French Broad Hollow Ramble

Wow! It’s been a long time since my last post. The time (and the end of the year) flew by as I kept thinking I’d sit down and post. I did try a couple of times but encountered some issues after installing an updated operating system on my phone and computer. The new iOS saves photos in a different format (*.heic instead of *.jpg), and WordPress doesn’t recognize those files. This means I have to convert photos before I can upload them. Additionally, there is the problem of almost-full storage on my WordPress account. I already pay for a “Premium” account to get additional storage, and the next plan is for commercial blogs, which I don’t need. I hope you like videos, because I finally realized that I can make videos with my photos and upload them to my Youtube channel. Like this one:

Enough about technical problems. What else? Sadly, no Thanksgiving with friends, no trip to New Mexico for my mom’s birthday, and no dinner party/tree decorating. For the first time in years I had to decorate the tree myself and to do so knowing that the muchachos would knock off anything they could reach. (I had to move several ornaments higher on the tree.)

The deer and turkeys keep coming, of course. Here’s what that looks like:

Several bucks visited, and I hope they survived hunting season.

What else has happened? What about a (very cold) white Christmas?

Even considering the snow, I think the most unexpected thing that has happened in the Hollow since my last post was the sudden appearance of a little stray cat. I noticed it first when I saw the deer stomping and snorting in alarm one day, then several neighbors saw it near their houses. When I saw it on my rambles it didn’t run off like other feral cats I’ve seen, and it was obvious something was wrong with its left eye. Finally it showed up at my house, where I fed it and fixed a shelter under my screen porch; I called it Noel (Noelle) and sang the carol to it when I fed it.

I was able to catch it, get it checked out at the vet (and learn that he is a male), and Noel (pronounced “nole”) is now living in a giant dog crate in my insulated daylight basement until he heals and I’m able to handle him.

It’s time to go feed him. I hope to post again before too long!

Hard to believe it’s been almost a month since my last post. It’s not like anything has been going on. Oh, except for an election, a tropical storm, a dying refrigerator, shopping and delivery of a new one, a hard freeze, another wind event, and lots and lots of leaves to rake. I kept thinking I would catch up on a rainy day, or a cold one, but we’ve had only a few of either, and I always seemed to have another chore that needed to get done. It’s sunny and warm today, but it’s time to catch up.

Between the tropical storm, the freezes, and a couple of other windy days, most of the leaves are off the trees now, although the beeches and a few oaks are still hanging onto theirs. Here are a few glimpses of what it looked like; the last photo was today.

The deer know my routine, and “my” regular herd of 8 to 10 show up daily for breakfast. Occasionally “interlopers” from another herd visited, and one morning I counted 15! Several of the regulars will take apple slices from my hand, and a couple try to eat from the bucket if I’m not fast enough.

One morning a young buck showed up. He didn’t get very close but wasn’t as skittish as they usually are. I like to think that he was either Bambi or Bro, but I couldn’t really tell.

The turkeys eat, too, especially the group I call the “Gobblers” (Tom, Thomas, Tommy, and sometimes Thomasina). They mostly stay in the woods near the house and make their rounds several times daily. Last week I was surprised by a flock of hens that came running into the meadow to join the deer for breakfast.

As I’ve noted in previous posts, I sometimes see deer on my rambles.

And they often nap near my house. See if you spot the one on this photo.

There is always more to write about and show you, but it’s almost feeding time.(Oh yes, there was that time change, too.) I’ll leave you with this video of the field.

Open the post in your browser to avoid scrolling through individual photos that are in slideshows and galleries.

I’m happy to let you know that we’ve had no more reports of dead deer!

I’ve seen no bucks, young or otherwise, but the does and the 202o fawns continue to come. They usually number between eight and twelve; some of them are newcomers and show up only occasionally. Something is wrong with the ear of one of the 2020 fawns (I’m calling it “Flopsy”), but it’s not the fawn who lets me pet him/her (“Friendly”).

