Jamaican Hummingbirds are quite dazzling. A year ago today, while visiting Jamaica, I was blessed to have a visit from a stunning maleRed-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus.) Early mornings, I stoodon my balcony waiting for them to come sip from the bright hibiscus blossoms covering a large bush just below my railing. During my walks to […]
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.
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is one of my favorite plants for its globe of sweet florets and the bounty of butterflies, bees, and other creatures it attracts. Within a milkweed stand there is a large community being nourished along with any onlooker’s imagination. A weed of milk . . . common milkweed is abundant in beauty and […]
A Bestiary – Scarlet Tanager
My ‘A Bestiary ~ Tales from a Wildlife Garden’ continues over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. While I was writing the piece on the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), I had my first sighting since 2012. This beautiful songbird sings out from the tip tops of trees and can be difficult to see. He sometimes […]
Cheery Warblers
Throughout May, my days have been filled with winsome warbles from a bouquet of songbirds. The most difficult songs to identify are the cheery warblers. The Yellow Warbler has decided to stay close to my barn studio and his songs skip along with my fingers while I type. There are plenty of other warblers warbling […]
Night Beauties, Luna Moth, Actias luna
We humans are creatures of habitual repetition and it is a reliable assumption that bynightfall most people are indoors with lights on and doors closed to the outside world. When we accidentally or purposefully leave our outside lights on, it is somewhat like fly fishingwith the bright light being the lure. Many night beauties will […]
A Bestiary : Songbirds ~ Tree Swallow
The graceful aerial sweeper and sleek iridescent Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)has been a wondrous part of our life here at Flower Hill Farm for over thirty years. No matter what may be happening in the world, I can enter the garden and delight in watching the swallows diving and swirling about in the waves of […]
A Bestiary : Songbirds ~ Vireos ~ Blue-headed Vireo
The Blue-headed Vireo, Vireosolitariesis one of the two vireos that breed in our gardens at Flower Hill Farm in Western Massachusetts. The large white spectacles give this vireo away along with the blue-gray hood and cape it dons. Two wing bars and a splash of yellow on his side adds to the beauty ofthis small […]
A Bestiary : Songbirds ~ Vireos ~ Red-eyed Vireo
Spring is bringing back green and sprightly songbirds to Flower Hill Farm Retreat. The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) remains elusive both in sighting and song so far this spring. Odd for one who loves to sing so much. There are more photos and information about this vireo over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. Perhaps […]