The winter landscape in my neighborhood features a full range of greens—from dead foliage green to glossy dark holly-green. It features an even larger range of grey-browns. In fact, even the omnipresent deer are grey-brown, their coats having morphed from the lovely chocolate shade of summer to something that blends better with the winter landscape. … Read more
The spring beauty of star magnolia flies in the face of epidemics and uncertainty. They are the first magnolias to open their petals as the air warms up, offering up cascades of “stars”–actually showy flowers composed of multiple slender petals. Most often those petals are white, but occasionally you will see a pink-flowered specimen. All … Read more
People generally ignore trees. This is because most of the time trees quietly present us with gifts like shade, cleaner air, erosion protection and beauty while asking little in return. On the rare occasions when trees break the surface of our consciousness, we generally criticize them for shedding branches in storms, dropping leaves and/or litter … Read more
A few weeks ago, at a really good restaurant, I splurged on a dessert of buttermilk panna cotta with raspberries. That ethereal creation came garnished with preserved linden leaves and fruits. I had never eaten anything from a linden tree—Tilia–before, and was intrigued. The leaves and tiny, nut-like fruits were sweet from the preserving liquid … Read more
I have a friend who lost a cherished front-yard tree. After the tree surgeons removed the remains, he began the hunt for a new one. The choices were endless. His lot is large and could accommodate a sizeable specimen. The old tree was deciduous, rather than evergreen; as a fan of autumn color, he wanted … Read more
