04-MAY-2015
Prairie smoke (Erythrocoma triflora)
These grow in the Backyard Garden where they were planted some years ago and have survived and thrived since. They are an especially intriguing and lovely flower, native to areas south of here, a plant of prairies and meadows. They can also be found under their older name, Geum triflorum.
04-MAY-2015
Red-tailed hawk
It is unusual to see this species in spring at the garden. For years and years a red-tailed hawk (occasionally two) has turned up in late autumn or early winter and hung around the garden and the farm, departing in early spring or even in winter. But this year many of us have noticed two red-tailed hawks flying around together, over the garden, over the farm and over the Arboretum. Could they be nesting or thinking of? It might be a first in this location.
04-MAY-2015
Red-winged blackbird, female
Female red-winged blackbirds look so unlike their red and black mates that it is easy to assume they are a different species, a thrush perhaps with their striped plumage, or a big sparrow! But no, they are blackbirds and they are nest building at the garden.
04-MAY-2015
European starling
The kestrel box has been taken over by starlings this year, but as there don't appear to be any kestrels around the starlings probably feel free to make merry!
04-MAY-2015
Dog-strangling vine/Pale swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)
Along with all the welcome greenery at the garden, the wildflowers, the leafing out of trees, comes this little monster! Dog-strangling vine (DSV) is an invasive species that spreads rapidly, grows in almost any conditions, sun or shade and takes over in no time. Control is an ongoing battle.
04-MAY-2015
Magnolia blossoms
There are two magnolias at the garden, planted long before we took over the site, and each spring they burst into spectacular flower. In autumn I have seen squirrels gathering the unusually shaped seedpods and carrying them off.
04-MAY-2015
Red squirrel
This little squirrel is rather mangy looking, but I think this is a female and so probably nursing young. It is a time when the females look quite raggedy but are healthy despite their appearance.
04-MAY-2015
Cuckoo bee (Nomada sp.)
There are always lots of these small, wasp-like but colourful bees around the edge of the old woods, as well as elsewhere in the garden. They are kleptoparasites on andrenid bees and others. They are frequently found visiting flowers to get nectar.
04-MAY-2015
Bloodroot (Sanguiinaria canadensis)
Bloodroot is still blooming, though the flowers last only a day or less. There are many stands of bloodroot in the old woods whose flowers are no more. They truly are ephemeral.
04-MAY-2015
White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Although so many spring flowers are yellow (no wonder yellow symbolizes spring!), such as the barren-ground strawberry, downy wood violet, trout lily, daffodils... many flowers are white as here. The white trillium is Ontario's provincial flower.
04-MAY-2015
Daffodill
Although a cultivated garden plant, we have masses of these in the Backyard Garden because they provide nectar for insects when there is still a short supply. Solitary bees are particularly interested in visiting these flowers.
04-MAY-2015
Downy Wood Violet (Viola pubescens)
A common early spring violet which stands out because of its colour, most violets being shades of blue, purple or white.