A Misty Morning Walk...

Or "How Almost Any Photo is Better with a Basset Hound Somewhere in it!

I haven't been posting much lately because I've been busy working on things for a special event (which I might share with you after next Saturday).  But Dr. Ruby is here today and I thought you might need a "Ruby-fix".  So I decided to just snap a bunch of photos on my walk with Ruby this morning and share them with you.

It was quite misty when we started out.

 I love the colors in a misty fall palette though - the soft greens and yellows and browns.   Now, let's add some white and rusty red.

 

"Glad to be of service to help with your photography" says Ruby.

It was misty, then it started to rain - very gently.

The leaf and raindrop seem to be leading my eye to -- wait, who's that? Ruby!

Ruby forged on ahead while I tried to take photos.

We waited out the rain for a few minutes under a sugar maple tree.

Ruby was eager to move on.  

"Hurry up so I can get back home and take my nap!"

The leaves are changing... some subtly like these Striped Maples, some more drastically like these Burning Bush.

 I enjoyed my walk with Ruby... even though each time I tried to stop to take a close-up photo, she wanted to keep going.  And when I looked at my photos on my laptop after we got back, I found she had photo-bombed quite a few of them!  Oh well, maybe every photo is better with a basset in it!

Don't Overlook the Umbrellas

Mayapples are a very common plant around here. That doesn't mean they are boring though - they are interesting plants that deserve our attention.  Ruby agrees with me, so we will show you some things about Mayapple plants.

Ruby with Mayapples

Their foliage starts out like this toward the end of April here in Pennsylvania...

 and it slowly unfurls.

At this stage they really look like umbrellas opening up.

Mayapples are usually found in colonies, which grow from thick underground rhizomes.

By early May, the leaves are full-size and the flower bud is present.

 Each plant produces only one flower -- a lovely, waxy, white flower about 1 1/2" in diameter. Unless you look under the leaves you won't see it.  It's a hidden treasure!

This one is a little past its' prime (I was quite busy during that time and didn't get around to photographing them when I should have!)

After the flower, comes the part of the plant that gives it its' common name, Mayapple -- the apple-like fruit.

It really does look like an apple!

This apple was on a wild apple tree right above the Mayapple.  

As the spring turns into summer, Mayapple leaves start to loose some of their freshness.  They can get a rust fungus aptly called 'Mayapple rust' that causes them to become spotty!

 The underside of the leaf (on the left) has the brown rust spores which cause the yellow spots on the tops of the leaves (on right).

Various creatures chew on the Mayapple leaves and falling leaves from trees above them can start to collect on top!

Meanwhile, underneath the fruit is ripening.

While the rest of the plant is poisonous, the fruit is edible in small amounts.  After I photographed this one, I decided not to let it go to waste.  No, I didn't eat it myself.  I put it out for the chipmunks.  My 'Mammals of Pennsylvania' book lists it as one of the many foods chipmunks will eat.

However, it must be way down the list of things they prefer to eat... such as sunflower seeds!

"No thanks, I'll stuff my cheeks with the seeds instead!"

A couple of hours after I put it out, the Mayapple is still there.

Ruby wants to add one final note about Mayapples.  They are the perfect size for a basset hound to enjoy a little shade!

Jumper the Red Squirrel

Ruby is here with me today.  It's a dark and very damp day, so we thought you might need some cheering up.  Of course, Ruby and I go outside no matter what the weather.

As you can see by Ruby's ears, she got quite moist during our morning walk.  It's okay though because she has her own towel.

After a little drying off time, we thought about what we could post to make you smile.  (Of course, you haven't been smiling at Ruby's pictures, have you?)

Jumper the Red Squirrel seemed like a good choice!

 

Jumper comes on sunny days.... and rainy days like today.

  Today, he can sit right inside this feeder, snug and dry, while he eats his fill of sunflower seeds.

 Jumper also enjoys other foods we provide.

 When he wants something sweet, he can eat a little grape jelly or some orange.

 

See the spot on his back where he doesn't have much fur?  Let me explain how Jumper got his name which may also explain this hair loss!  

When Jumper first started coming to our bird feeders, he did not like the swinging sensation that resulted when he jumped into the copper feeder.  He would jump into it, grab a seed, and quickly jump out again!  Up and down he would go, over and over.

The grey squirrel on the other feeder probably thinks he's crazy!  Jumper had many crashes, especially on rainy days when things were wet and slippery.  

Jumper does a little helicopter spin at the end of this short video.  Watch closely or you'll miss it!

So, I'm thinking he may have lost some fur in various crashes that he's had (I've seen quite a few!).  He's gotten better at sitting in the feeder and just eating til he's done.  He is also mastering other positions.

Kids, don't try this at home. 

 

Beauty is in the Eyes (and Nose!) of the Beholder

Nature can be beautiful in many different ways.

Beauty in God’s creation can be brightly-colored.

Male Northern Cardinal in a snowstorm

Or it can be subtle.

Pair of Mourning Doves in our Crab-apple Tree

It can be tiny.

Newly hatched Painted Turtle

Or massive!

Notice the flower on this Snapping Turtle's head!

Beauty can be just that ~ simply beautiful...

White-tailed Fawn

Beauty can even be “ugly”!

Nestling and egg that were blown out of a tree... we put the nest back carefully.

A gorgeous sunset might make you feel like crying.

This photo is from my trip to Haiti, which you can read about here.

The natural world can also make you smile...

Grey Squirrel eating sunflower seeds

or maybe even laugh out loud.

This Robin needs to eat a few less worms if it's going to squeeze in that hole!

So, I was thinking... how could I get you to smile more while reading my blog?  Seems like some occasional ‘comic relief’ would be good!  Therefore, I now present another of God’s beautiful creations - Ruby the Basset Hound!

Ruby is not only beautiful, she also has a noble and dignified soul, even though you might not always think so from her outward appearance.  Because of this, I have decided to give Ruby an honorary PhD in advance for her future help here on my blog.   (That’s PhD for “Phunny Hound Dog”).

Watch for Ruby, PhD, in coming posts, where her beautiful nose will help us sniff out... who nose what?