Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
It’s a cold morning outside to fill the bird feeders. I notice that the bird bath is frozen solid; a few birds land on its edge and are thwarted in getting a drink. I wait until things warm up a bit and install a heater so the birds can continue getting a drink as the […]
The sky is filled with migrating Vs of Canadian geese. Some are too high to discern their honking refrain, but others are low enough to perceive their song. It is too early for us to migrate South as yard clean up, holidays and inertia keep us put for at least the time being. But there […]
Beautyberry is one of my favorite autumn berry bushes (and one of the few to sport fruit this year). Its brightly colored berries persist through the season and are yet another of Nature’s late year bird feeders. Because of my location, I am not able to grow the Native American variety but its Japanese counterpart […]
I think this will be a tough Winter for the wildlife that frequents our gardens. The hummingbird feeder needs replenishment more frequently than is typical. Chickadees fight for space on the thistle feeder, which we have just put out for the migrating goldfinches and pine siskins. The goldfinches attack, pecking the Swiss chard, whose leaves […]
“Turn around slowly,” I whisper to Juana. “There is a hawk under the swing set.” Sitting in the grass between the swing and a nearby bench is a magnificent red-shouldered hawk (we think). It sits quietly unmoving though it has its eye on me as I try to move closer to get a better shot. […]
An early morning walk on the beach brings us to foraging seabirds including terns, seagulls and piping plovers. They are spending most of their time in the rack, full of seaweed, bait fish, bivalves and tiny trapped crabs. The plovers dart in and out of the waves trying with their beaks to grab a buried […]
On a quiet morning, the pollinator meadow at McKeon Farm in Ridgefield is full of activity.
This has been an active season for fledging birds. We have two nests currently right next to the house and at least four others in bushes nearby. The first sign of activity in the Spring was a chickadee taking up residence within the tiny birdhouse that is attached to a back alcove wall. Within a […]
Time to cage the blueberries (Vaccinium angustfolium)! I learned the hard way that blueberries are way too temping for all the creatures we live with so now that they are fat and approaching ripeness, they must be sequestered. While it may not look sturdy, this PVC-framed cage is cheap and reliable. Somewhat like me. The […]
Though it looks like a Baltimore oriole is standing off against a Red-bellied woodpecker, they are just taking their turns at our suet feeder. Given the roaming of momma and two baby bears, the bird feeders are now limited to two small thistle feeders (brought in at night) and suet. I hope I am not […]