We haven’t had much rain since the last post, but we got a little today. If you go through the slideshow below you can see changes in the river and in the foliage.

I much prefer how I posted the river photos before the “upgrade”, but below is one feature that some readers have told me they like; it really shows how the foliage has changed in two weeks.

The foliage this year seems to be peaking about now. I’m sure there are more spectacular views in the higher elevations and with wider horizons, but I’m perfectly content with what I see on my rambles in our little hollow. Sometimes I simply have to stop and admire the beauty. (None of these has been enhanced.)

Truth be told, I’m pretty content with what I see out my kitchen window and from my porch and deck.

I’m still seeing some flowers and butterflies when I walk, but my cats and my eyes are telling me it’s time to stop for now. Here’s the (new) usual ending with field across the ridge, and a chance to compare the two-week differences.

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It is hard to write this post: Something has been killing the deer in the Hollow. The new neighbor stopped me last week and asked if it was normal to see dead deer in the Hollow; he had seen three in the prior few days—a fawn that had lost its spots and a couple of does.

And then there were four. The mangled body of a young buck was found next to one of the roads I walk daily, just over the edge of the steep slope. I had to look to be sure, and I’m positive that it was either Bambi or Bro.

After having been so regular, neither had been showing up to eat for several weeks, although I had been looking. I know that the young bucks are often run off by the does or by larger bucks as the rut approaches, but several neighbors had seen them. I kept hoping they would return, and I still keep looking in hopes that one will show up.

I’ve written about death in the Hollow before, usually about deer hit by vehicles on the highway. Last year a small fawn was killed by a bobcat, but we have never before had healthy adult deer killed. No one thinks it’s human hunters; they wouldn’t just leave the carcasses (which don’t last long as scavengers do their part in the circle of life). The most likely killers are coyotes and/or a bobcat, but no one knows. It’s a sad and somewhat frightening unanswered question and seems to fit right in with the rest of 2020.

Fortunately, 2020 has been a typically beautiful fall here in the Hollow (except for the remnants of a couple of hurricanes; Delta has brought us rain almost all day long today, and some of it has been torrential). The trees are changing color almost daily, and the fall flowers continue to bloom. The thistles and other plants are releasing their seeds to the wind (or the birds!).

More and more does and their 2020 fawns have discovered the “diner” and show up in the meadow, sometimes resting nearby after the evening meal.

I’m sure I’ll have more to write another day. I hope it’s a happier story.

It’s raining. It’s been raining almost all day, although I was able to get in a walk when there was a short break. We had a lot of rain when the remnants of Tropical Storm Beta passed through on the 24th, too. You may be able to see the difference in the river, especially since there was more rain upstream (south).

Hooray! I figured out how to add the dates! Some of those days have been absolutely spectacular (which is why I am just now writing this). You may also notice the fall colors creeping in on the trees.

The late summer/early fall flowers continue to bloom. And I think I’ve learned to distinguish Crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis) from Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia); I’m sure I misidentified some of my past photos. Here’s the link if you’re interested.

Unfortunately I don’t think there is a way to add captions to a gallery. Clockwise from top:: Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens), Goldenrod (Genus Solidago), Appalachian Ladies’ Tresses (Spiranthes arcisepala), Yellow Crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis), Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), Wingstem aka Yellow Ironweed (Verbesina alternifolia), Red Spider Lily (Lycoris radiata).

The butterflies are migrating, but I still see them on sunny days, especially in my garden. Clockwise from top: Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

And here is a Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) busy on a marigold!

And here’s a busy Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) on a thistle (and a skipper butterfly photobombs)!

Here’s that bee again, along with some other bugs I’ve seen around. Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens), Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar (Spilosoma virginica), Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus), Giant Crane Fly (Tipula abdominalis), Millipede (Abacion), Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis), Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar (Spilosoma virginica).

