Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed Plant – Courtesy Leah McFarland Monarch Butterflies in Trouble For several years we have been in the midst of a milkweed craze across the United States. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are particularly beautiful and the media has written extensively about the enormous drop in their population. Monarch larvae feed exclusively on […]
Wave Hill – Jewel of Riverdale Many years ago I was a docent at Wave Hill  in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. It is both a public garden and cultural center and is one of the neighborhoods’ biggest tourist attractions. With its numerous small specialty gardens there is always something wonderful to see. One
THE VERSATILE LEAF Read More »
Worst Plant in the Neighborhood Did you know that over half of the population is allergic to poison ivy—Toxicodendron radicans? While seasoned gardeners can spot and steer clear of this notorious plant, many others unknowingly brush up against it. Yet, poison ivy is just one of the troublesome siblings in the Toxicodendron family native to
Plants can fight back Read More »
Tomatoes are Popular Visiting Israel Since I have a large garden, people always ask if I am growing vegetables. The answer, alas, is “Not really.†Much of the garden is too shady for vegetable growing. However, there is a small patch that I keep hoping will yield some tomatoes. So every year I buy a
The Unnecessary War Continues These are terrible times. Israel is fending off enemies whose military might is noteworthy but whose public relations are breathtaking and frightening. Too many people have little understanding of the history of present day Israel or of ancient Israel and the subsequent Jewish Diaspora. In an effort to celebrate both ancient
Jerusalem, Center of the World – Part II Read More »
Another War Forced Upon Israel These are terrible times. Israel is fending off enemies whose military might is noteworthy but whose public relations are breathtaking and frightening. Too many people have little understanding of the history of present day Israel or of ancient Israel and the subsequent Jewish Diaspora. In an effort to celebrate both
Jerusalem – Center of the World – Part I Read More »
Beautiful Israeli Spring Flower One of Israel’s most iconic wildflowers is the cyclamen or rakefet in Hebrew. It fills the landscape from the Golan Heights, the Galilee, Judea and Samaria south all the way to the northern Negev. Its bloom time is January through March and it grows with a distinctive flower in white, violet
Plants have Relatives Also Read More »
We all have heard about making lemonade when handed lemons by life. Sometimes an unusual gardening opportunity appears during our weird weather.
Unexpected opportunity during strange weather Read More »
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
Heavenly Scented Flower Read More »
Conceptual Origin of Today’s Post The idea for this post came from Stephanie Coggins who closely studies Riverdale through a camera lens as she walks her newly adopted dog, Dickie. Dickie – Courtesy of Stephanie Coggins When I was in grade school we were already starting to wear woolens as the new school year began.
Strange Doings in Riverdale Read More »