WriterByNature.com

June 30, 2006 2:51 am

My little area has been spared the devastating floods.

The road to Hawk Circle is flooded, but everyone is safe.

Thunder, lightning and intense heat have me spending less time outdoors than I had envisioned. I rarely watch TV, so seeing the subject of Global Warming as the only topic on Oprah, watching John Stewart interview Al Gore and watching footage of our northeast US climate crisis had me wondering. Are my neighbors and fellow citizens ready to take the issue seriously? (more…)

June 28, 2006 2:20 pm

Since monsoon season set in several days ago, my hikes are limited to those breaks between cloudbursts. I timed it wrong, which meant the last 20 minutes of the hike were enough to test the value of my new Quik Dry garments from Sierra Trading Post.

I was literally soaked to the skin.

The good news is that I was dry within minutes of getting into shelter. The bad news is that I have not invested quite as much woods time as I’d anticipated. (more…)

June 27, 2006 3:57 am

I’m fortunate enough to live where grapevines grow.

More than just a wild edible, this plant can provide water and cordage in a survival situation. It also attracts a wide range of birds and animals for nature observation.

Here’s one fun way to learn about grapevines. This activity is perfect for a short hike and even better for a repeat hike. (more…)

June 24, 2006 1:54 am

It’s so oppressively hot, even the insects are not moving. If you’re lucky enough to be near water, then you might get a breeze.

Weather like this is conducive to a thunderstorm, so if you have to get to shelter, how much time will you have? (more…)

June 22, 2006 2:41 am

I love the poem Summer by Walter Dean Myers.

The line “Bugs buzzin’ from cousin to cousin” puts a smile on my overheated face. Hot summer days and nights are perfect for studying all kinds of insects.

Since I take steps to make myself inedible to insects, it’s much easier to observe and get to know the ones that crawl or fly across my path.

Here is a list of insects you’re likely to see in northeast North America and some interesting facts about each as spring turns into summer: (more…)

June 21, 2006 5:27 am

Happy Summer Solstice.

It’s the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year. Little by little the days will get shorter. Dawn and dusk times are changing and so is the behavior of the animals and plants.

The wild edible leaves are way too big for salad. Most have to be cooked. The shadbush is at peak, but the blueberries, huckleberries and mulberries are not yet ripe.

Most of the birds have fledged. Baby animals are now adolescents. It’s the end of one phase and the beginning of another phase. This is as good as it gets. From here on in, it’s time to prepare for inevitable winter.

June 20, 2006 7:11 pm

I’m really glad that Al Gore has devoted himself to understanding how and why nature’s cycles are being impacted by our relentless pursuit of conspicuous consumption. I’m grateful that he has been able to convey his message in an engaging and articulate manner. An Inconvenient Truth is a valuable investment of time.

I cannot imagine what my life would have been like had I not been raised in rural America. I am always amazed when I learn something new. Yesterday I was awed by nature’s presence in Battery Park City and the Liz Christy Garden. Today I am aghast to learn that if global sea levels rise more than 20 feet as a result of global warming, these coastal areas will be devastated by floods. (more…)

June 19, 2006 3:52 pm

I’m back on Manhattan Island watching the choppy waters of the Hudson River ahead of an impending thunderstorm.

The lush willows and basswoods are tall enough to block New Jersey buildings and the light breeze off the water carries the scent of basswood flowers.

This urban environment has evolved from a weed-strewn rubble heap (created when the World Trade Center was built) into a well-designed living complex for the birds, squirrels, pets and humans who live here.

I don’t know who decided to plant native trees, shrubs and ground cover here, but the plant life is thriving. I shared a feast of shadbush berries, one of my favorite wild edibles, with a squirrel and a pigeon. I watched a house finch feed its newly-fledged chick. What is most striking is how wildlife has the freedom to ignore humans. This would be dangerous behavior anywhere else but Manhattan Island. (more…)

12:38 pm

This poem was written in 1995 when I was still a Liz Christy gardener.

Tribute to Liz Christy

June 18, 2006 3:31 am

My Dad turned 80 this year. Our family and friends celebrated.

One of his buddies has a local column and asked for a bio. It’s fun to see “Dad” from a whole new angle. (more…)