Fall is when I really notice the spiders and their beautiful webs. Here’s a sampling: Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida) on my screen porch, Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) in my garden, Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona domiciliorum) eating a stinkbug (hurray!), Arrowhead Orbweaver (Verrucosa arenata) on my grapevine trellis, a different Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) on a ramble, Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera) below my deck, White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) on a sock that was drying on the clothesline, a different Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) on another ramble (because you simply can’t see too many of these beauties), Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona domiciliorum), Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera).

I’ve been working on identifying and posting most of the afternoon and evening. It’s time to stop and get a glass of wine. BTW, the rain stopped right before sundown.

Maybe it won’t be so long before I post again.

OK. The rainy remnants of Sally are keeping me indoors, and it’s time to try this again.

So far today, I have learned (from WordPress support) that some of the functions I have used to edit and display images are not available in the “improved” WordPress. I guess I’ll get used to how cumbersome the new process is, and you’ll need to get used to the how WordPress decides to display my posts.

How about more pleasant things, since most of my time is spent enjoying life in the Hollow? Summer is on the way out; we are finally experiencing more normal (whatever the means these days) temperatures that are expected to drop into the low 40s at night this weekend. Some leaves have begun to fall, and the late summer/early fall flowers are decorating the meadow and roadsides with yellow and purple.

The deer continue to come.

One morning they were joined by a hen turkey, who tried to persuade her poult (the only one I’ve seen all year) to join her.

And it finally did.

One morning Bambi showed up with no velvet on his antlers. This is the first time one of “my” bucks has lost his velvet overnight. Bro also lost his overnight a few days later. (The images below lets you slide from one to the other to compare. Thought I’d give it a try.)

I was surprised to see a small fawn last week; the older fawns are getting big and losing their spots.

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I haven’t seen many turtles lately, only one buried in the mud for a few days last week. I expect to see more tomorrow after all this rain. The reptile I’ve seen most (around the house) are lizards—Eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) and skinks, Southeastern five-lined skinks (Plestiodon inexpectatus) and/or Common five-lined skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus). And some of them are tiny baby lizards!

I’ve been working on this since right after lunch (with a break to make a rainy trip to the meadow to feed the deer), and now it’s almost dinnertime. I’m not giving up on the blog and hope to post again before too long.
UPDATE: And so I discover that the “gallery” below did not display correctly in FB or Safari, and the WordPress app doesn’t support editing it yet, either. Let’s try something else.

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Oh 2020! What a terrible year this continues to be! I know how lucky I am overall, but for several afternoons I have been sadly reminded of the frustration and anguish caused when a platform upgrades to an “improved” editor. When I asked to revert to the editor I have found so easy to use, WordPress support told me that “the older editor has been deprecated [?] and is no longer available.” I finally figured out how to use a version of the old editor that is only slightly different. Here’s hoping it works!

Well, it didn’t work, and I’m still struggling. I was able to add the photo in the “new and improved” editor but can’t resize it.

Meanwhile, here’s what feeding sometimes looks like in the mornings:

and a “gallery” of fungi.

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Let’s try a slide show! It’s been too long since my last post to post river photos individually (even if I could figure it out). I’m also trying to convert the photos to a video, but that means learning another application.

And I can’t add captions to the ones I’ve uploaded since the change. 😦 So here’s the view from the ridge (August 16-September 8). You can see we’ve had some foggy mornings.

And I think that’s about all the frustration with WordPress that I can handle today. I’ll try again soon. 

Remember! This blog displays best if you follow the link to FrenchBroadHollow.com.

First, the good news is that I saw the doe with the injured leg the day after my last post, and she is no longer limping, although she favors the one leg a little. (The doe above is not her.)

And I finally saw a poult (baby turkey)! One poult with its mom, too far away for a photo. A single poult, the only one I’ve seen this year. The photos below show some of what I usually see in August. Another strange thing about 2020. Oh! And there was that earthquake that hit last Sunday while I was having my coffee.

