Browsing: Qu’est Que C’est

Of all the vines in natural landscapes across the south, greenbriers are the most memorable, but not typically for good reasons. Also known as catbriers, these tough vines sport some of the nastiest thorns of any plant. And yes, they hurt! I have scars, and many stories about how they have entrapped, tripped, made me bleed, and use words that my Mama

Many bird watchers can easily rattle off a list of the common birds that visit their backyards, especially feeders. Many also anticipate the arrival of overwintering birds, like American Goldfinches and winter hummingbirds that visit us from the western U.S. (https://ourmshome.com/winter-hummingbirds/ ). But many more winter birds do not come to feeders, but are common, nevertheless. This is my challenge to you to discover some of these birds during the holiday season, especially if you invite children to join in on the fun.

Live Oaks are iconic trees across the coastal plains of the northern Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Atlantic coast. As…

A Rosy Wolfsnail is hard to miss when one crosses your path. They are one of the larger air-breathing terrestrial snails in the southeastern U.S. Slugs also belong to this informal group of invertebrates, known as pulmonates, that use lungs to breathe. Besides their size, the light pink color of their elongated shell makes them stand out, reflected in their species name “rosea”.  

Scientists often get carried away with using what I call “fifty-cent” words and phrases when we talk about our favorite subjects. I try not to do that without defining the terms when I use them, but I occasionally forget. I recently described a common tree as part of the understory of a forest, assuming that everyone would know what I was talking about. Well, a kind friend called me out by asking a simple question – what is the understory? I offer this explanation as penance for my sin of omission.

If you happen to see what looks like a dust bunny moving across the leaf of your favorite plant, look again. Underneath what looks like a pile of trash is a vicious predator – the larvae of a Green Lacewing. Everything about this common group of insects is focused on eating other bugs, especially those we often view as pests on the plants we like to care for. The adults and the larvae of lacewings are commonly referred to as beneficial insects because of this diet.

The world lost one of the most influential conservationists of the past century with the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall. Her love of the natural world and subsequent call for us to champion a balance in the way we view nature began with her ground-breaking research on chimpanzees in the forest of Tanzania, Africa. She was a household name, right up there with Mr. Rodgers, and Big Bird. She carried herself with dignity and was a forceful voice for the creatures and places she loved.

Sadly, slugs are hard to love. Between the slime, their odd shapes, and for some species, a taste for flowers and vegetables, they are unwelcomed. But as with all creatures, they are just trying to survive and mind their own business.

Of all the owls in the eastern U.S., the prize for cutest goes to the Eastern Screech Owl. As with all owls, these small birds are well camouflaged, helping them blend into the woods where they live. But once you spot one, it is hard not to say Wow! And they come in two colors – the more prominent gray phase and my favorite, red phase birds, accounting for about one third of the population.

Of the many common small mammals that we encounter in our lives, Red Foxes always seem to invoke the most excitement. People are quick to report sightings, especially in urban settings, where most of us think they must be lost. But foxes are smart and cunning and have long found refuge and comfort living next door to us.

Next to biting flies, love bugs can be the disdain of our existence. Anyone that drives highways in the early fall cringe as mating pairs spatter across the windshield, hood, and grill of the car, adding anxiety about the scrubbing to come – to save the paint job! In years when they are most numerous, they can also clog the air spaces in radiators, causing engine overheating.

Loving, or at least appreciating, Lubber Grasshoppers is hard for many folks. Gardeners are not fans. In some years, it appears that they show up as small armies, chewing up everything in sight. So, where are their predators? Can we get more of those? The short answer is no.

Everyone has a favorite green space to enjoy. A local park, nature trail, or even our own backyards are places where many of us find peace in just seeing what is going on. What is always interesting to me are the seasonal changes in these places, like which plants are blooming, or which sweet fruit treats I may be able to snack on. And just so you all know, I do not share locations of dewberry patches with anyone!!!

Even casual bird watchers are acquainted with our larger wading birds that are easily seen stalking prey along ditches, beaches, and other wet places. Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and even Little Blue Herons are out in the open, sticking out like statues. But one of the smallest of our wading birds lurks in the shadows, if you know where to look.

As a child, I was intrigued when I found perfectly round balls under the trees in the woods that I wandered through. Sometimes they were smooth and red-speckled. Other times they were brown and wrinkled. They looked like what I imagined a brain might appear to be without a skull, so brain balls they became. I had no clue how they came to be. But these galls are only part of a larger story about the insects that cause them to form on oaks.

Apparently, human teenagers are not the only critters that like to beg and whine to their parents. Young fledgling birds are adept whiners, especially after leaving the nest. Of course, this is a bit of anthropomorphism on my part, but if the “shoe fits”.