Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
This pocket guide of “common” Connecticut wildflowers published over 55 years ago is a good indication of how “uncommon” many plants have become. In skimming through its pages, over half of its entries I have never seen. Some like coltsfoot, fleabane, daisies, mullein, pokeweed, skunk cabbage and wild strawberries are plentiful and in plain sight. […]
Taking a short bike ride along the East Branch Reservoir in Brewster, NY, Juana and I hit the jackpot of wildflowers over a short 3.5 mile stretch of bike path. They are lovely but many, unfortunately, quite invasive. I also needed to reach well into my reference material as nearly half were unknown to me […]
I recently discovered a beaver lodge on Turtle Pond, which is hundreds of yards from my home. This pond is undergoing extreme eutrophication as half of it is filled with reeds, organic material, small trees and bushes. When I moved to Ridgefield over 30 years ago, I would take my daughters fishing here to catch […]
There are a couple of sure signs that Winter is on the wane. The loudest is the emergence of Spring peepers. Their chorus is a sign that they (and the mud they have hibernating within) have warmed. These amphibians are ready for action. The plaintive cries of males looking for a mate drown out any […]
Beach combing is a twice daily pastime for Juana and me. Every day we find something new and exciting. But these days are now behind us as we head back north to rejoin our family, friends and frost 🥶.
Though the Keys are a skinny set of islands, they are chock full of wonderful nature surprises. We recently visited the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center (@keepthemflying ) to see all the good work the organization is doing. It takes in hurt birds and either heals and releases them or takes care of them for […]
One of my favorite sightings when I am in the Keys are iguanas. These colorful invaders from Central and South America are highly invasive and typically litter and chomp on the landscape. But this past Christmas, the Keys had record low temperatures, which killed large numbers of these reptiles. So in my daily bicycle rides, […]
A full moon appeared out of the ocean last night. Juana and I rock back and forth on a porch swing enjoying its reveal and the shadows it casts upon the sand and sea. We will soon be heading north, back home, though moments like this give us pause.
Juana and I decide to take a short road trip to Big Pine Key with our bikes. Big Pine Key is known for its Key deer, which are very tiny and cute, as well as the Blue Hole, which is an old limestone quarry that now fills with fresh water. This key was hammered by […]
The shoreline of our beach is not a pristine expanse of white sand, but is filled with wrack. This natural material is a combination of sea grasses, sponges, shells, coral, driftwood and other organic materials that wash up. When the wind comes from the south, it tends to pile up. From the north, it clears […]