The best time to see woodland and woodland-edge wildflowers is in spring, and the best place to find them is in undisturbed areas in the country, or on the edges of urban or suburban parks or botanical gardens. Wildlife reserves are good too, as are nature trails. On vacation last week I hiked on a … Read more
At least once a year, usually in mid-fall, I drive through part of the New Jersey Pine Barrens on my way to Atlantic City. The barrens is a magical and ecologically unique area, the subject of history and lore. It is, allegedly, home to the New Jersey devil, a beast that is reputed to be … Read more
In my part of the world, mid-summer is the time when every country hedgerow, roadside verge and untended space is covered with the blue flowers of wild chicory and the frothy blooms of Queen Anne’s lace. Those distinctive white flowerheads are so vigorous that they may even spring up from wide sidewalk cracks. I love … Read more
After all the grayness of winter, it is an absolute revelation to see yellow-flowered plants springing up in the garden. Usually the yellow blooms in my part of the world appear in sequence. The little yellow miniature daffodils come first, eventually to be succeeded by their later flowering narcissus relatives. Once the mini daffs are … Read more
Last year at about this time, my daughter and I sought out some COVID lockdown relief in a park that boasts the highest elevation in our state. As we indulged in that relief, we spotted a number of interesting wild plants, including the star of the wildflower show, pink lady’s slipper orchid or Cypripedium acaule. … Read more
