Yellow Jessamine

In honor of neighboring South Carolina's primary today, Yellow Jessamine, the state flower of South Carolina.  It grows well here too.

PS: Happy leap year day also!

Bath time

After a rain, a flock of robins found a good puddle.

In the middle of the creek...

a brick fort?

Walking along the creek in Fallon Park, on the natural rocks, I found a brick structure.  Is it a child's fort?  No, the remnant of an old mill.

Fallon Park

I've been trying to visit all the Raleigh parks, a difficult task because there are so many.  I'm down to some of the lesser known parks now.  This little "mini park" is a long narrow band on either side of a small creek. 

 It is bordered by residential streets on both sides.  You could throw a stone from one side of the park to the other, or take a long walk down the length.

swings

The swings were quiet on a cold morning.

Coffee Pot?

This sculpture sits beside the road in a seemingly random place.  It's name is Percolare by Jann Rosen-Queralt.

It turns out that Sandy Forks road is a silver certified Greenroad.  It has special asphalt, native plants  and bioretention basins.  The sculpture celebrates the percolation of the water.  Here's a video.

golf

In the middle of a forested park...

A disc golf course

Snowbirds

The birds weren't too happy with the snow.

Cardinal

Handsome Towhee

Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow and Titmous.

Snow at last

School got out before noon, businesses closed early. Evening programs were cancelled.  Everyone was waiting.  The snow started by 5:00pm.  We were expecting 1-3 inches.   Don't laugh, it's a big deal in Raleigh!

Temperature

I've started knitting a "temperature blanket", knitting a row a day showing the temperature each day for 2020.  Here is January and half of February.  Cool colors, but not cold.  This is the first winter with no snow in Raleigh, although there's still time.

After reading this article, I'm thinking about making a companion scarf with the temperatures in a formerly redlined neighborhood in Raleigh.  Redlining was a policy by the Home Owners Loan Corporation (a federal agency) to deny mortgages to neighborhoods with people of color. Even today the disparities are striking.  Redlined neighborhoods are often "heat islands" with temperatures as much as 7 degrees different from suburban neighborhoods.  I think it would be eye opening to see the colors side by side. 

Water's edge

The sea gull was trying to ignore the trash.

Drying out

It looks like someone took a bite out of his wing, but this cormorant was preening and drying out his wings before dark.

Spring is popping

Yes, spring is coming.  The Tulip Magnolias are in bloom.

Pink

And white.

Hiding in plain sight

This red shouldered hawk was sitting in a tree just watching all the people walking by with their dogs.  Was he looking for a juicy small dog for dinner?

Red Bird

The cardinals are getting ready for spring.  

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, the roses aren't in bloom yet, but this little cutie just popped out.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

City of Oaks

Raleigh is the "city of oaks" and every year there is the City of Oaks Marathon.  This mural decorates the wall outside the New Balance store.  Fitting!

Mr. Heron again

Mr. Heron looks just as comfortable standing on a dock as hiding beside the lake.

Chicken Vane

Where else would you find a chicken weather vane, but on a chicken coop?

Do the birds need to know which way the wind blows?

String of...

Turtles!

On a sunny day they fill up every inch of space on a log.

Street photo

I'm trying to get better at street photography, but the only people I dare photograph are ones too busy to notice what I'm doing.

full moon sunset

As the sun went down...

the moon came up.  Bright and full.

What is it?

Can you tell?  

Rain drops? yes.  

Pine needles? yes.

Rain drops on pine needles hanging from a chicken coop.  

Hellebore

This sweet flower has an odd name.  It's a Hellebore.  I'm not sure if that's because it was thought to be used by witches to summon demons, or if it comes from Greece.

Anyway it is a winter flowering plant which is welcome this time of year.

Sunset

Sunset through the pines.

Visitors

A swarm of hungry chipping sparrows visited the feeder.  We rarely see them in groups.  I think they're starting to get ready to migrate north.  Is it too early?

Mansion

Peeking through the gates at the Governor's Mansion on Blount Street.

Downy

This little downy woodpecker took his time and just hung out at the feeder.

Theme day Streetscape

Astronomy day at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.  Telescopes and bottle rockets in the street.