Our local flora and fauna.

While Jen was working in the kitchen, me and the boys (Ha! I got to say "me and the boys!") went out into the yard, fired up the grill, then did a survey of some of the life around our back yard. The shots are via cell phone, and many of them are new to me, but I'll try my best. Google helps in identifying the unknown flora. First of all, lets take a look at the flora.

My first specimen is a lovely duet of dandelion in a patch of moss. Those of you with lawns will identify both of these as atrocities and the enemy to all grass. I'm sorry if I've offended you, but for our damp, shaded backyard, we go strictly natural. Trust me, a couple of years ago I spread a bluegrass-fescue mix of seed, and the moss thought it was moss-fertilizer. We've come to appreciate the scenery however it is generated.



Here we have some ferns marking one of the edges of the yard. These I'm not very certain about. They don't present themselves like some of our other ferns.


Which is to say, they don't seem to "unfurl" the way the fiddleheads do in the early springtime. Did you know you can harvest fiddleheads, steam them, and they taste like a mix between asparagus and broccoli greens? I'll only harvest when I am put in charge of the menu, because I'm not sure Jen will eat them with me, and they are so dang beautiful when they are all bloomed out.These little white guys are also unknown to me. Sorry. I'll update if you find something conclusive. Remember, something native to New England.
This one we have sprouting up at the neighbors bulkhead. I don't think it's native, as I recall the neighbor mentioning that he transplanted it some years ago...

Okay, okay, I'll get serious. We have various blooms of grape hyacinth in the yard... and I put out a few more bulbs along our rock wall this spring. They haven't come up, and it may be that I should have put them in the ground before winter instead of during mud season.



Here we have Yellow Archangel, which is a very lovely ground-cover. The back third of the backyard is a matte of it, interspersed with the invasive concord grape that will be coming alive in a few weeks. (No, I've never gotten grapes off our vines because the pesky birds get to them before the fruit matures!)

I'm sure you have some Daffodils around your neck of the woods, as they grow just about anywhere.

This year we have a lovely crop of Common Blue Violets along the northerly rock wall, which I find particularly peaceful. Isn't that just the way rock walls are supposed to look?

This is Pleniflora, or Wild Yellow Rose. They are pretty magnificent. When Ian noticed them, he was shocked at such beautiful yellow flowers.

And of course, we love finding Bleeding Hearts. I Found a couple more of these growing deeper in the woods... I wonder if I could transplant them closer to the house here where we can enjoy them?

We've made some alterations to the pristine forest. For example, meet Cousin Tree. Officially, he has been named "Park Smith Holler," though Ian has never told me how that name was chosen. The answer, simply, is that he is a cousin tree.


Ian really loves this tree. I don't know why.

We augmented Park Smith Holler with a bat house this spring, and are hoping for a nursery to take up residency... but if we can't get a nursery, we'd settle for a bachelor pad. Even bachelor bats can do some serious damage to the mosquito population. I haven't seen any evidence of occupancy yet.






Ian discovered a cute little bundle trying to hide in the crevice of a rock. I thought he was pretty cute, so I thought we could take him home and keep him.
Here he is in his not-so natural habitat.

Turns out this little Blake likes to cuddle and be held close. Ian did the honors on the old cell phone cam.
He seems pretty prone to sleeping, even if you have him just propped up looking at you. After a while, he can't help but close his eyes.

Even Jen really likes our find. He's sure a cutie! I have a great family. ;)
Hope you enjoyed this installment of "Cell Phone Camera Tours by Joe." Stay tuned for next time.

*A few violets and dandelions were harmed in the taking of these shots, thanks to my favorite 4-year old.