Damaged Sweetgum Tree in January

This sweetgum tree has lost a lot of bark. The lichen have also made themselves at home. We would almost think the tree is dead were it not for the newer shoots branching out.

Damaged Sweetgum Tree in January, © B. Radisavljevic

 I liked the way the colorful leaves still clinging to those small branches contrasted with the rosemary's pale blue flowers and green needle-like leaves. Winter needs all the color it can get.

Which plants brighten your winter?

Bird in Tree Enjoying the Rain

Bird in Tree Enjoying the Rain, © B. Radisavljevic

As I was standing on a covered porch looking out at my backyard during a light rain, I noticed some birds frolicking on the ground. I ran for my camera, but by the time I came back, the birds were gone. I stood there for a few minutes with the camera aimed toward the ground before I saw a bird heading for this tall tree. I was delighted when it forsook the lower branches and moved to the very top where it was more visible. I loved seeing the bird in the tree enjoying the rain. I loved it even more when it remained there long enough for me to photograph it.

The tree itself is dormant. It's supposed to be an apricot tree, but it's never had a blossom in twenty years. It shades my roses in summer and probably robs them of nutrients and water. My mom planted it wanting apricots, and either she was wrong about the type of tree or there is no tree nearby to cross-pollinate it. She may have thought one was not needed. There are plenty of bees, so lack of pollinators is not the problem.

I have almost had this tree removed many times, but have not yet been able to afford the cost of having it done. Removing our pine tree, which was in front of it, was fairly expensive. I'd rather put a smaller tree here that does produce fruit. I'm glad, though, that the tree was here for my friend with feathers today.

Below is a bird whose photo I took in another tree during another gray winter day. This magnet can be customized with an inspirational text or left as is.

Small Bird in Bare Tree in Winter 2 Inch Square Magnet
Look at Birds Magnets online at Zazzle.com

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Mushrooms after a December Rain

The world always looks different after a rain. It not only looks cleaner, but some plants only grow when it's wet. Mushrooms are one of those. It's a shame ignorance keeps me from being able to eat them,  but I know one mistake could be fatal. I'm not sure I'd trust myself to make proper identification even with a guidebook in hand.

Mushrooms after a December Rain, © B. Radisavljevic

Have you ever gone hunting for edible mushrooms? If  you want to try it, make sure you spend some time with some accurate field guides. Experts say you should have more than one. Some say you  really need to go mushroom hunting with an expert until you know what you are doing. These are some of the most highly rated mushroom guides for the Western United States. If you live somewhere else, you will also find guides for your region if you click though.

 Mushrooms Demystified Mushroom Picker's Foolproof Field Guide: The expert guide to identifying, picking and using wild mushrooms All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms

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Be Very Careful When You See This

Even though it's summer now, winter is coming. If you live in an area or visit areas where poison oak flourishes, take note of this. During summer and autumn, learn to identify poison oak, and make mental notes of where you see it, especially, in those places you frequent. Poison oak may stand alone as a shrub or you may find it climbing trees or other vines. It is easy to identify most of the year, but in winter, when it loses its leaves it will appear as just bare branches and look like the vines climbing this tree. If you click these photos, they will enlarge.





Sometimes poison oak can be confused with other plants. The berry vine you see to your right shares some of poison oak's characteristics. Like poison oak, it has its leaves in groups of three. They also have a reddish tinge in January. Berry vines often grow right along side poison oak in the wild. In fact, these two photos were taken very close to each other on the same day. At first I thought this was poison oak, until I saw the thorns. Poison oak does not have thorns. Berries do.

So when winter comes, and you see bare vines climbing a tree, be very careful. It is probably poison oak, unless it has thorns. Poison oak can make people break out even if it has no identifying leaves. Even forest rangers clearing trails in winter have been fooled. If you see bare vines along the ground in places where poison oak normally grows, such as in oak forests or along the banks of rivers or at the edges of hiking trails, remember you may be seeing poison oak. Leave the vines alone and try not to step on them. The offending oil can cling to shoes and clothing.

If you do come in contact with poison oak or think you might, Amazon has products that can help prevent or treat an outbreak.   You will be able to read the reviews to see which products people have found most effective.

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