Healthy Gardens. Healthy Planet
Surging north over a three-month period (from late February through early May), millions of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds depart their winter homes from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. They head north, reach the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, brave the 500 mile-wide Gulf of Mexico water crossing, and if weather cooperates and they’re lucky and strong flyers they reach [...]
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis is one of the first wildflowers to flower in the spring. The showy white petals are over two inches in width and open fully on sunny, warm, spring days. Flowers close up at night as temperatures drop and look like white candlesn with the solitary blue-gray leaf wrapped around the stem acting [...]
Vines, any vines, are great in the garden. Three reasons. First of all, vines need very little root space to flourish, thus they can fit in even the smallest yard. Second, many vines have beautiful flowers, and the bloom period can last for months, offering an opportunity to fill your yard with color. Third, and [...]
The kids’ school is moving . . . again. I won’t bore you with the details, but this is the third move/campus change in as many years. The good news is that the whole school is now in one building, and we have a whole campus to turn into garden/wildlife habitat! So, naturally, I’ve been [...]
Shooting nature video presents many challenges for videographers both professional and amateur. The environment in which they film their subjects is often challenging and prone to difficult weather conditions. A filmmaker not only needs to know the craft of cinematography to get the best shots, but must also know everything there is to know about [...]
Come on, Blue Elderberry, you can do it! Grow, grow, grow. Don’t stop now – you’re on your way. Keep growing and send out roots. Send out more leaf to soak in the sun to make yourself strong. Grow so fast that you leave the snails and slugs behind. Stand firm and dig in [...]
Some of us just can’t wrap our heads around scientific names for our flora and fauna. Try as I might, every time I snap a flower photo I have to go to the Institute of Systematic Botany’s Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants to look up the proper scientific name. It doesn’t matter if I’ve photographed [...]
The southeastern region of the US is blessed with some exceptional growing conditions, and the native plants that have always made it their home are rich in diversity. With a region that encompasses mountain tops and coastal plains, a variety of plants exists to satisfy every condition you could have in a garden. Yet we [...]
It is a gorgeous late evening as my wife and I return home from a dinner celebrating 10 years since our first date; I’d venture to say it is the first perfect evening all spring. The low sun casts that warm summer glow reminiscent of firesides in winter, the air is clear and soothing, trees [...]
Ever considered including Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in your garden? It’s great for late season pollinators, provides nectar for many beneficial insects and is amazingly hardy. As we approach planting season, I challenge you to consider adding a Goldenrod to your landscape! It’s one of my favorites! Goldenrod is a host plant for a number of [...]
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