All Nature, My Garden

I've Moved!

2008-09-08T13:03:00.004-03:00

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All Nature, My Garden

Nature's Miracle of Flight

2008-07-05T23:01:00.000-03:00

Earlier this spring, I posted this photo of maple seeds which had fluttered off the surrounding seeds and made a graceful landing on a geranium leaf. Over the following week or so, the air was full of these tiny helicopters and they were unceremoniously swept off the balcony with good wishes for finding a suitable place to grow.

While watering and fussing over some noncompliant petunias this morning, I discovered these tiny leaves nestled politely among a clump of lobelia. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious that this tiny plant was a maple seedling, carried to this planter by a gentle breeze and coaxed to life in the moist soil. What a treasure!

So, I planted this little guy in a pot of his own, hoping I hadn't disturbed his tiny network of roots.

If this one tree can release this small seed to the wind so that it finds a home and thrives, imagine how many far away mountains and fertile valleys are colonized in the same way. The wind is one of Nature's most important -- and most impressive -- methods of seed dispersal. Many trees, flowers, and weeds (think dandelion!) use this method successfully.

Here's hoping this little fellow "blooms where he's planted" and produces a tree that will, someday, start this miraculous cycle all over again.

Nature's First Green

2008-05-05T23:22:00.000-03:00

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
- Robert Frost

Nothing Gold Can Stay is one of my favorite Robert Frost poems, and while traveling the road I know by heart to my parents house yesterday, I was reminded at each mile of the first two lines: Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold.

All along the route, willow trees hid behind their thin veils of chartreuse leaf. Birch and poplar, with their first lime blush of promised foliage, stood out in sharp contrast against the darker conifers. The first green is gold.

We left the main road and pulled onto the narrow lane that takes you to Three Mile Brook. It's one of my favorite places to spend a sunny hour. Even though the sun was getting low in the sky, I was able to capture a bit more of Nature's first green.

Fresh-tipped spruces and white birches make a striking abstract when viewed in the barely moving stream of water.

The Common Strawberry

Pussy willows, coming to the end of their downy blooms.

The fresh green buds of the tamarack tree

A spruce seedling

Catkins of an unidentified bush grew at the water's edge.

Sadly, there was also this. Three Mile Brook is a popular stop for anglers and there was evidence that some had even camped there. That's an old TV in the water, believe it or not. How anyone could have such disregard for this beauty is beyond me.

However, as we backed out onto the main road again and continued toward home, this magical moment in which the water seemed to pick up every color in the spectrum, restored my faith that Nature triumphs over all. Nature's first green is a hard hue to hold, and soon, will be replaced by lush, dark tones. But sometimes gold can stay.

Friend of Sun and Wind

2008-04-25T14:01:00.002-03:00

All it has experienced, tasted, suffered:
The course of years, generations of animals,
Oppression, recovery, friendship of sun and wind
Will pour forth each day in the song
Of its rustling foliage, in the friendly
Gesture of its gently swaying crown,
In the delicate sweet scent of resinous
Sap moistening the sleep-glued buds,
And the eternal game of lights and
Shadows it plays with itself, content.
- Herman Hesse, 1877 - 1962

The Beauty of Blotanical

2008-04-23T15:04:00.001-03:00

I once again want to toss a bouquet to Stuart who has put all us Blotanists on the map, figuratively and literally. Since I joined Blotanical in December of last year, I have enjoyed countless hours strolling through your gardens, marveling at both the diversity and similarity -- everything from the cacti of Arizona to Labrador wildflowers. I have relished each fin, feather, and foliage article I've read and perhaps best of all, I have learned so much from this community. One thing has become crystal clear: we all share the same unwavering passion for our gardens, be they large or small. So cheers, Stuart, for providing us with this forum -- and thanks to all of you blotanists for your continued friendship and inspiration.

The Whole World In His Hands

2008-04-22T23:29:00.000-03:00

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." - Native American Proverb

[Plaster cast of grandson's hand at 18 months
which he made in daycare and gave me for my birthday.]

Earth Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to launch this new blog, All Nature, My Garden. I intend to explore Nova Scotia's fields, forests and flora over the coming months and will share these native discoveries on this blog. I may not post daily, as I do on Soliloquy; most of my jaunts will be weekend events, but I hope to gather enough photos and information to make several posts a week.

Today, Earth Day, take a moment to think about the legacy we're leaving our children, and theirs. What will you do today to celebrate this wonderful planet...what will you do to help keep it that way? I've seen high school students cleaning roadsides on their lunch hour, people raking lawns and gathering up winter windfall. If nothing else, take time to smell the roses today and observe the life that is so abundant at this time of rebirth. It will awaken your spirit.