

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I haven’t seen the deer as regularly lately. Sometimes I see them when I first get up and look out my bedroom window, but they’re usually gone by the time I get downstairs, and I never know if or when they will show up during the day. I’m sure some of the does have fawns hidden somewhere, and last year’s are now on their own. I looked out just as I began writing this and saw Bambi eating in a recently cleared area. Of course, I took corn and an apple and went down to the meadow, where he was joined by his brother, last year’s doe fawn, Lil Girl, and a couple of pregnant does.

The cleared area had been overrun with invasive multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) until recently. I was fortunate to hire someone who was knowledgeable about invasive plants to make a (small) dent in the many invasive plant species near my house. (He is a Peace Corps Response Volunteer who had been evacuated due to COVID-19.) He also got rid of some Chinese privet, Japanese honeysuckle, bush (Amur) honeysuckle, amd a few other exotic shrubs and small trees. Invasive plant species are all over the Hollow, and, as much as I don’t like them, I must admit that some are beautiful.

Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora

Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii

Lovely as the exotics are, I prefer the natives. I see them on my rambles and have planted some near my house.

The turtles also have homes on the Hollow, and I feel lucky every time I meet one as I ramble. Turtle on Mtn Hollow 4-9-20 Turtle on Mtn Hollow 4-26-20 Turtle on Mtn Hollow 5-17-20

Meanwhile, the birds continue to sing,

Tom continues to strut,

and it’s time for me to do chores.

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Blackberry winter’s a-comin’

It’s been a while since my last post. I’m happy to say that I can’t blame the delay on the pandemic (although I seem to be meeting more neighbors on the road as I ramble). It’s simply that it’s hard to work on this blog in the springtime, when each day brings more leaves on the trees, new blooms, and other surprises. But after a record high of 84° a few days ago, we’re about to have blackberry winter this weekend with a forecast of lows in the 30s and a frost advisory. That may keep me inside! 🙂

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With the arrival of spring the sights and sounds of birds have changed, too. The male ruby-throated hummingbirds duel each other at the feeders, and the rose-breasted grosbeaks have made their all-too-brief appearance. The indigo buntings are back at the feeders, and the Canada geese that live by the river lead their goslings. (You can see the geese in some of the river photos on each post.)

The wild turkeys are strutting,

and the wood thrushes are singing their melodious songs.

The butterflies are arriving, too, including monarchs on their northward migration. We have lots of milkweed in the Hollow; it’s not blooming, but at least there are plants available for monarch egg-laying.