Yet another day of sunshine and 80+ degrees. I put aside the work I couldn’t finish, and went to do the toughest hike in the community. Fall colors relaxed my eyes as the dry leaves crackled under my feet. But something was strange… The forest was silent. Completely silent. I puzzled over it, then realized that … read more A spooky hike
Tag: flowers
Drunken bees
One of the reasons I grow passionflower is to serve as a bartender to bees. They love the rich nectar of this showy blossom so much that they get drunk on it. The first sign is when the bee simply sits on the barstool without moving. Next, they get disoriented and can’t seem to navigate the bar, … read more Drunken bees
Milking it
Today’s hike took me through a meadow that I haven’t been to in years. The community has reseeded it so that it’s now all native plants, specially picked to attract birds and butterflies. Milkweed is a favorite of monarch butterflies, and there are now several huge patches of it in the meadows. Milkweed is a … read more Milking it
The most lush spring ever
Self-centered creature that I am, I’ve been feeling as though this spring was designed and built JUST FOR ME. With a long winter of struggling through recovery from brain surgery, I felt shrunken and afraid. Then the flowers bloomed. And bloomed. And kept blooming. It has been a spring of tremendous abundance. I hoped to see one … read more The most lush spring ever
Elevation gain
A week ago, I tackled the steep mountain trail that goes to about 3,000 feet, and was delighted that I did the uphill half in 53 minutes. Wanted to do a little better this time. Another objective was to capture a photo of the flower that I was unsure of last week. Today it was clear: When … read more Elevation gain
Old friends, new friends
A storm was coming. I had to hike early today to beat it, because I was going to do a tough trail. It’s one I haven’t been on in many months. But my recovery seems to be mostly over, and I felt ready to tackle it. The trail starts out with a piece that climbs steadily but … read more Old friends, new friends
Between heaven and hell
Their branches curve thick and muscled as the arms of thugs on the waterfront. Their leaves sprout glossy and tough, built to survive temperatures 20 degrees below zero. Their roots defy attacks, continuing to grow even when everything else on the tree has been chopped off. This plant is not just a survivor, but a warrior. The pollen is violent: … read more Between heaven and hell
The urban naturalist
Chi-i-i-i-rp! About a month ago, I was walking through Dunwoody at the perimeter of Atlanta, and over the din of cars and the MARTA train I heard a lone cricket. Chi-i-i-i-rp! In the middle of an April day, I really didn’t expect to hear a cricket within view of the gigantic King and Queen office buildings. I was passing a field, … read more The urban naturalist
Blue to you
Do these flowers look blue to you? Well, I don’t think so. It’s purple to me. My guidebook calls it “blue.” But then, my guidebook also calls violets “blue.” Um, hello? “Violet” is a color as well as a plant name, and it’s not a synonym for any other color except purple. Here they are in the … read more Blue to you
Poison and prettiness
As I left on my neighborhood walk the other day, I was jazzed about looking for the newest flowers of spring. The first thing I saw was a dead squirrel. This time of year there are many of them. The young’uns don’t know about cars yet, and they dash out into the road, directly under the wheels. … read more Poison and prettiness