A Northern Flicker lands on a Viburnum branch and upsets a Cedar Waxwing . . . more about all of the fuss in my seventeenth installment of ‘A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden’ over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. It is not the most graceful of landings but not bad […]
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.
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012
Just as butterflies are beginning to fly in our fields and gardens I am creating collages of the butterflies I captured in 2012. It has been a joyous task taking me through much of the winter months. These are just some of the butterflies that live in our wildlife habitat at Flower Hill Farm in […]
‘A Bestiary’ ~ Downy Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker, picoides pubescens and the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus are featured in my last installment of ‘A Bestiary’ over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. Downy Woodpeckers are friends to farmers and gardeners in that they enjoy dining on apple borers, tent caterpillars and more unwelcome insects. These smaller woodpeckers are often seen […]
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is the second featured woodpecker for my ‘A Bestiary’ – antidotal tales and more about the wildlife living in and around Flower Hill Farm Retreat. You can read more about these valuable birds by clicking on Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. These industrious members of the Picidae family contribute to the […]
Red-tailed Hawk Within A Wintry Landscape
Our resident Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a creature of habit. Early mornings and late afternoons I often sight this beautiful raptor perched on the same branch in more or less exactly the same location within a stately Oak.
‘A Bestiary’ ~ Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I have been very fortunate to have a few wonderful encounters and sightings of these large woodpeckers. They have now joined with other beasts in my fourteenth installment of ‘A Bestiary’ posted over at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. You can see more photos of these and other Pileated Woodpeckers and the stories that go […]
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Our terrace garden is mostly made up of varieties of salvias and fuchsias. Terra cotta pots are placed out and fully planted mostly for New England’s only hummingbird . . . the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, who visits often during the spring and summer months. It is a joy each year to observe breeding hummingbirds […]
Painted Lady and American Lady Butterflies
The discerning eye can pick out the intricate forms of colors found on the wings of the Painted Lady butterfly and not confuse it with the very similar American Lady butterfly.