Spiders, Oh My!
The first book to make me cry, as I remember, was E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. In the story a pig named Wilbur befriends an orbweaver spider named Charlotte. Wilbur […]
The Great Outdoors
Think Inside the Box
Having been a gardener for several decades now, I have spent many hours on hands and knees setting out, weeding, and tending my plants. As I began to get a
Think Inside the Box Read More »
Yellowjacket Conflicts…
Recently we got a new family member, Deuce. He is a dog, a working dog, and a Brittany pointer (they used to be called spaniels). At eight months Deuce is
Yellowjacket Conflicts… Read More »
Lonely Hearts?
The other night we ate supper in our screen porch. There was a cacophony of insect sounds, primarily katydids and crickets. But resonating above the rest was a lone—or possibly
A Tree Grows—and ‘Dies’—in Suburbia
This is a story about a tree, a street tree, what urban foresters would call a part of the community forest. Living within the confines of the sidewalk and the
A Tree Grows—and ‘Dies’—in Suburbia Read More »
A Singular Attraction
Last summer my friend Christine and I embarked on a multi-day trek to South Jersey’s coastal nature areas and other outdoor-oriented venues, resulting in a three-part travelogue in SNJ Today.
A Singular Attraction Read More »
Artful Arranging
Last week our article was about one of our native hydrangea shrubs, oakleaf hydrangea. Researching the plant took me on an internet surf that changed into a riptide, where I
Hosting a Southern Beauty
Planting native plants has become increasingly popular as people learn more about the connections between plants and animals. Life has its beginnings with water, sunlight, plants, and insects. In previous
Hosting a Southern Beauty Read More »
Incandescent Insect
Our topic species is an insect and its host plant, namely a beetle with the scientific name Chrysochus auratus. The genus name, Chrysochus, derives from the Greek word chrysochóos, meaning
Incandescent Insect Read More »
An Honorable Man
I’m writing this a week after the passing of a great man, mentor, and friend. (By time you read this, it will be closer to three weeks.) In fact, I