Halesia in flower

Our native Halesia species (Silverbell) are wonderful understory trees. This one, planted in our ravine forest some years ago, has flourished; this is the best flowering year yet.

Looking down the slope, we see the Halesia, a red buckeye (also in flower), an Eastern Hemlock, an evergreen rhododendron, and still some Packera (Golden ragwort) in flower.

Ravine forest at sunset

For now, the ravine forest below the house is intact (and hopefully will be for the foreseeable future). 

The "other side" will be developed, most certainly - how soon, and in what guise, remains to be seen.  It's been vacant land for a long time.

But the view now is wonderful, and in the early spring light at sunset, extraordinary.  We're fortunate.

Although these are similar views, we essentially have a panorama of forest beyond our deck and kitchen windows.

Pileated woodpeckers

Just before I started cooking dinner, we noticed a pair of pileated woodpeckers in the ravine forest below the house.  A welcome rain had started to fall, and they were both seemingly hunkered down.

The male was in an old snag, tucked in among its top.

The female was hanging on to the side of another tree trunk to the left, appressed to the trunk to avoid the rain as much as she could, I guess.

They stayed through dinner, but then flew off.   Wouldn't it be nice if a pair made the ravine home?

View from the deck

The fall colors are muted this year, because of rain and warm temperatures, but are still wonderfully vivid.

They're close to peak now, a good couple of weeks late, I'd think,

Hickories, maples, black gums, buckeyes, etc. illuminate the ravine view.

ravine forest view in fall