Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Enjoying Nature

Is It a Frog, a Bullfrog, or a Toad?

Shirley — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:43:46 +0000

Our frogs and bullfrogs often look very much alike. They both have thin, moist, smooth skin, long, powerful back legs and webbed feet. They both can be various shades of green or brown and have dark spots and stripes across their legs. Our toads are easier to identify.

Our Garden Paths

Shirley — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:48:28 +0000

We've worked on a number of big projects over the last several years, but my favorites are the gardens and paths that we have created throughout our property. We have done all the work ourselves by hand using only the natural materials that were already here, so the only actual cost has been our time and lots and lots of hard physical work.

What Do YOU See?

Shirley — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:33:38 +0000

As we approached our wooded area on Saturday morning during our daily walk, my eye was caught by something lying on the ground. From that distance I thought the something was a rather large piece of fabric, mostly because of the way the sunlight was emphasizing the distinct designs covering its entire surface.

When we got closer we could see that the fabric was not fabric at all, but a very large piece of bark lying inner side up. The bark was completely covered with hundreds of what looked like intricately carved designs... but which were actually a series of tiny grooves and channels made by years of insect damage. I showed this bark to people all weekend, and everyone who saw it was amazed at the beauty and complexity of the designs the insects accidentally created. They really do look like carvings in the wood.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Shirley — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:08:11 +0000

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is a member of the birthwort family. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and is usually found in shady, wooded areas. The leaves are large... from three to six inches across... and are thick and fuzzy and have prominent veins. Leaves are heart-shaped and grow on long stalks that start at the base of the plant. Usually the top of the leaf is a deep green and the underside is a somewhat lighter color, but leaf color can vary depending on soil and growing conditions.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Shirley — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:22:47 +0000

Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are probably one of the best known coneflowers because they grow so abundantly in open and sunny areas in almost any kind of soil. They grow quickly and are sometimes called "pioneer plants" because they are some of the first plants to grow in newly-cleared fields or burned-out areas.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema atrorubens)

Shirley — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:45:24 +0000

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema atrorubens)... also sometimes called Indian Turnip because the root is shaped like a turnip... is a unique wildflower. There are several species of jack-in-the-pulpits, all members of the Arum family, and they all look about the same with the little "jacks" peering out of the "pulpits." We have the woodland type here growing abundantly in areas where the soil is moist.

Why There Are No Old Bold Mushroom Hunters

Shirley — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:20:57 +0000

One of the interesting side effects of our very wet summer is the huge number of wild mushrooms that are growing in the woods across from our house. Although this year's is a bumper crop, these woods have always been mushroom rich. I used to think that someday I would have learned enough about mushrooms so I could identify which mushrooms are safe to eat.

And That’s a Warning We Take Very Seriously!

Shirley — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:27:01 +0000

Almost every evening for several days now we've been watching three tiny baby skunks as we work in the garden. Two are mostly white except for black markings on their faces, and the third baby has the more usual black-and-white skunk coloration. They are about the size of six-week-old kittens, and they're just adorable! They're also very playful and roll and crawl all over each other as they nose around looking for something interesting to eat.

Something Else My Father Taught Me

Shirley — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:55:57 +0000

I had intended to take photographs of the rhododendrons. All of them were especially lush and beautiful this year, but the largest... a nearly six foot high bush near the back porch... was just spectacular. It was literally covered with blooms from top to bottom, and as you might imagine, the fragrance of so many flowers was almost overwhelmingly intense. The bees loved it.

One Year Ago Today…

Shirley — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:25:44 +0000

On this day last year, all the snow was long gone and mud season was over. Hosta and bleeding heart shoots were two or three inches tall. There were frogs' eggs in the ponds and the grass was already green. It was a very early spring. Things are very different this year.