Unexpected opportunity during strange weather
We all have heard about making lemonade when handed lemons by life. Sometimes an unusual gardening opportunity appears during our weird weather.
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Strange doings under the waves
Our world is generally divided into land, air and water. While we see and are aware of birds that utilize the air, we are generally unaware of those creatures beneath the surface of the water. We miss a lot!
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Modality of Chanukah Miracle
Chanukah Symbol Chanukah is the story of religious freedom. It is demonstrated through the miracle of oil which burned for eight days despite the fact that the quantity of oil available should have been enough for a single day only. Perhaps it is time that we give some thought to the oil itself that was
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Heavenly Scented Flower
This summer I had a large clump of an unknown plant in one of my garden’s sunnier locations. I was reluctant to tamper with it in case it was actually something wonderful. All summer it kept growing until it was about three feet tall. Finally, around September it budded, then flower and it seemed that
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Bird Relatives
Summer Sighting We have had a bird feeder for many years now in consonance with about 50 million other Americans. I can sit by my kitchen window and see who shows up as I drink my morning coffee. Whimsical Bird Feeder Robin eating Magnolia Seeds – Courtesy of Sura Jeselsohn Before the installation of the
A Naturalist Looks at the Shofar
Shofar and Rosh Hashana Rosh Hashanah will soon be upon us. Although there is a special lengthy prayer service for Rosh Hashana, the central observance of the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. Because of the significance of the shofar blowing, we tend to focus primarily on the auditory aspects of the shofar; that
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Butterfly Visitor
I love butterflies and have been to many butterfly houses all over the world. Last week I was honored to have this garden visitor. There are many kinds of swallowtails including black swallowtails and spicebush swallowtails (which are also black). I believe that this is a male swallowtail. See Video Male Black Swallowtail – Courtesy
Unwelcome Tenant
First there was “Einstein the Mouse”. Courtesy of Tiia Monto We had moved into our present home and we looked with wonder at everything around us – plenty of space for our family, a large garden. We were taken with the usual garden animals – squirrels, birds, even the occasional raccoon. Raccoon One day, it
Cute but Destructive – Rabbits moving In
Attractive but Dangerous Cuteness We automatically respond to babies both human and otherwise. We would probably not have reacted so forcefully against the fur industry if baby fur seals were not so cute. However, while such cuteness has no moral dimension, it is not always benign. Baby Fur Seal – Courtesy of John Solaro As
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New Butterfly in our Garden
Expected Butterfly Visitors After years of gardening, it is easy to become routinized to the birds, insects and small mammals common to this area. Like so many of you I have always been entranced by our local butterflies. So far this year I have seen yellow swallowtails( Papilio glaucus – Family Papilionidae) and black spicebush
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