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seasonal biodiversity joys and benefits through the lens of native plants

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Nature

A Stellar Landing

by Samantha BeanUpdated on February 8, 2024February 8, 2024

Sometimes the Best Intentions Encounter Momentary Trouble, But In the End It All Works Out Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) if you haven’t heard, …

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Seasons of Change

Adding Warmth to the Winter Garden

by Samantha BeanUpdated on November 21, 2023November 21, 2023

Wintertime is a time of rest and slowness in the garden, where plants and trees tone down their growth. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be dull.

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Seasons of Change

Unplug and Recharge

by Samantha BeanUpdated on November 11, 2023November 10, 2023

On a recent group trip to explore migratory birds along the Cape May fly-way in September, one member of our tour group pod stuck out …

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Seasons of Change

Moon Magic

by Samantha BeanUpdated on October 23, 2023October 23, 2023

Hunker down, winter is on the way The Hunter’s Moon Look to the sky on October 28th for the full moon of October, known as …

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Right Plant Right Place

Pumpkin Spiced Shrubbery

by Samantha BeanUpdated on October 14, 2023October 14, 2023

Shrubs can offer compact color when space is limited Forests are majestic any person will say and if you don’t have room in your garden …

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Tales and Tails

Off Peak Travel

by Samantha BeanUpdated on September 30, 2023September 29, 2023

With shiny effervescence, a tiny, audacious flight of fury…smaller than even imaginable more a feathered dart of a thing. All of my sodden thoughts during …

