Noticing. #2
Inspired by a friend, the noticing continues.
These noticing letters are inspired by a visit to a friend who was a great noticer. I wrote about the visit here. I intended for it to be more journal-like, but as things picked up, my journaling turned into little notes here and there about what I noticed. This one is comprised almost entirely of seasonal firsts that I notated in my phone. We’ll see how this thing evolves and changes. You can find the first one here.
I am having a lot of fun with this. I am building a real sense of the seasonal rhythms of my home. I’ve only been intentional with this practice for a couple years and the returns continue to grow.
Sharing what I notice here is my attempt to spark an interest in you to begin your own journey in noticing. Just don’t forget to record it, and preferably, share it here for us all to read as well!
March 23rd
Noticed my first dogwood blooming in downtown Huntsville
March 28
Noticed the first burst of dogwood blooms at the farm
March 29th
Noticed first Pipevine Swallowtail at the farm
March 31st
Noticed an Oyster mushroom on a dying oak
First Morel
April 2
First notice of fireflies lighting up in the woods
April 3
Eastern Meadowlark - noticed on a fence post on 65. Seen twice now. Same spot
April 5th
Buds on the beech trees have swollen. Their light brown leaves have readily dropped
April 6th
Cedar Rust is really showing out
April 8th
Hickory leaves are opening up
April 9th
White Fringetree is blooming
April 15th
Pipevine Blossoms!
Noticed a pileated woodpecker crossing CR 20
First Goldfinch
April 17th
Morning walk in the woods. Native comfrey blooming. Canadian Lousewort. The heart- shaped leafed plant has patches throughout the woods. Haven’t ID’d yet.
First Monarch - At Graham Farm and Nature Center (GFNC)
April 19th
Noticed first honeybee
April 21st
Identified American Hog Peanut and Wild Ginger
April 25th
First Strawberries!
April 30th
Wild blackberries are blooming and have been for a week now
May 1st
First caterpillar. Saw it eating a Pawpaw leaf
May 5th
First Indigo Bunting of the season in Larkinsville
May 8th
Spotted a Scarlett tanager on the mountain at GFNC
Noticed the Indian Pink flower and the first noticing of the Pearl Crescent butterfly
Noticed another Monarch
Noticed my first Jack-in-the-Pulpit
May 9th
Honeybees swarmed at GFNC
May 14th
Spotted a Spangled Fritillary
May 15th
First wild ripe blackberry
May 17th
Found Buck Moth caterpillars grouped together on the bark of the Sawtooth oak
May 26
Wild Bergamot blooming on state HWY 65 in Tennessee
May 28th
Butterfly Weed is blooming at the farm
May 29th
First Prairie Coneflower blooming. Oxeye Daisies have been blooming for a week or so
Heard a Northern Bobwhite at the GFNC!
May 31
First chigger bite
June 5th
Ladies’ tresses are blooming at GFNC
Shrubby St. Johns Wort is blooming at home
June 9th
First seed tick
First Timber rattlesnake
June 11
First Wineberry
Elderberries are in full bloom at GFNC
June 12th
Found a wild looking caterpillar
First Blueberry picking!
June 15th
First notice of ripe cherries at the farm
Harvested cherries
All these pictures are great…I hope you weren’t as close to the rattlesnake as it looks!