Virginia Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginians, is found throughout the eastern US. The leaves, young shoots, and flowers are edible—raw or cooked. Native Americans ground the leaves into a poultice for insect bites. Our garden has this plant growing wild with blue, pink, and the rarer white blossoms.
Not all spiderworts are edible, there are about 75 species. Some are toxic for cats or dogs. Click on the image for a larger view.
We are happy to announce that our forthcoming publication Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Emptiness: Tokyo Landscape will be going on sale on June 28th. You can find out more about this book here. Click on the image to view the front and back cover.
Wildlife looks cute, like this harbor seal pup, but they will not think of you as cute. Marine mammals are found along the coast of Maine. If you think an animal is injured or abandoned, call Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at 1-800-532-9551. Do not approach the animal or try to handle it—not only is it illegal to handle marine mammals, but also they will bite. Appearances can be deceiving; mothers can leave their pups on a beach for up to 24 hours. Click on the image for a larger view.
While the weather has been cool, our garden is starting to come to life. The plum and apple trees have blossomed and they are starting to bear fruit. Our grapes are just putting out their buds. Click on the image for a larger view.
Click on the image for a larger view.
Click on the image for a larger view.
After the long steady state of winter, spring is almost violent in its excess. Our apple trees are all in bloom. This tree we call Ren-chan. She bares fruit biennially. It looks like this year she will be very productive. Click on the image for a larger view.
About two weeks ago, our wild plum was full of white blossoms. Now, the foliage has emerged and the flowers have taken a deep pink hue. It will not be long before the blossoms are gone. Spring is such a dynamic season. Click on the image for a larger view.
Interrupted fern, Osmunda claytoniana, is common in throughout Maine—this specimen being in our forest. The dark green leaves in the center of the stalk are not actually leaves, but sporangia, spore-bearing structures. Continue reading
…but we don’t have a cat. So, we will have to make do with Hikari, our Newfoundland. Both Hikari and Kai were rescued. Our dogs came through That Newfoundland Place—a wonderful organization devoted to rescuing Newfoundland dogs. Click on the image to make her bigger.
