Category Archives: Seasons

The Promise of Disorder in a Winter Yard

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Randy Tindall

Here at the front end of February, our yards, back and front, are looking a mite shopworn and forlorn, dressed in sodden grays and browns, rather than the riot of colors they show in spring, summer, and into even late … Continue reading →

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The Forest Unseen: A Book Review

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Randy Tindall

  Where backyards are concerned, size really doesn’t matter.  Even a square meter can yield a world of insight. David Haskell’s wonderful award-winning book, The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature (Penguin Books, 2012), begins its preface with a … Continue reading →

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Columbine Time (Aquilegia canadensis)

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Randy Tindall

When the spring columbines began popping up and blossoming in our backyard, we know it’s time to keep our eyes open for the arrival of the hummingbirds.  Sure enough, after several days of gorgeous blooms, we have now spotted at … Continue reading →

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Butterflies and Beer: Get Ready for Spicebush Season

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Randy Tindall

Spicebush is leafing out!  Normally it would be blooming by now, like this: But it seems that the hard winter and long spring have slowed it down like everything else, since ours aren’t blooming just yet. At any rate, you … Continue reading →

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The Ballad of Quercus flatus: A Tale of Spring

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Randy Tindall

The sap is rising in our backyard.  Spring has finally sprung (we think), after a couple of false alarms, and signs of life abound.  Our redbud is budding red, our wahoo is leafing out and preparing to flower (Wahooooooo!!), our … Continue reading →

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A Miracle of Monarchs

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Randy Tindall

We have seen very few Monarch butterflies in our backyard for the last two years, but that doesn’t mean they are not there.  Caterpillars are showing up on our milkweeds, so it seems that they must be making whoopee somewhere, … Continue reading →

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Winter Rations

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Randy Tindall

I’ve often thought of our Sweet Gum tree as more of a Bitter-Sweet Gum tree, mainly when I rake up piles of the spiky little balls it sheds with great joy and abandon.  I think I am not alone in … Continue reading →

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Fall Medley #1

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Randy Tindall
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Ants in Your Plants? The Magic of Myrmecochory.

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Randy Tindall

Let us again consider the Bloodroot, one of spring’s most lovely and ephemeral visitors.  Having emerged in March, the little herd in our yard is just now finishing with its crop of seeds, and here they are.  Almost, but not … Continue reading →

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Bloodroot Update (At Last)

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Randy Tindall

I finally added the Bloodroot article to our Native Plants section here.  These days our annual crop of Sanguinaria has long ago dropped its blossoms and has settled into respectable child-rearing mode.  Looks like a good crop of seeds this … Continue reading →

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