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Journeys from before

Samantha Bean

flutterbymeadows

Capturing the beauty of biodiversity through my lens and words, inspired by the native plant gardens outside my window. 🌿📷
writer • blogger • birder
It's Like Searching for a Gift Watching a squirrel It's Like Searching for a Gift Watching a squirrel repeatedly muzzle around in the snow digging furiously for buried treasure was a sight to see. Forehead and ears full of snow the creature came up empty several times today. Digging with the intensity of a beagle, and then, jackpot was struck and the buried food from weeks or maybe months ago was secured. Said squirrel ran off in glee with gift in hand. Paw? What do they have? I should know this. (Ok, actually, it ran away with it in its mouth.) This is the type of stuff you see in cartoons and storybooks and your imagination runs wild. And yet, this happens. In real life. Every fall and winter. In fact, it was only a few winters ago that I observed a snowflake up close and realized (very late in life I might add) that snowflakes have patterns just like those Kindergarten paper cutouts and those animations in movies. I guess I grew up thinking that snowflakes were just like fluffy ice cubes…no two were quite the same, but really they are just light and fluffy and come in different sizes. Somehow I missed the intricacies of a snowflake until just a few years ago. Native plants are good teachers, and not just about the plants themselves. The plants tune us in to the natural world much more than I could have ever thought possible. I look to my yard for inspiration about things to write about or to reflect on, and like a buried nut or a cached seed, it doesn’t come along right away, but when it does…it is just what I needed. #naturejournal #nativeplants #nativeplantgarden #squirrel
No Pictures, No Proof.  That was something my th No Pictures, No Proof.  That was something my then 6-year-old would proclaim when I proclaimed the coolest thing happened.  This bird, the Northern Mockingbird has been a pretty regular fixture in the pines outside our windows. But lacking any type of decent photo since September, I took a little time to capture the moment in a pencil and paper. Now there's proof. It was a way to pass the time spent sitting still for hours on end during a 3-day swim meet watching my daughter cheer on her friends and play Imagine Dragons and Seven Nation Army to get in the zone. The second photo in the carousel (which I used for my sketch was actually taken in November 2021.) But that bird was just a whim. I didn't see that bird multiple weeks in a row like I have in the last few months. Speaking of proof ... I wish I could see the proof in the Officials' eyes that disqualified 4 top seeded swimmers in the state in a race of 31, including my daughter. But I digress. There is no proof, only that of a raised hand. Still a tough blow. The 200 IM is tough enough. But to be DQed in the last race of the last day, that just burns more than the muscles themselves. #northernmockingbird #naturewriter #backyardbirds #funwithbirds #mimus polyglottos
‘Twas the night before the darkest day, and not ‘Twas the night before the darkest day, and not a Chromebook was stirring, not even a mouse.     I have nothing. No words to share tonight. But I don't think my posts are being read anyway, so no difference either way. The big algorithm isn't working for me and I need a new outlet because this one is wearing me out. This may be it for me. For a long while. A long long while... #naturejournal #writing #thisisnotgoingwell #coralhoneysuckle
Gift of Gab It is when I think the natural world c Gift of Gab It is when I think the natural world can’t surprise me any more, that it does. Mornings in early winter (we are almost there!) are usually one of three things: cold and silent, foggy and listless, or rainy and sodden. Today was a command performance day. A guest performer took the stage and to my surprise I was delighted once I figured out what I was listening to. In the two days past, I had seen on multiple occasions a pileated woodpecker making rounds. Whether on a snag, or hanging precariously from a branch dining on poison ivy berries like his survival depended on it. But this morning, his repeated "cuck-cuck-cuck-cukkkaaaaaaa” was present audibly…but ever so slightly out of tune and off on a slightly softer scale. It was like I was listening to a sound I knew, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Like listening to a cover. You know it….but do you?  When I finally turned around to “see” the sound? I was half abated, and half laughing. The tenor? A blue jay doing a Broadway-bound performance of his treetop neighbor. I recorded it, it was pretty impressive. But why? Because they can? Because it’s fun? Because why not? Being in the corvid family they are I guess, naturally gifted. And if I could mimic and sing, why wouldn’t I? Sing I cannot. Write....well, maybe. With a decent pun. Always. #bluejay #bluejays #naturewriter #backyardbirds #funwithbirds #cyanocittacristata ,
‘Tis the Season Native plants slow your pace and ‘Tis the Season Native plants slow your pace and encourage you to look toward the beautiful connections taking place during the seasons. But they can also be loaded with intimidation. Sounds like the holidays too, am I wrong? Please share this post with someone you might know who would love a little more simplified understanding of what makes native plants the best gift to every person, insect, pollinator or bird that comes in contact with them. Native plants don't just bloom, they grow on you! 🌱 #naturewriter #choosenativeplants #flowergarden #prairiegarden #butterflygarden #pollinatorgarden #birdgarden #pollinator #ecologicalrestoration #habitatrestoration #nature #ecology #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativewildflowers #nativeplant #rudbeckia