More fawns are showing up to eat. One morning there were four! Spooky’s twins are venturing out of the woods more, and sometimes they play with other fawns. This year’s oldest fawn (Friendly) is losing its spots; it comes very close when I feed. It comes with its mom as part of the regular breakfast group (with Bambi, Bro, Lil, and a few others) that often waits for me to bring the morning corn and apples. Sometimes the ones that arrive late (like Spooky and twins) decide to find something closer to the house.

I see at least one box turtle in the creek almost every day. Although they are often buried in the mud, they usually come out for a ramble after a rain. I found another tiny one near my compost bin and have seen a few other small ones on my rambles.

It’s been a busy week around the house. I had two small patios built and had hoped to post before-and-after photos, but I had to to cover them until they “settle” to protect them from the rain we finally got. I’ll post  next time, but I’m not sure when that will be. One of the muchachos managed to climb behind my primary computer (an iMac) and knocked it over onto the keyboard shelf. Fortunately, the computer still works (I’m using it now), but the screen is badly cracked. I’m taking it in to be repaired and have no idea when I’ll get it back. I’ll post again when I can.

Wear your mask and stay safe!

These chronicles of my rambles are usually filled with things I find to be beautiful and/or interesting. Of course, as we know and have experienced all too much in the past few months, life is sometimes harsh. I’ve written before about death in the Hollow; every year I’ve seen dead turtles and at least one dead fawn. Usually these have been roadkill (speeders on the highway have claimed the life of a fawn this year), a few have obviously been killed by a predator, but sometimes there is no apparent (to me) cause of death. Was the animal sick? An orphan too young and weak to survive on its own? I’m left to wonder, to mourn, and to be reminded once again of the circle of life.

Today I found a dead fawn. I think it was one I had seen by itself several times recently and now suspect it was the orphan of a doe with an injured leg I saw several times last month. It was a sad reminder of the fragility of life.

I had thought this post would be about mushrooms. We’ve had almost 2.5″ of rain in the last week, and fungi have appeared in many places in the Hollow, although the Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) that I followed so closely a couple of years ago has not returned. (The one below is across the creek.)

Five turkey hens have begun showing up regularly; sometimes they are with the two gobblers and sometimes it’s just the girls, even in the rain.

Spooky’s twins show up but don’t get close. (I was relieved to see both of them today; last year she lost one of her twins.)

Bambi, his brother, and Lil (last year’s fawns) continue to grow, and politics among deer have gotten rough.

The muchachos get rough, too, but theirs is just play.

Now they’re ready for supper, and I’ll leave this post. It was a hard one to write.

 

 

The river photos below show that afternoon thunderstorms continue around us. We finally did get a little here in the Hollow—almost half an inch in the last week! 🙂 One day it rained a little off and on all day and cooled things off, but mostly our above-normal temperatures have continued.

It’s been too hot to be out to be outside much today, and I walked early. I hung laundry out on the clothesline before I left. When I glanced out the window sometime after my return, I noticed a big insect on the one of the sheets and, thinking it was a giant horsefly, went to investigate. What a surprise to see this Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)! I often see them buzzing around the flowers in the garden (especially the Purpletop Vervain, Verbena bonariensis, shown below), but they never seem to rest. I had been struggling to decide on a topic for this post and was happy for the inspiration.

These are mostly from my rambles in the Hollow. The Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in the meadow and is one reason why we don’t mow the milkweed. (It’s also a beautiful plant; look at the previous post.)

So we got some rain after the last post, and I’ve also seen some more fawns (finally). The tiny one was behind a neighbor’s house; the one at the beginning of the post showed up just a little while ago and is also pictured below.

Here’s a video of today’s little one:

Spooky sometimes brings her twins; they are as wary as she is. Here they are playing,

and here is one crying for its twin. (They found each other.)

I hear thunder. Besides, it’s time to feed cats and think about my own supper. I’ll try to post again soon.