Connecting to nature through poetry and prose
A gentle breezeShakes the honeysuckle treeA Monarch takes flight Honeysuckle is the name for a group of shrubs, vines, or herbs in the Caprifoliaceous family. These plants can be identified by their opposite leaves and flowers that have either bilateral or radial symmetry which flare into a trumpet-like shape(1). Honeysuckle Flower One thing that the... Continue Reading →
Lilacs, besides being truly beautiful plants to look at, have their roots firmly planted in human history through poetry and literature.
As the flowers from the Pin Cherry tree drop away, the white flowers of the Chokecherry emerge to take their place on the landscape. The woody plant known as Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) grows as a shrub or small tree under 30 feet in height. It often grows in dense thickets and in damp, rich soils. ... Continue Reading →
An apple tree bloomsOn a forgotten road Time has passed us by It is said that New England established its first cultivated apple orchard in 1623. The location of the orchard was Beacon Hill in Massachusetts. The apple that was grown was called The Baldwin. Apple trees soon became a staple of the New England... Continue Reading →
This beautiful bracket mushroom's scientific name is Polyporus squamosus. It's common name is Dryad's Saddle. These polyporus fungus can either grow on fallen logs and tree stumps in a saprophytic relationship, or may be found as a parasitic growth on hardwood trees such as maple and elm. They have widespread distribution including being found in... Continue Reading →
One of the things I appreciate the most about the internet is that it allows me to connect and learn from people that I probably would have never met without it. For example, I now have a morning yoga practice because of several online yoga teachers, and my vegan cooking skills have skyrocketed as a... Continue Reading →
Today's Haiku: Tending the garden Caring for the young flowers Jump back! Happy toad. I am always excited to see the first toads of the season and the Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) is the type of toad that I encounter the most. Eastern American Toad These toads are between 2.5 and 3 inches... Continue Reading →
How many, many things They call to mind These cherry blossoms! ~Matsuo Basho Japan-Guide.com In Basho's home country of Japan there are over one hundred varieties of cherry trees. The most popular cherry tree in Japan is known as Somei Yoshino. The Somei Yoshino was heavily cultivated in Tokyo during the Edo Period, which is... Continue Reading →
Wild Strawberry identification and how strawberries can help us build a connection to the land.
Today's Haiku: Early morning dewGathers in the unkept grassA snail emerges Snails are classified as gastropod mollusks. What this means that they are part of the larger mollusk phylum which includes snails, slugs, mussels, and octopuses. The more specific class gastropod, or gastropoda, narrows this group to snails and slugs. Gastropods either have a univalve... Continue Reading →
The flowering of the Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) is another sign of spring! These bright yellow flowers are a part of the buttercup family and bloom in our neighborhood around the end of April or beginning of May. As you can tell by the name, the Marsh Marigold likes to grow in wet areas. Their... Continue Reading →
My early morning walks are great for shifting my perspective about my neighborhood. What may seem mundane in the daylight, is unique and full of mystery in the darkness. On a recent walk, I was struck by the beauty of the unfurling fiddleheads and took their photos by the light of my headlamp. I am... Continue Reading →
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