Everyone's Talking.....and a Bald Eagle

- A blustery April day in southeast Tennessee, after another rain event yesterday and last night...the creeks and rivers are full.

- Everyone seems to be talking about the dogwoods this spring. The Tennessee woodlands, as well as residential areas, seem to be full of the showy white flowers of Cornus florida (add subspecies name of rubra for pink (rubra in Latin actually means 'red').

- No doubt this is in part due to the above average rainfall this spring as well as several warm, sunny days. This is 'showtime' for the dogwoods....as this angiosperm is quite inconspicuous and seldom noticed any other time of year.

- As shown in the photos, we have Pink Dogwoods, White Dogwoods (top photo) and we have some specimens that have both pink and white flowers (next to top photo)! Actually, considering the latter, this tree is most likely two trees growing together since youth, and some of the white flower have already faded, but it is beautiful!

- Don't expect woodland dogwoods to be as showy and full as the ones in these photographs (taken near our office). Wild specimens near the edge of a forest, or in fields have a better chance to be full of blooms like the ones in the photos.

- Also, have a local bird photo that is a bit unusual....next to bottom. While traveling just north of our Dunlap office, spied these brilliant white birds in the trees over a waterway. Pulled off the road for a closer look. Turned out to be Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis). Some of the birds appeared to be asleep in the tall trees....had their yellow bills tucked beneath a wing. - The Bald Eagle in the bottom photo seems to be angry...perhaps the chosen prey had escaped. This photo was taken by Frank Kahoun within our properties a few days ago.