The Misgiving Tree Can you visualize the past, pr The Misgiving Tree Can you visualize the past, present and the future all at one time? It’s a tall order for sure especially considering what element you are visualizing…your life? Work goals? Personal or fitness goals? Once the sun came out this afternoon, I explored the backyard just before sunset to see what the birds were up to. The activity was slim and it felt oddly like Spring to be outside without a coat on. But the sounds were undeniably cool, not warm. Including, but not limited to, the holiday tunes coming from a nearby house. A Carolina chickadee (am almost 99% sure not a black-capped) caught my eye and as the bird sat on a branch of our Sweet Gum tree, I noticed something unique about the setting. There on the branch, was the seed pod of the past, the bird of today, and the tiny buds of the future. This single tree in our yard not only provides as a host plant for 30 some species of butterflies and moths, but it is also a food source, nectar source and a source of shelter. Those “spiky balls” give the tree a bad rap in many traditional neighborhood yards, and some suburban settings, but this tree is a saint in my opinion. So many birds use it continuously, and it asks for nothing in return. Wait, that is not technically true. It does ask for wind. For its method of pollination. There are some homeowners out there with a long list of misgivings about this tree. It’s “messy” “it’s an ankle bender”. The qualms go on and on. I don’t know…without this tree, the Goldfinches would not come in flocks as they do, the yellow-bellied sapsucker wouldn't be making holes, and the colors of fall would not be as vibrant. Looking back on my journey with native plants, this is one of the first things I ever photographed back in 2015. (Second photo) That was certainly the past. Interesting to see what comes of the future! #birds #birdwatching #bird #nature #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #best #naturelovers #birdlovers #animals #birdstagram #bestbirdshots #aves #instabird #carolinachickadee #chickadee #sweetgumtree
Cardinal Signs ♈♋♎♑ Red is a color often c Cardinal Signs ♈♋♎♑ Red is a color often connected to passion, power and of course love. Most of this morning was fraught with nothing but black darkness, all colors remained in hiding. I felt like the sun was broken. It remained dark this morning much longer than usual. When it finally beamed up, it couldn’t beat the punches of the clouds that hung in the sky in one thick heavy gray blanket. The roots of the trees were surely happy to finally have a steady stream of moisture of recent days. But they are still thirsty. FInally the birds made their way out tentatively from their nightly cover. And one by one the usuals went about their rounds. One bird in particular seemed to stand out more than any other on this gray day. The Northern Cardinal. Raindrops clung like delicate sparkles to his red suit. Mist did nothing to dampen his plumage or his attitude. His simple presence in my yard helped me to shift my mental depth of field. Instead of looking at the rain as darkening and sad, with the cardinal in view, I could instead focus on the color that was right there, gleaming in the gloom. The weather was not the problem, the problem was how I was choosing to see my surroundings. Once you can shift focus, the day doesn’t seem quite so dark after all. We are exactly a week away from shifting signs from Libra to Capricorn. (I’m in the Northern Hemisphere). When we can finally call it winter. And I can’t wait. . . #birds #birdwatching #bird #nature #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #best #naturelovers #birdlovers #animals #birdstagram #bestbirdshots #aves #instabird #northerncardinal
Kris Kringlet The backyard had that usual bustle Kris Kringlet The backyard had that usual bustle of activity first thing in the morning. But it also had a most surprising visitor. He has been around before, but today was different. A bird we affectionately call the “kingshit” because he is always so difficult to photograph was actually still at a feeder. We have never EVER seen this bird come to a feeder. (They usually bound around the shrubs and young trees like over-active circus performer.) I later discovered that ruby-crowned kinglets will visit a feeder or two when the need presents itself. The sky seemed to beg to snow. But even though it seemed cold enough, the weather of the day was a typical “boring” winter day. Those with no wind to speak of, not a sign of flurry or sleet. Just plain, cold, winter. Though let’s not forget, it is still only fall. Winter has a few days yet before the solstice sets the tone. The bird was still a challenge to photograph, but it was a moment I won’t soon forget. The suet feeder seems to suit his fancy. Just when I think I know what I think I will see on any given day, the birds go ahead and so something completely off the cuff. A native plant garden is full of gifts, and I seem to get one just about every day. My garden is like a secret Santa. Mystery gifts appearing here and there that leave me guessing for what may come next. . . #birds #birdwatching #bird #nature #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #best #naturelovers #birdlovers #animals #birdstagram #bestbirdshots #aves #instabird #rubycrownedkinglet
Berry Happy The years fly by, yet the days linger Berry Happy The years fly by, yet the days linger on like a slow flame that refuses to be put out on a fire. When I look back on photos from the years’ past, it's amazing to see how many events take place that are nearly identical. But I didn’t really even take notice of this pattern until the native plants in my yard made me more acutely aware of the time, the season and the overall flow of the biodiversity around my home. Today I didn’t take a photo (which is usually the modus operandi for what sparks what I will write about.) In times like this, I divert to “old” photos and on this day in 2021, I had an Eastern Bluebird taking some berries from a shrub in our rain garden. As if subliminally, I did notice this shrub in my rain garden this morning …”Hmm”. I thought to myself. “There are still some berries left….” I have challenged myself to write EVERY SINGLE DAY in December. By using my backyard, (or any part of my yard) as my slate of imagination. Can I write every single day for 31 days, based on what happens, or what I see out my windows? At day 14, so far. Yes, I can. The only more troubling difficulty is…who is reading it? Perhaps I would be happy as a bluebird if I knew what I was writing was actually being read. But such is the writer's life. #birds #birdwatching #bird #nature #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #best #naturelovers #birdlovers #animals #birdstagram #bestbirdshots #aves #instabird #easternbluebird
