Monthly Archives: February 2013

Big Leaves

Posted on February 23, 2013 by unmowed

Sri Lanka is a tear-drop-shaped island at the tip of India. Not far from the equator. The noon sun is incredibly powerful, as I discovered after failing to completely cover my winter-white skin with sunblock. There’s green everywhere–every inch that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

On the Road

Posted on February 15, 2013 by unmowed

Thanks once again to Wells Horton for another lovely photograph.                        http://wells-horton.smugmug.com/ “The Road,” as Bilbo Baggins often remarked, “goes on and on, down from the door where it began.”  In the words of J.R. R. Tolkien: “He used often to say there … Continue reading →

Posted in photos, winter | Tagged | 3 Comments

Thin-leaved Coneflower: What’s in a Name?

Posted on February 14, 2013 by unmowed

A cold and dreary winter field. In summer it’s a green and golden wildflower meadow. In winter it’s brown stalks. Peeking out from under this abandoned piece of haying equipment (I think it’s a baler?) is a not-very-well-known wildflower. In summer … Continue reading →

Posted in plant parts, seeds, Uncategorized, winter | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Frost on the Sky

Posted on February 12, 2013 by unmowed

The sky in February. Can’t seem to make up its mind. Clouds racing along, shoved by the sub-zero winds high above us. Is it clearing? Clouding up? Blizzard? Flurry? Even the Weather Channel doesn’t know. One minute, spring coming. The next … Continue reading →

Posted in photos, winter | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Red Oak: You Can Go Home Again

Posted on February 11, 2013 by unmowed

This is…home.  Top floor apartment, left-hand side. If you suddenly came up behind me and shouted “Where do you live?!”–I swear the first image that would pop into my head would be this one. 6A Old Hickory Drive, Albany, New … Continue reading →

Posted in leaves | Tagged | 1 Comment

My Friend Bud

Posted on February 9, 2013 by unmowed

Under the snow, the leaves of spring are waiting. Thanks to Wells Horton for capturing this photo. http://wells-horton.smugmug.com/ One of my naturalist friends, Glenn Humphrey, likes to teach kids about “my friend Bud.” Buds, in strict botanic terminology, are those little brown bumps … Continue reading →

Posted in leaves, photos, plant parts, winter | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Queen Anne’s Lace: Carrots and Butterflies

Posted on February 7, 2013 by unmowed

No, the train isn’t barrelling down the track here. The weeds growing up through the railroad tracks and under the wheels show how many months or even years it’s been since this train went anywhere. Railroad tracks are interesting little habitats. … Continue reading →

Posted in edible, insects, plant parts, wildlife | Tagged , | 3 Comments

To Feed a Mockingbird

Posted on February 5, 2013 by unmowed

Another day, another parking lot. Now this might not look like a National Park or anything. But I drove into this parking lot in Guilderland, NY the other day, parked, and sat there thinking about nothing in particular for a … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, environment, great ideas, plant parts, seeds, wildlife, winter | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Cold Winter Day

Posted on February 4, 2013 by unmowed

A cold day today. Snow, and then sunshine that seems colder than the snow. A hard day for chickadees and goldfinches and redpolls and nuthatches and such to keep warm. Good thing my backyard has a lot of birdfeeders in it. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, wildlife, winter | Tagged | 3 Comments

Merry Groundhog Day

Posted on February 2, 2013 by unmowed

Best wishes for a joyous and festive Groundhog Day! Thanks to Frank Knight for this lovely close-up of a young woodchuck (groundhog, same thing.) It’s my favorite holiday. You think I’m kidding? Not at all.  Don’t underrate the simple pleasures of … Continue reading →

Posted in holiday, wildlife, winter | Tagged | 5 Comments