Category Archives: Fruits
Mayapple fruit
On a recent walk in Shakerag Hollow I ran across this mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) plant lying prostrate on the ground, its fruit resting on the leaf litter surface. This is box turtle food. Turtles love the fruits and serve as … Continue reading
Posted in Fruits, Shakerag Hollow, Turtles
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Celandine Poppies
On my return to Sewanee, I made a trip down Shakerag Hollow to see whether I had missed the blooms of my favorite spring flowers, celandine poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum). These are short-lived flowers, easily damaged by rain, a fragility that … Continue reading
Posted in Fruits, Shakerag Hollow
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Waxwing invasion
Flocks of hundreds of cedar waxwings descended on Sewanee this week. They travel in nomadic groups, searching for sugary fruits. Unlike most birds in our region, waxwings feed almost exclusively on fruit for much of the year. In Sewanee, they … Continue reading
Posted in Archosaurs, Fruits
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Merlin!
This lonesome old tree by the waterline has a special visitor perched at its top: a merlin visiting from Northern Canada. Merlins (Falco columbarius) are small falcons that breed in the boreal forest. They are uncommon winter visitors to our region. … Continue reading
Posted in Archosaurs, Fruits, Plants, Travels, Water
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Mistletoe
A single mistletoe plant is growing near the top of an ash tree behind Shenanigans and Woody’s Bikes. Mistletoe is not common in Sewanee, although it can be quite abundant on the lower slopes of the coves. Recently, biologists have … Continue reading
Posted in Berries, Caterpillars, Fruits, Plants, Trees
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Autumn, part 2, begins
A vigorous killing frost laid waste to the last of the tender summer plants in the vegetable garden. I harvested the last of the peppers before they could get zapped, then planted garlic bulbs in the empty pepper beds. New … Continue reading
Posted in Archosaurs, Fruits, Garden
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Pileated woodpecker feasting on magnolia fruits
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) fruits are dyed bright red by lycopene pigment, the same colorant that gives tomatoes their glow. They are buried in the brown husk at the bird’s feet. Like other colored autumn fruits, the magnolia is advertising its wares … Continue reading
Posted in Archosaurs, Fruits, Trees
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Migrant thrush
Despite the best efforts of our resident mockingbird, the beautyberry shrubs are still loaded with fruit. Today, two Swainson’s thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) found the bounty and have been feasting ever since. They can swallow a dozen fruits per minute. Swainson’s … Continue reading
Posted in Archosaurs, Berries, Fruits, Garden
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Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana
Each cluster of purple berries is about as big as a lemon. And each beautyberry shrub has dozens of clusters: a fruit-eating bird’s dream. In addition to providing food for birds (our resident mockingbird has occupied the bush and gorges … Continue reading
