July has been a sultry mix so far with last night’s “humiture” becoming more bearable or wearable I might say. I find it amusing that a former weatherman and gardener of the nameGeorge Winterling developed what we know as the ‘heat index’ . . . where the temperature of the air and that of the […]
Author: Carol Duke
Carol Duke is an artist and farmer who has worked with the land on a Western Massachusetts hillside for over thirty years. During this time her land has evolved into a diverse wildlife habitat. Carol features the flora and fauna that live and visit her farm on her website and blog http://caroldukeflowers.com As vital wildlife habitats are destroyed daily, Carol hopes to inspire others to garden for wildlife, while becoming activists for wild places the world over. Her nature photography has appeared in magazines, books and newspapers.
A Bestiary: Songbirds ~ Common Yellowthroat Warbler
Common Yellowthroat Warbler Geothlypis trichas, is featured in a new installment of my ‘A Bestiary: Part Twenty ~ Songbirds: Warblers’ and it is up over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. Female and Male Yellowthroat Warbler
Gossamer Wings ~ Hairstreak
Hairstreaks somehow escaped my notice until this year . . . or yesterday and today more like . . . when I have discovered three different species in the south field. Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus, feasting on Milkweed blooms. Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops, on Milkweed. Banded Hairstreak and a honeybee share feasting on Milkweed. Striped […]
Purple Siberian Iris, Butterflies and Birds
Looking back over the month of June, iris sepals unfurl and fall creating waves of hues from lavender to deep purple . . . filling the Middle Meadow garden with hundreds of blooms lasting nearly three full weeks as new buds continue to open. Eastern Tiger Swallowtails Papilio glaucus or Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis […]
A Bestiary ~ Songbirds ~ Yellow-rumped Warbler
‘A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden’ continues with songbirds, featuring warblers that visit and breed here at Flower Hill Farm. The Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata is in the spotlight this month. You can see additional photos and learn more about this uniquely marked warbler over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.
Flower Hill Farm Spring Butterflies ~ Part Two
Spring precipitates into summer and we can easily recognize the longest day of the year by how we measure time in our hurried lives. Spring or Summer Azure Celastrina ladon, Form violacea (and others)is another matter . . . as the butterflies are difficult to identify. The more experienced butterfly watchers of the invaluableMassachusetts Butterfly […]
A Bestiary ~ Songbirds : Warblers
For months I have been working on ‘A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden’ writing and sharing photos of the wildlife that live here on our land . . . from mammals to birds and now featuring the songbirds. Starting with the wonder of warblers. The Chestnut Sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica, returns […]
A Bestiary ~ Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers
It seems there is a time warp for we must go back to an earlier posting to see the Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. You can read about them in my sixteenth installment of ‘A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden’ over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.