Connecting to nature through poetry and prose
We have entered the micro-season of “The Water Dropwort Flourishes”. This is the first micro-season of the mini-season Minor Cold. To celebrate this season, we will learn about Water Dropwort and read haiku by Issa and Basho.
The Plant The Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a biennial plant native to North America and Canada. The term “biennial” indicates that it takes two years for the plant to complete its life cycle. During the first year, it only grows foliage. In the second year, it will flower. (1) The Evening Primrose aptly gets... Continue Reading →
The European, or Garden, Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a perennial plant with blue, purple, or white flowers. Each flower is about as long as it is wide. This plant, which is a member of the Buttercup family, will grow up to 3 feet tall.(1) The European Columbine has spread widely across North Americas and is... Continue Reading →
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 →
Wild Strawberry identification and how strawberries can help us build a connection to the land.
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 →
Naturalist Weekly 