Nick in NC
@nicknc.bsky.social
gardener, amateur naturalist. neurobiologist. mennonite.
Views my own. All photos mine. May include predator-prey interactions, spiders, and snakes.
https://sweetgumandpines.wordpress.com
Views my own. All photos mine. May include predator-prey interactions, spiders, and snakes.
https://sweetgumandpines.wordpress.com
Reminds me of something . . .
🌱
🌱
November 30, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reminds me of something . . .
🌱
🌱
Paphiopedilum Temptation
(P. kolopakingii x philippinense).
This is a BIG plant. Size and flower count comes from P. kolopakingii, color and twisted petals from P. philippinense. #orchids 🌴 🌱
(P. kolopakingii x philippinense).
This is a BIG plant. Size and flower count comes from P. kolopakingii, color and twisted petals from P. philippinense. #orchids 🌴 🌱
November 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Paphiopedilum Temptation
(P. kolopakingii x philippinense).
This is a BIG plant. Size and flower count comes from P. kolopakingii, color and twisted petals from P. philippinense. #orchids 🌴 🌱
(P. kolopakingii x philippinense).
This is a BIG plant. Size and flower count comes from P. kolopakingii, color and twisted petals from P. philippinense. #orchids 🌴 🌱
Oops, almost forgot to show you the leaves. They are heart-shaped and have a soft, quilted appearance. 5/5
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Oops, almost forgot to show you the leaves. They are heart-shaped and have a soft, quilted appearance. 5/5
Tiny white specks form in various places on the leaves. These are supposedly protein-rich pearl bodies and suggest a mutualistic relationship with ants (or maybe predatory mites?). 4/5
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Tiny white specks form in various places on the leaves. These are supposedly protein-rich pearl bodies and suggest a mutualistic relationship with ants (or maybe predatory mites?). 4/5
. . . the leaves and inflorescences sprout from a rhizome that is expanded into a big, bizarre, irregular lump that grows above the potting mix. You’d think the tuberous rhizome would make the plant drought tolerant, but instead, it shrivels very rapidly whenever the potting mix dries out. 3/5
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
. . . the leaves and inflorescences sprout from a rhizome that is expanded into a big, bizarre, irregular lump that grows above the potting mix. You’d think the tuberous rhizome would make the plant drought tolerant, but instead, it shrivels very rapidly whenever the potting mix dries out. 3/5
. . . the seed pods are more interesting. They look like little upside-down tricorn hats, and . . . 2/5
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
. . . the seed pods are more interesting. They look like little upside-down tricorn hats, and . . . 2/5
Monolena primuliflora is a plant that becomes cooler the longer you look at it. It’s flowers are pretty, but no different than any number of Melastomataceae. Usually only one is open at a time, but . . .
🌴 🌱 1/5
🌴 🌱 1/5
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Monolena primuliflora is a plant that becomes cooler the longer you look at it. It’s flowers are pretty, but no different than any number of Melastomataceae. Usually only one is open at a time, but . . .
🌴 🌱 1/5
🌴 🌱 1/5
Perfect reading material for cold, dark evening. Pairs well with sandwich of Thanksgiving Leftovers and a can of Sapporo.
November 28, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Perfect reading material for cold, dark evening. Pairs well with sandwich of Thanksgiving Leftovers and a can of Sapporo.
Nepenthes veitchii ‘Big Mama’ x ‘Pink Candy Cane’. Young plant with juvenile pitchers, but it is starting to color up nicely.
When I started growing Nepenthes in the 1990s, there were only 2 mediocre clones of N. veitchii available. Now, colorful line bred seedlings and clones are everywhere. 🌴🌱
When I started growing Nepenthes in the 1990s, there were only 2 mediocre clones of N. veitchii available. Now, colorful line bred seedlings and clones are everywhere. 🌴🌱
November 27, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Nepenthes veitchii ‘Big Mama’ x ‘Pink Candy Cane’. Young plant with juvenile pitchers, but it is starting to color up nicely.
