This genus contains about a dozen species of shrubs and small trees, each with fruits that can be used to make a lathering soap.
This large-leaved biennial wildflower has thistle-like flowers and an edible and medicinal taproot
This black-white-and-grey bird points its slender bill downwards – or tilts it comically upwards – as it spirals face-first down tree trunks and round and round branches, searching for insects to devour
Known in some areas as a pest, the “rice bird” who feeds on rice and grains especially during migration, this New World Blackbird has unique coloration featuring a male with high-contrast white and cream on black.
This hairy little plant with 5 pointy petals is native to the Mediterranean region and is both edible and medicinal
This is the typical “red-breast” found in the United Kingdom and much of Europe, completely unrelated to the “red-breast” found in America.
The local Philippines call this woody vine “tayabak”. Related to the green beans we grow in our gardens, this species’ unique turquoise claw-shaped flowers are pollinated by bats.
This humble plant is easily overlooked, both in its quiet early blooming and later leaf unfurling. You can find it in wetlands and riverine forests in the NE quarter of the US, up into Canada.