When I am out walking each day, I look at plants—the manicured specimens maintained by landscape crews, the lovingly grown clumps of annuals and perennials on smaller lots, and even the strays—self seeded individuals growing where they may or may not be wanted. The other day I saw a butterfly bush or Buddleia davidii growing … Read more
Late fall is dominated by orange, red, russet and gold, as brilliant leaves, goldenrod and millions of cushion mums crash together in a colorful, season-ending plant eruption. But the prelude to all that brilliance rolls through in early fall, in the form of blue, pink, purple and white asters, boltonia and fall-blooming crocuses. A less … Read more
Monarch butterflies, known to their scientific friends as Danaus plexippus, abound this year—at least in the areas I frequent. Even though they are considered relatively common, I see them as miraculous. Backlit by bright midsummer sun, monarchs’ orange, black and white wings glow as they float from flower to flower. Unlike many other butterfly … Read more
