Native Wildflowers and Chickadees

 We are very fortunate to have wooded areas with trails, and each spring I grab my camera and head out on a wildflower hike. The wildflowers are so easy to spot when they are emerging from under the leaves. It's like a diamond amongst all the leaves on the ground. This sweet bloom is Hepatica. Not easy to find, and it's all in the timing. Next up is Blue Cohosh.

 

 I investigated this wildflower on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower site. It is called Blue Cohosh, Squaw-root, Papoose-root, Caulophylle Faux-pigamon. It will look nothing like this once it is in full bloom.

More hepatica.....

As children, we used to feed the gentle chickadees from our hands. One way to teach the black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) that hand feeding is a safe, takes only a few days time, for them to learn to trust you. You will have to remove all feeders from your feeding area for a few days. I plan to teach my grandson Xavier. Take one or more of your extra winter gloves and stuff them with soft material and place them in your feeding area filled with black-oiled sunflowers seeds. After a day or two of refilling the seeds on the gloves, remove the filling and patiently sit in the same area now wearing the same gloves filled with seed. They will also take seeds from a hat on your head with some sunflower seeds on it.

I hope you are enjoying spring weather! I read that we are supposed to have a very hot summer, so I'll enjoy this wonderful spring weather as long as I can. Thanks for stopping by!