When I started growing Nepenthes in the 1990s, there were only 2 mediocre clones of N. veitchii available. Now, colorful line bred seedlings and clones are everywhere. 🌴🌱
When I started growing Nepenthes in the 1990s, there were only 2 mediocre clones of N. veitchii available. Now, colorful line bred seedlings and clones are everywhere. 🌴🌱
Oak, left. Sourwood, right. It would be interesting to know whether there has been any actual grafting of the two unrelated trees, or if they remain completely separate, though pressed together.
November 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Oak, left. Sourwood, right. It would be interesting to know whether there has been any actual grafting of the two unrelated trees, or if they remain completely separate, though pressed together.
Predatory oak tree engulfing an innocent sourwood. 🌱
November 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Predatory oak tree engulfing an innocent sourwood. 🌱
Another week, a little more progress. This Stenorrhynchos speciosum is killing me. Such slow growth. So much time for a slug to attack before it finally opens. 🌴 🌱 #orchids
November 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Another week, a little more progress. This Stenorrhynchos speciosum is killing me. Such slow growth. So much time for a slug to attack before it finally opens. 🌴 🌱 #orchids
Latest pitcher on my Nepenthes x Dyeriana. ~40 cm tall.
Just an inspired bit of plant breeding by George Tivey. Description was first published in 1900, so he presumably made the cross sometime in the early/mid 1890s.
Nepenthes (northiana x maxima) x (rafflesiana x veitchii)
🌴 🌱
Just an inspired bit of plant breeding by George Tivey. Description was first published in 1900, so he presumably made the cross sometime in the early/mid 1890s.
Nepenthes (northiana x maxima) x (rafflesiana x veitchii)
🌴 🌱
November 22, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Latest pitcher on my Nepenthes x Dyeriana. ~40 cm tall.
Just an inspired bit of plant breeding by George Tivey. Description was first published in 1900, so he presumably made the cross sometime in the early/mid 1890s.
Nepenthes (northiana x maxima) x (rafflesiana x veitchii)
🌴 🌱
Just an inspired bit of plant breeding by George Tivey. Description was first published in 1900, so he presumably made the cross sometime in the early/mid 1890s.
Nepenthes (northiana x maxima) x (rafflesiana x veitchii)
🌴 🌱
Morning walk around the neighborhood. This particular lot seems to home to lots and lots of eastern newts who appear on the road when migrating to and from their breeding pond.
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Morning walk around the neighborhood. This particular lot seems to home to lots and lots of eastern newts who appear on the road when migrating to and from their breeding pond.
There are just so many of these little guys in our yard.
November 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
There are just so many of these little guys in our yard.
When the first frost is late and the bananas have time to fully ripen, they peel themselves. We didn’t get there this year.
November 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
When the first frost is late and the bananas have time to fully ripen, they peel themselves. We didn’t get there this year.
First freeze last night. The growing season for subtropicals like Musa velutina is officially finished for the year. 🌱
November 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
First freeze last night. The growing season for subtropicals like Musa velutina is officially finished for the year. 🌱
Flowering today: Paphiopedilum Mark Dimmitt. The cross is Paphiopedilum ((philippinense x rothschildianum) x sanderianum) x parishii, registered by Fred Clarke earlier this year. 🌱 🌴 #orchids.
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Flowering today: Paphiopedilum Mark Dimmitt. The cross is Paphiopedilum ((philippinense x rothschildianum) x sanderianum) x parishii, registered by Fred Clarke earlier this year. 🌱 🌴 #orchids.
Here’s a snail eating a snake.
Haplotrema concavum (gray-footed lancetooth) chewing on Carphophis amoenus (eastern worm snake). May 2024.
Haplotrema concavum (gray-footed lancetooth) chewing on Carphophis amoenus (eastern worm snake). May 2024.
November 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Here’s a snail eating a snake.
Haplotrema concavum (gray-footed lancetooth) chewing on Carphophis amoenus (eastern worm snake). May 2024.
Haplotrema concavum (gray-footed lancetooth) chewing on Carphophis amoenus (eastern worm snake). May 2024.
Even a couple of big leaves will work as an ad hoc cat trap.
November 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Even a couple of big leaves will work as an ad hoc cat trap.