On a sunnier day.

Last week when we visited our friends' new baby, this was the view out their hospital window.

Warm night adventure

After todays cold rains, tropical air has come in ("tropical" meaning 57 degrees--10 degrees warmer than during the day) and it's very pleasant to be outside. We went out to walk the dogs and passed by a chirping snowy tree cricket. I found it with the flashlight and tried to photograph it, but didn't get much of it. After the dog walk, I came outside again, tried to get the snowy tree cricket again (I'm experiencing sudden anxiety about the 365 project--It seems impossible to get another 67 species, now that the leaves are mostly gone and cold and snow are coming) and failed. So I walked around the area a little bit, hoping to hear another one, or find something, anything, that I could photograph for the project. I didn't find anything new, but I had fun walking around and observing some animals that come out on warm dark nights, and trying a new photography technique.

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365 Urban Species. #300: Cranberry Viburnum

Photo by cottonmanifesto. Location: Leverett Pond, Boston.

Cranberry viburnum Viburnum opulus

Viburnum is a genus of shrubs and small trees, many species of which are planted around the city. Cranberry viburnum is also called cranberrybush and highbush cranberry, but is not closely related to cranberry. Its bright red berries look somewhat similar to cranberries, and can be used to make jam. They persist on the shrub through the winter providing food for birds. There are two varieties of of cranberry viburnum, one native to North America and one European, but they are considered to be the same species. Both varieties are cultivated in nurseries and are popular in urban and suburban landscaping. Year-round, the shrub is attractive. It produces attractive clusters of white blossoms in spring, and has maple-like leaves that turn red late in autumn; when they fall in winter, the translucent berries provide interest until the flowers come again in the next spring.

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