OSU plant sale is next weekend
Among the feathered tribes of eastern North America, warblers are standouts. Many species are renowned for their showy plumage, especially the males. Collectively, the 38 species that occur annually represent a rainbow of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and myriad subtle variations thereof.
Birds such as the Blackburnian warbler, with its flaming orange throat, or the magnolia warbler, a collage of lemon, gray, black and white, can strike observers dumb.
Warblers are sprites, averaging 5.5 inches in length and weighing around 8-9 grams. Most are frenetic foragers and that behavior, coupled with their penchant for inhabiting treetops and dense growth, makes them tough to observe.
Early to mid-May is peak season for warblers, as well as their legions of birding fans. As you read this, a tidal wave of warblers is recolonizing North America, bound for nesting sites from Ohio to Alaska.
Nearly every habitat supports its complement of breeding warblers, but woodlands host the majority, both in terms of sheer numbers and species diversity. The birds mostly winter in the tropics: the Caribbean, southern Mexico and Central and South America.
Not all warblers are riots of color, and the few plain-Jane species do not get their due. Always a fan of the underdog, I am highlighting one of the seemingly drab warblers.
The worm-eating warbler, at first blush, doesn’t look like much. I’ve yet to see a field guide illustration that does it justice. But while the bird lacks bright, primary colors, its beauty is in the subtle details.
Seen well, the bird is a living piece of art. Bold black stripes line its head, and the underparts are a rich ocher. A gorgeous olive hue shades its upper parts. The bill is conspicuous — a large daggerlike appendage used to pry apart dead leaf clusters.
The lack of recognition is in part due to the worm-eater’s habitat. Denizens of heavily forested steep slopes, they’re tough to see. They also mostly stay in dense understory — the thick layer of shrubs that shrouds the forest floor.
Even their song is inconspicuous and often overshadowed by louder songsters. The worm-eating warbler
DID YOU KNOW?
An occasional look at news sent to At Home’s inbox.
Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Center’s 30th annual sale will be held Friday and Saturday, offering visitors a chance to purchase a variety of plants, trees and shrubs
and browse garden vendors’ booths.
Arboretum horticulturalists and Franklin County master gardeners also will be there to answer questions and provide advice.
The horticulturalistchosen plants include perennials, annuals, native Ohio plants, heirloom vegetables, hanging baskets and conifers.
The sale is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive. A tree and shrub auction will start at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The sale is a fundraiser for the Ohio State University arboretum. For details, visit chadwick arboretum.osu.edu.