This End Up  As I was watching the FedEx truck bl This End Up  As I was watching the FedEx truck blaze past my driveway this afternoon, I happened to catch a glimpse of a bird…when I see a small bird working its way upwards along big tree trunks, I know what it is right away. They always work their way up a tree checking every single nook and crevice that they can. Then they fly back down to the base of the tree, and do the whole process over again. They freeze when they feel threatened and can be deceptively hard to spot! Interesting, how I came across this bird as I was perhaps stalking my local FedEx truck for my on-time holiday delivery. I spotted him in the first floor, grabbed my lens, and raced up the stairs to meet him in my bedroom window. (The bird…not the FedEx driver.)  We near enough tied. After a few seconds, he flew out of sight for a minute, then he was back in view again, making his way up the tree. A strange little bird that forages in a most unique way. Always moving up the tree… the American treecreeper. Or brown creeper. Whatever it is called, these birds got an A in camouflage school. What can brown do for you? Oh, wait…that’s UPS!  Did you read this to the end? Put something brown, orange or purple in the comments if you did. . . #birds #birdwatching #bird #nature #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #naturephotography #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #best #naturelovers #birdlovers #animals #birdstagram #bestbirdshots #aves #instabird #browncreeper #americantreecreeper
Starlight, Starbright, First Starling I See Tonigh Starlight, Starbright, First Starling I See Tonight I wish I may, I wish I might … Now is the time where we wish for light or color. Anything that helps thin out the emotional sludge of thick winter. It gets darker every single day. But, every now and again I get treated to a flare of color. It can be a frost-encased plant stem glinting ever so slight in the morning light or it can be the quick flash of the underwing of the yellow-shafted flicker. Or my particular favorite, little flakes of white floating confetti that swirl around and around down to the ground. Ephemeral, whimsical and oh what fun. Or as was the case today, a rather unfamiliar solitary face that I would normally dismiss as “annoyingly invasive” and not something I would normally take the time to photograph. The European Starling is not a bird that evokes any status of excitement or joy when I see it. But when I saw just one, all by itself, I decided to let go of my abhorrent distaste for the bird and just photograph the imposter. I had seen detailed images of them before and yet I still never saw the need to photograph them myself. When the light hits them just right, they are rather unique. But perhaps after a day of rain, the iridescence was a needed visual vitamin. I still don’t particularly like the bird, given their invasive ways and abilities to outcompete our native species of cavity-nesting birds for suitable habitat. But the color was “startling” and the dark black bill was a sign of winter. (During breeding their bill is a bright yellow.) As for the wishes I wish tonight, I certainly would love some Geminids to grace the night sky in their epic evening show. But those floofy clouds and bright moon may make me wishing for darker skies. #naturewriter #nanowrimo #backyardbirds #birdsofinstagram #birds #europeanstarling #bestbirdshots #bestbirds #birdwatching #birdwatchingphotography #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #birds_captures
An Off Day, Not a Day Off The weather is often a p An Off Day, Not a Day Off The weather is often a point of disappointment. Either it is not enough or too much. Or too cold or too hot. Today was a trifecta of disappointments but ironically did not involve the weather. It involved parenting. Which is an uphill climb. Both directions. In the snow. (Though, it seemed a little off in the bird world too, I mean, I have never seen a junco take a dip in the bath. But, today was the day.) You have a grasp, then you take ten steps backward. You have a win, then you get a DQ. It is just like an endless attempt to get better, get further, and yet you are relentlessly hit with curveballs. Though a snowball might be easier. Or at the very least, more fun. Parenting is a day without timeouts and no breaks for commercials. Today’s rain did not storm in like I thought. It was a calming, simple rain. Yet the news said it would be some sort of cyclone or atmospheric river. It was not. The rain garden got a workout sure, but it wasn’t hitting its max. The birds around my yard lavished in the warm balmy temperatures, but not with abandon. They were reserved in some regard. They knew something with the weather was a bit off.  There was something like a 25 degree (or possibly more) shift in temperature today. Oddly, that shift in temp mirrors my shift in mood. Some days are just hit with continuity and flow, while others are rivers of emotion and nervous water. Accurately predicting the weather is tough. Predicting your day as a parent, tougher. Let’s see what the sun brings up tomorrow…. #naturejournal #naturewriter #nanowrimo #junco
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What is Flutter By Meadows?

I love to chronicle my discoveries about creatures that share my home while describing the habitats that exist for them on this blog. With a BA in Environmental Studies, I learned the natural world was a special place, and I was inspired to share the beauty in my writings.

Seeing a migratory bird in our yard, or an opportunist native plant that chooses to grow, I find joy in the unexpected. An amateur bird and butterfly photographer...trying to document what I see as much as possible, sprinkled with a touch of humor. Also a member of the Garden Club of America.

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