Lords of the Forest

I love the composition of a photographed snake and skull. The pine marten captured my attention because of my passion for mustelids, like ferrets, otters, and minks. My choice of the indigo snake stems from my interest in conservation; these beautiful creatures deserve more attention, and I wanted to learn more about them. The maypop, or passion flower, reflects my appreciation for native plants, as it supports the local ecosystem by being a host plant for the gulf fritillary butterfly.

The Pine Marten or Martes are a small, agile carnivore native to the forests of Europe. They have a sleek, slender body with rich brown fur, a distinctive creamy-yellow throat patch, and a bushy tail. Typically about 18-24 inches long, not including its tail, the pine marten is arboreal and well-adapted to climbing trees, thanks to their semi-retractable claws. They hunt for small mammals, birds, insects, and berries, using their climbing skills to navigate the forest canopy with ease.

Eastern Indigo Snake or Drymarchon couperi, are the longest native snakes in the United States, often reaching lengths of 8 feet or more. Known for their beautiful, glossy blue-black scales, the Eastern Indigo Snake are both striking and impressive. Their name roughly translates to "Lords of the Forests," reflecting dominance in their natural habitat.

The Maypop flower or Passiflora incarnata, native to the southeastern United States, thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil, like open fields and forest edges. Known for their striking purple and white blooms, a favorite in gardens, not just for their beauty, but also for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. They produce greenish-yellow, egg-sized fruits with a sweet, tart flavor, perfect for making jams, jellies, and drinks. Maypops are both ornamental and practical, adding a burst of color and a source of food to their surrounding wildlife.