Thigmotropism
James, a college bound Archie Williams grad, was working on the vining vegetables in the Edible Garden when I glimpsed him studying the curly, spring-like tendril attaching to the fence. We are growing pumpkins and watermelons vertically this growing season and, once encouraged by helping hands, the plant knows to vine upward. James asked if I […]
Alice and Mia
I have previously written about nectar guides. The guides draw nectar-seekers into the flower for their rewards. As such, I too have been drawn in for a reward by way of two women who have guided me to the Monarch butterfly, Alice Cason and Mia Monroe. When I worked in the Presidio I first met […]
Connecting
I was driving to Filoli with some very important scions as a passenger earlier this week. These cuttings were from our Mission Pear Tree. The Mission Pear is important to our community and to many people, not to mention some history of Marin County. The connections created by this tree began to resonate as I […]
Open to the Public
Michael manages a runaway Come one, come all! As a gardener to some very public gardens, I have observed some self-evident truths about the shared spaces that are public gardens. In no particular order—except for safety first—they are as follows: Safety first. Expect the unexpected. Always be kind to children. Always know where the nearest […]
Helping Hands
Crataegus phaenopyrum was struggling. Commonly known as Washington Hawthorn, the small tree had everything a hawthorn could get: mites, scale, blight and cedar rust, along with a bifurcated crown. Beyond all that, it was in an odd location. I planned to remove it on a dry day in February. As luck would have it, the […]
Within These Wavy Walls
Welcomed by trees reaching me-ward from age-old heights I feel cared for. Junco, Towhee and Nuthatch all fly by as if heralding my arrival. Sounds of children at play. Waves and wags from passers by lift my spirits Work to be done today will be done with joy and appreciation. Is it really work then? […]
Erudite Tree Planting
Planting trees. Two simple words to express a routine act. Yet beneath the simplicity lies complexity. Much like the redwood saplings we planted that we can see, there is a complex root life that we cannot. This past week we planted redwoods at the Redwood Amphitheater with a long term plan in mind. Primarily, we […]
Of All the Flowers
Of all the flowers, me thinks the rose is best. —Shakespeare As you wander through our Rose Garden and take in the splendor and fragrance, know that these roses are tended by one of the North Bay’s best gardeners. You probably don’t know her name and you may not see her. If you do happen […]
“What’s that Smell?”
Let me begin by recounting the words ascribed to one of my favorite oddities in nature: Repugnant. Fetid. Malodorous. Reeky. Stinky. Truly, the basket stinkhorn is all these things, yet it is wonderous! This fungus begins its brief display in what looks like an egg. Inside the egg is a compressed basked laden with a […]
High School Help
About two years ago, while I was raking leaves at the Butterfly Cottage, a visitor stopped to talk. The visitor was the Career Liaison for the Tamalpais Unified School District. He came by to see if the Center was interested offering internships to high school students. This was fortuitous, as I had just been wondering […]
