Spring flowers
autumn moon
summer breezes
winter snow:

With mind uncluttered
·  this is  ·
the finest season!

-Wúmén Huìkāi

Empty nests

Some shut up the house for winter; others just let it blow away and rebuild in spring from scattered bits.

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Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

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Gloryvine (Vitis coignetiae) and wisteria on oak stump

 

When trees are pollarded, dense growth of small branches creates a natural picket fence:

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Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

 

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Topped white pine

 

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Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)

 

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Robin’s lair in maple

 

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Igloo in Valley Forge elm (Ulmus americana)

 

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Another Rose-of-Sharon against foundation wall

 

A thorny bower makes a safe haven

Thorny bower makes safe haven (hardy bitter orange, Citrus trifoliata)

 

And over in the pre-manufactured housing department…

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Screech-owl house; tenant unknown

 

Carolina wrens kept trying to build a nest on a stepladder that was used almost daily. When this shelf was installed nearby, they moved in immediately.

Manufactured housing

Corner office