Yes, it’s a terrible picture, but I had my phone so I went with it. The squirrel was, as always, attempting to raid the squirrel-proof feeder.
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Partridge Berry Mitchella repens L.
Partridge Berry is one of the plants I knew as a child; I remember my father identifying it for me. It’s a trailing vine, and an evergreen that’s a native all over New England, and the Eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. The leaves are glossy, small and dark green with, sometimes, a lighter green line down their center. Look for Partridge Berry in partial shade, under the cover of trees of evergreens, or near boggy ground. The berries are a bright red, and devoured by birds, particularly grouse. The bright red berries and green leaves survive even after it snows, providing food when other plants are barren. It’s a great ground cover in terms of landscaping since it readily spreads it’s trailing stems and leaves (the repens of the botanical name Mitchella repens L. means “trailing”). As the stem branches out, closely hugging the ground, individual leaves will send out roots.
Partridge Berry is a member of the Madder family. Each berry is formed by two flowers, which is the onomastic link for Partridge Berry’s other name, Twin Berry. The flowers bloom in spring, and are small, white, and fuzzy. Each pair of flowers share a single calyx or ovary, and produce a single red berry, marked by two small dark spots, the remainders of the two blossoms. The pairs of flowers have two forms; one with a short pistil and long stamens. The other form has a long pistil and short stamens. This prevents self-fertilization. Both flowers in a pair must be pollinated in order to produce fruit.
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I have been hearing the Barred owl call for a couple of days; first, when a murder of crows hounded the owl. The owl roosted in the oaks near the patio and while I couldn’t see it, I could definitely hear it. It made the standard “who cooks for you?” call. I’ve since heard it several times now.
Crows engage in behavior known as mobbing; it’s when a group of crows (often a closely related clan or family) harass another bird, typically a bird of prey. Crows seem to be hard-wired to loathe owls of any stripe. Jays (also members of the corvidae family) will also react with instant hostility towards an owl. Mobbing crows generally don’t get too close to their Owl target, but they are raucous and agile as they move around and call. I long ago learned to listen to what crows were saying about their neighborhood, because they’re gossips and often, the owl early-warning system.
Yesterday I was talking with my brother and sister-in-law (serious birders) about hearing the owl and the crows, when we heard first Crows and then Blue Jays start up. My sister-in-law spotted the owl, just watching, in a nearby oak. A lot like the Barred owl just watching crows in this University of Puget Sound video.
I saw the Barred owl, quite clearly, and my brother managed to take some pictures. He says it’s probably a female Barred owl, given her large size.
Female Barred Owl; Photo Credit: Scott Spangenberg
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Rana sylvatica, a Maine Wood frog
This little guy (or gal) is a Wood frog, Rana sylvatica. They’re one of the first Spring thaw denizens, quite literally, since they can withstand freezing temperatures and live, to thaw out with the arrival of warm Spring rains. They breed very early, sometimes even in late February or early March, in those temporary “vernal pools” that crop up in in the woods every Spring. This one would have been entirely invisible against the left-over leaves if it hadn’t moved.
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Maine “beach rose” Rosa rugosa
I have always loved the “beach roses,” those bright pink and rose colored blooms that appear in late July and early August along the shore all over the New England coast. In August, you can often find buds, blossoms and hips all at once. Until fairly recently, I thought I’d try to find a friend or nursery willing to pack some Rosa rugosa cuttings or young plants and ship them to me in Washington, to try growing them into a hedge (instead of the ubiquitous blackberry hedges of the Pacific Northwest).
Rosa rugosa is originally a species of rose native to eastern Asia, particularly northeastern China, Japan, Korea and southeastern Siberia. It is often found on the coasts there. Originally introduced to North America in the mid 1800s, c. 1845, for its ornamental qualities, it spread rapidly all along the New England coast. Now, Rosa rugosa is considered an invasive species, or a noxious weed, depending on locale. In Maine, Rosa rugosa is classed as invasive.
Nootka Rose Image credit: brewbooks
As an alternative to importing Rosa rugosa to Puget Sound Washington, I’ve now altered plans to plant the Pacific Northwest native rose, Rosa nutkana, the “Nootka rose.” It is similar to Rosa rugosa in some respects, including its tolerance for boundary areas, and coastal weather patterns. It’s also inclined to produce hedges, so it might work even better than Rosa rugosa as a natural thorny barrier that will offer shelter and food for birds as well as attractive flowers and greenery.
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