The monarch butterflies have not been too plentiful this season and I feel fortunate that I spotted one feeding on our butterfly bush. As it flittered between blossoms, I wondered if I would see any more this season.
Munching monarch
Cute caterpillars
The most common butterfly we have seen this year is the yellow swallowtail. Its distinctive yellow and black pattern is a constant in the garden flittering between the many flowers we have. But as the season wanes so will they. Now I see that a great many caterpillars have emerged, first on my celery plant […]
Stupendous sunflowers
All the flowers are exploding with wild abandon, no doubt sensing that we are in the waining days of summer. Sunflowers, in particular, are taking their turn, poking their dinner-plate sized heads above the fence attracting bees and other pollinators. Ours seem a bit confused this year as only some have turned toward the sun. […]
Summer of bounty
It is harvest time in the garden with vegetables, fruits and flowers ready to be picked. This is the Summer of tomatoes as 5 pounds of these fruits are ready for consumption each day. Beyond stuffing our faces with cherry tomatoes, the sauce tomatoes are bubbling on the stove and the large slicing tomatoes are […]
A bug catcher
My grandson Charlie is showing off his Venus flytrap. I bought it for him the last time we visited as he was fascinated by this hungry plant. He has been a good caretaker of it as it has more than doubled in size. I will likely need to repot it next time we visit.
A walk in the woods
Last week I had the opportunity to walk a new property that will likely be donated to Ridgefield as open space. What makes this parcel special is that it is smack in the middle of undeveloped State land, which together would add up to over 40 acres of pristine forest that is adjacent to another […]
New pollinators
Last week our leafcutter bees arrived from @kindbeefarms. Like any expectant parent, we opened the box with anticipation and excitement. We have lots of bees (and wasps and Yellowjackets) buzzing around our gardens and hope that these new arrivals will get along with all of our other pollinators. Their new home, which is well built […]
A great helper
Charlotte continues to be a great helper in the garden. She quickly helps me pick and identify the ripest of tomatoes as well as an underlying layer of green beans that we will have for dinner. Her reward is unlimited access to the blueberry bushes and their fruits.
A jewel of a weed
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is one of my favorite wild plants this time of year as it has three big things going for it. First, even before it starts flowering, it is wonderful as an antipruritic for poison ivy as well as insect bites. We found an immediate use for it years ago when we were […]
Tomatoes are in
Juana is holding up just a day’s harvest of tomatoes. Perhaps I shouldn’t have planted 18 seedlings, but you never know how good or bad the harvest will be. We are in the middle of good eating in the vegetable garden with peas, beans, peppers, greens, radishes, scallions, celery, carrots and tons of herbs ready […]