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Boys and the “Wild”
Living in downtown Raleigh, there isn’t much “wild” to be found. My ultimate wilderness escape includes tall trees, cool air and a mountain stream, but when not the mountains, I prefer my wild to be manicured and safe for letting two small boys run around and explore. This makes the J.C. Raulston Arboretum one of my favorite urban escapes. This week the temperatures dipped into the low 90s with cooler mornings. Two mornings in a row I took the boys…
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Meet Jolly. Jolly, meet Everyone.
We haven’t seen any traces of Itsy Bitsy in weeks. However, as I was scouring the “Italian Trombetta” squash vines for pests, I was greeted by this green spider, whom I’ve named Jolly. I don’t know if he has a web or not. I’ve only seen him hanging out on the same cluster of leaves for several days now. He is a Green Lynx Spider and is doing a little pest control of his own. The first time I saw…
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She is So Prissy
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When to Scrap a Veggie Plant
SCRAPPED. Seasonal vegetable plants in the kitchen garden are typically annuals that experience a time of peak production before tapering off for the season. Occasionally, I’ve had plants take a mid-season break before having a second burst of production, which this makes me hesitant to scrap my plants before they are clearly dead. However, as I’ve learned to extend the growing season with fall crops and overwintered crops, a square foot of garden space becomes valuable real estate that I…
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Reflections on Consumption
I don’t regard myself as driven by consumption. I like to think I spend modestly and responsibly. However, I get antsy during the week if several days pass without a trip to the grocery, big box store or nursery. I begin to invent reasons why I need to shop. As I sit to reflect on my motivation and assess that all my needs are met, I get overwhelmed with self-disgust. I see that materialism permeates my thoughts and desires. Even…
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Evening Garden Walk
