Garden Photo of the Day

READER PHOTO! Falling Snowflake, Cedar Waxwing

Click here to enlarge this photo.
Photo/Illustration: Courtesy of Deanne Fortnam

There is so much about this photo that I love. First, it was taken by one of my favorite gardeners, and a frequent commenter on the GPOD, Deanne Fortnam from Nashua, New Hampshire. Second, this cedar waxwing is GORGEOUS. Third, check out the perfect snowflake Deanne managed to capture as it fell! Fourth, it illustrates that if you plant them, they will come. Plants that produce berries, that is, and wildlife. Here’s what Deanne had to say about this photo: “This bird is a Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedorum) and, in my opinion,  one of our most beautiful songbirds. I took this photograph last Sunday during our latest snow event and it was feeding in a flowering crabapple tree in the plantings around one of our local businesses. This tree has been full of fruit since fall and there weren’t any birds feeding in it until a couple weeks ago. It seems that the fruit has to go through  some freeze/thaw cycles before the birds decide it’s time to eat it. This beauty was in a flock of more than 200 birds and they came in and stripped every berry off that tree in just a few days. This is typical Waxwing behavior. They generally travel in large flocks and move into an area until they’ve exhausted the food supply then move on again.  If you have fruiting trees keep a look out and you might see a flock of these beauties flitting about with their delightful chatter. A beautiful sight in the winter garden if you’re lucky enough to get them.” Amazing, Deanne! Thanks so much for sharing this little guy with us.

Deanne’s been featured on the GPOD many times! Check out her previous posts here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog! Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you’ll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.

READER PHOTOS: We love featuring your photos, too. If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images if possible. We’ll only respond if we plan to use your photo.

View Comments

Comments

  1. elizk 03/04/2011

    Wow. That is some kind of gorgeous!!!!

  2. charlotteA 03/04/2011

    i too have a large flowering crabapple tree that is covered
    in berries every year but not one bird eats them!! Do you know why?

  3. Happily_Gardening 03/04/2011

    One word...WOW!!!

  4. user-7006885 03/04/2011

    What a wonderful photograph! I have never seen a cedar waxwing in the flesh but this must be the next best thing.

  5. gardengal42 03/04/2011

    GREAT PHOTO..The Cedar Waxwing stop in my garden (Gso, N.C.) each season. This year they had a BIG meal of berries. YES, they are a most beautiful bird.

  6. sheilaschultz 03/04/2011

    As always, Deanne, you bring us a bit of nature's beauty in your photos. What a wonderful way to end the week. Thank you.

  7. Canyoncatz 03/04/2011

    An extraordinary picture!

  8. PaulaFrechette 03/05/2011

    Magnificent photo, my favorite bird!

  9. PaulaFrechette 03/05/2011

    Charlotte, The waxwings prefer smaller crabapples, as do most birds,
    maybe yours is one that sets larger fruit? Also, they prefer the fruit slightly
    fermented, so we see them eating them later in the winter here in Massachusetts.

  10. tactywmef 06/27/2013

    Fake Oakley Outlet ,An item men and women love is usually a a few pride that they are inherited the spirit from the Oakley fashion, as Oakley. Polarized sunglasses are now welcomed by increasingly more consumers go with a polarized sunglasses might have a very better, clearer, healthier perspective. Oakleys Clearance ,Oakley sunglasses will probably be impressive, and coupled with a transparent appearance became run usually means that the person you selected a home business to turn into a new type of wind. Oakley sunglasses for the class itself, it's got shown to be an authentic fashion craze, and still have found their distance to some well-known Hollywood film. Oakley M Frame ,The bottomline is, the OAKLEY fashion innovation fascinated enthusiasm to challenge all of the rules, technological innovation and technical requirements for high fashion forefront requirements.
    oakleys sunglasses block the sun's rays not just a tool, but play another role - decoration. For the people strong sense of self-expression, expression to be a lifestyle and personality. With the purchase of sunglasses, sunglasses you might like to know fits into your budget, precisely what is up your eyes, the eyes are properly safeguarded. Sun screen lotion is generally destined to not merely understand that you might have already installed a far more stylish plus more attractive appearance, and that is actually a terrific way to. Oakley ski goggles separate out everyone, including UVA, UVB, ultraviolet and harmful blue illuminate to 400nm UV baking ray advantage. Lessen the personal life therein visually encountered when UV radiation probably will prove easy for protect our eyes from damage.
    High tech and perfect design of the Oakley, the legendary far from fashion or is a a genius. With regards to sports, innovation and performance-oriented, finito , no more superior to the Oakley sunglasses, ready for virtually any season, both Oakley males and females will be travelling to quite a few impressive new design. Oakley even offers other forms of sunglasses like skiing and snowboarding to hold sports fans to penetrate the game to possess a clearer comprehension of sports. The pilot sunglasses is just about the hottest lately that face men and ladies styles. Oakley sunglasses, a type of this style, the regular brown shadows, they could almost match any equipment.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest