February 12, 2025
A quiet, light snow in my neighborhood this morning.
Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
-Longfellow
As of May 8th all of Chester County remained in a moderate drought, perhaps that will finally change with this week's rains. The rain cut into my time at the park this week a bit, but there's plenty to see this time of year.
Before long the soft filaments of back willow (Salix nigra) seeds will be drifting through the park. Black willows are so common we are likely to pass them by, but they are a vital part of the park ecosystem. They grow in floodplains, stream banks, swamps, marshes, sloughs, and ponds
Tyrant flycatchers are so called because they are, well, tyrannical, jealously guarding their territory from interlopers. Possessing keen eyesight for spotting insects and judging distances, flat, wide bills perfect for catching prey, and whisker-like bristles around their mouths likely aiding rapid course corrections, flycatchers are formidable hunters. Flycatchers have their
Some recent photos. I’ll be at third thursday this week on State Street with my paintings 5:30-7:30 pm.