After night-long rains, a day of sun and increasing heat coaxes a new adult flower fly to emerge from her pupal slumber transformed, winged! Ready to fly. Her large compound eyes see in 360 degrees. Her vibrating wings carry her where she knows nectar and pollen will energize her for the day. Flowers of … Read more
There are small creatures to thank for the flourishing of March’s plant of the month. Just like there are small creatures to thank for all flourishing, including your own. For western trillium (Trillium ovatum), blooming now in bold white on dark forest ground, we have ants to thank. Specifically the American winter ant (Prenolepis imapris), … Read more
“Rise and shine!” I call to my teenage son, and Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pines comes to mind, rising taller than their near companions, shining in the rare January sunlight—just like my child coming into his own. Young and robust, a beacon of vigor in the winter landscape, the Pines planted along the freeway … Read more
Down the road from the new housing development—with its astroturf, young trees planted too deeply, staked with girdling ties, straight rows of nandina, pennisetum grasses sheared prematurely, shaped into pert little cones like straw Christmas trees—lies a remnant of wild beauty. There, I walked companionably with my brother on my birthday, the last day of … Read more
I cried at the credit union. It was the day after the election and the teller asked how my day was going. “Honestly, I’m feeling pretty sad.” Acknowledging it opened a small flood that I saw mirrored in her face. Breathing deeply on the drive home, I continued to grieve. Stepping out of my car … Read more
Waiting out front for Aaron to grab his down vest, I noticed geese flying overhead in a V. The smell of fermenting figs swirled with the first fallen leaves. Both scampered down the street to chase an orange tomcat. The sky was clear blue. It hadn’t rained for days, maybe weeks, while news … Read more
I need softness: tiny feathers curved to catch my eye atop garden stone, and another, elongated but tiny still, on a broad elk clover leaf; a cat whisker left to grant my small wish for magic, for ease; real rain dampening all sound but its own patter and ping on patio and shed roof; … Read more
alias: Frangula purshiana, Rhamnus purshiana, Cascara sagrada, Sacred bark Before Morning extends her fingers to warm my lowest trunk, down where grasses tickle, I’ve already lifted my summer-leathered leaves to the song of her. The song of Morning spoken by all the winged ones: Robins, Wrens, Sparrows, and eager Bees. Voiced even from … Read more
Living, gardening, and hiking in western Oregon, I was bound to meet up with this wildflower sooner or later. Rose checkermallow has a range that extends through the Willamette Valley and southward to the California border. It took a sleeping bee to draw me in and I haven’t stopped looking since. Read my latest … Read more
Strawberry-scented Memories My hair still smells like strawberries from the air bnb shampoo I used yesterday. It reminds me of childhood and the scented hair of my Strawberry Shortcake doll. With her round, freckled cheeks and ruffled pinafore, her charm roused her lazy friend Huckleberry Pie every time. I was out of town to … Read more