I’m not much good at keeping records even though I’d very much like to be. My so-called garden diary is a hit-and-miss affair and not really useful when consulted to see how things in the garden were in a certain year. But at the front of this garden diary (a… Continue reading
As March begins, all of us are keeping watch for signs of spring, and after this year’s rather old-school winter, I am all ears and eyes. The very earliest sounds of spring have been sporadic so far: the occasional dripping of melting snow and ice, the early morning song of… Continue reading
The extreme cold has certainly limited our time outdoors. And if you’re anything like me the amount you are reading has increased. One of the many books from our library I’ve been enjoying is a book of essays and articles by Helen Macdonald called “Vesper Flights”. All the pieces are… Continue reading
Many of us, I’m sure, in idle moments have dreamed about hibernating away the worst part of winter. Imagine curling up in our warm, comfortable bed and not waking up until the cold of winter is over! I know I have! But luckily (?) it is simply not possible. And… Continue reading
Now that the leaves are down, it’s time to profile another native tree: the Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus). There are some glorious specimens of this remarkable and storied tree in the Millbrook area. These majestic conifers are beautiful all year, but their true glory is revealed only now in the… Continue reading
My record-keeping isn’t as good as I’d like and so I don’t have proof that the leaves are late falling this year. But it sure seems like it! Of course, we all know it’s been much warmer than usual, with only two frosts to date. Oaks are always slow to… Continue reading
Poetry often captures truths better than prose. The poet Wordsworth had a wonderful eye for nature: “…of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower…” is one of those good bits. The heavy dews and frosts along with plentiful spider webs bespangled with dew or frost certainly reveal that… Continue reading
As we head into September, I would like to profile our most iconic native tree, the national tree of Canada, our beloved sugar maple (Acer saccharum). There is only a faint hint of the colourful changes to come as I write this at the end of August, but you can… Continue reading
The rains following the earlier hot, dry weather have been an absolute blessing for the trees, especially since they were so stressed by the Gypsy Moth caterpillars. In fact the new leaves that have sprung out on the trees have made me think we were having a second spring. The… Continue reading
