Walking in the park one day, we saw these growing on a fallen tree trunk.  I thought they were interesting standing at attention like this, so I checked in with my Seek app for ID.  I always thought they were some kind of lichen, but Seek told me that they are False Turkey Tail mushroom, Stereum ostrea.

 

They are native to our area, and I've seen them lots of times before.  But it is always kinda fun to know what to call plants when we see them.  

 

 

HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!

 

 

We were able to get out a couple days ago, and the main thing on my shopping list was flowers.  

 

OK, we bought cauliflower and Brussels sprouts and milk too, but I need flowers in the winter.  I am so glad the grocery store sells them.  I can spend $3, and get enough to fill my little marigold vases.  

 

Some things are essential for winter survival.  For me, it's flowers.

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

This doesn't look like much, but I think it's pretty:  our garden in the snow.  

 

With these last few warm-ish days, the snow is melting, so I wanted to get a picture for posterity.  Don't know when we will get more snow.  I hope soon.  

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

It's winter, and the leaves are gone, but you still know this vine.  Now the question is this:  do you touch it?

 

I wouldn't, because it's poison ivy!!!  Easy to identify, even in winter:  hairy roots clinging tightly to the tree bark.  

 

Our weather has been so nice lately, and it's tempting to get outside and do a little clean up around the yard.  Just pay attention to vines, and if they are hairy like this, stay away.  A bad case of dermatitis would not be a happy way to start out the new year.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

I noticed that some of the Bradford Pears have lots of pears on them.  Yes, these are the fruits of Bradford Pears.  Each one is about the size of an olive, with rough skin and a light brown color.  

 

Here's the funny part:  they are edible, but taste terrible.  Sorta like crabapples, in that you CAN eat them, but probably don't want to.  They won't kill you, but they don't taste good.  I tasted one once, and that was enough for me.  

 

After a frost, the fruits get soft, and the birds eat them.  Then they disperse the seeds and new little trees grow everywhere.  Look up the next time you're out for a walk and notice how abundant they are.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I dug out all the leeks and replanted some of them back in October.  They looked kinda sad for a while, especially with no rain.  But they have perked up and are looking good.

 

I should probably cover them with more straw or leaves to protect them over the winter.  Because I love it when they bloom in late spring.  I will let you know when that happens:  it is wonderful.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

You know I am always looking for something pretty to write about.  On our walk one day, we stopped to talk to a neighbor, and I noticed his Nandina showing this beautiful fall color.  I knew it was a dwarf Nandina, but I couldn't remember the variety name.  I thought it was Firestorm, or something like that.

 

I looked it up in my North Carolina Gardener's Guide and found it:  Fire Power, with a note that says it gives the most winter color.  I love that about Nandinas:  they are beautiful all winter.  

 

I hope you see some in your travels.

 

HAPPY WINTER GARDENING!!!

 

This is one of five kales left in the garden.  They are all hanging in there.  We should have enough kale for the winter, and then in the spring they will bolt, sending up flowers and making seeds.  

 

Until then I will work hard to keep them alive.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER GARDENING!!!

 

 

I picked up this branch with lichen growing on it when we were on our walk.  It grows all over the place.

 

My Seek app called it Bushy Beard Lichen, or Usnea strigosa.  That is about all it told me. So I looked it up in Wikipedia, read about it, and still don't understand much more than I did before.  

 

So I am just going to share this picture of some very cool lichen, and let you explore on your own.  Let me know if you understand any of it.  ;)

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

Now that the leaves are off the trees, we can see the mistletoe.  Look way up in the trees, and you can see big clumps of green.  That's the mistletoe:  the leaves are green, and the berries are white.

 

If you bring mistletoe inside, make sure you remove the berries because they are poisonous. And you don't want to take the chance that any berries fall to the floor to be explored by cats or dogs or children.  You probably don't want to step on them either, grinding them into the carpet.  Just sayin.

 

I am sending you little kissing sounds right now.

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!