Leaf Fossil? Or Not
Leaf fossil?? No… I was walking in the woods in southeastern Wisconsin last week, and was passing a downed tree, and noticed this shelf or bracket fungus growing on the trunk, with leaf imprints. I guess the leaves must…
Photo Of The Week by Larry Hurley: Bird’s Nest Fern, Asplenium nidus
You might think this is one of the little people that inhabit Stephanie’s “Fairy Gardens,” but no, it’s me, peeking out from behind a very large Bird’s Nest Fern. Bird’s Nest Fern, Asplenium nidus, is commonly sold in the USA as a tropical…
Observing Bluebirds and Sparrows: A Backyard Story
Last week, while sitting outside with my husband, I saw bluebirds flying every which way. For weeks now, they have been staking out their nest boxes and fighting off the House Sparrows, or as some call them, English Sparrows. Either way, those sparrows are pretty mean.
Photos Of The Week~ Purple-leaf European Birch
In the spring of 2000 I planted a purple-leaf European Birch in my Bethesda back yard, within an existing stand of mature native oaks, tulip poplars and pignut hickory. This was not a wise choice as it would ultimately become…
Larry Hurley’s Photos of the Week: Native Americans Effigy Mounds
Over a thousand years ago, Native Americans built effigy mounds, and many of these are located in Wisconsin. These “Indian Mounds” as we called them when I was growing up here were large earthen mounds in the shapes of animals…
Another Bucket List Item Checked Off: The National Arboretum
Stephanie crossed off another item on her bucket list this Spring.
Photo Of The Week: Patch of Dirt Formerly Known as Lawn
This is a photo of my brother-in-law David’s lawn, that I took on April 18th. “Lawn” is perhaps an overstatement. Maybe “Patch of Dirt Formerly Known as Lawn.” The lawn in question resides in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, on sandy soil…
Photo Of The Week: Volcano Mulching
Piling mulch up against the trunk of a tree is known as volcano mulching. You see this all over, and it’s a bad practice. Over-mulching encourages the tree to send out roots under the mulch instead of in the ground, and…
A Day In The Garden With Great Grandma Edna
Many of you have shared photos of your gardens with me over the past few years, and I have enjoyed each one so much! Keep them coming! Last week, Edna Poe shared this photo of her beautiful great-granddaughter Dior,…
Prince George’s County Historical Society’s April History Chat
I have been invited to chat with Donna Schnider, President of the Prince George’s County Historical Society, about the early years of Behnke Nurseries. I am excited and nervous about being part of their monthly History Chat. I will be…
2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Seven years ago, in August of 2017, I wrote about the Solar Eclipse and how we watched it at Behnke’s. I remember how excited we all were to see it. Yesterday, April 8th, 2024, we had, as many of…