The “Onion Dome” Bud / Humber Bay: November 29, 2018

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR WINTER WALKS at http://www.learn4life.ca / discover the outdoors

As I pointed out in a recent post, Viburnum buds are highly unusual in form.

Here is the “bunny rabbit” bud of the Wayfaring Tree:

Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)

Its cousin, the Nannyberry also has a uniquely-shaped bud:

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

These buds remind me of Russian “onion dome” church spires:

Moscow church (wikipedia)

The Nannyberry, also called Sweet Viburnum, has a lovely flower in spring:

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

These flowers eventually become fruit:

Nannyberry (viburnum lentago)

Goats enjoy them which led to the common name “nannyberry”.

Here is another look at the bud:

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Some images from this 2 degree, overcast morning:

Some of the birds that I was able to photograph:

Red-necked Grebe

Hooded Merganser (male)

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Lesser Scaup

Buffleheads

American Wigeon

Mallard (female)

Common Goldeneye (male)

Red-breasted Merganser (male)

Long-tailed Ducks (male)

Species list: red-necked grebe, great blue heron, mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, American black duck, American wigeon, bufflehead, lesser scaup, long-tailed duck, common goldeneye, hooded merganser, red-breasted merganser, herring gull, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, black-capped chickadee, ruby-crowned kinglet, golden-crowned kinglet,  house sparrow, northern cardinal..  (22 species)

Miles Hearn

                                                  NATURE POETRY

Fall, falling, fallen. That’s the way the season
Changes its tense in the long-haired maples
That dot the road; the veiny hand-shaped leaves
Redden on their branches (in a fiery competition
With the final remaining cardinals) and then
Begin to sidle and float through the air, at last
Settling into colorful layers carpeting the ground.

– Edward Hirsch (b. 1950)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *